The only reason I don't use followers is because they just can't keep up. I hate running around that map (on a road) only to realize I need to wait for 2 minutes for my follower to catch back up to me. I think it would be nice if they had a virtual "leash" that just kept them 5 feet away from you while running around, and ride b@tch on your horse.

Agreed... Some times my follower just stops, like she/he is looking off into the sky, and just wont move again

If I go somewhere and they are not right behind me, I just wait an hour. Or, if I am going into a dungeon, they pop up after the first door.

However, I have noticed that some followers are better at keeping up than others. Lydia is real bad at wandering around aimlessly.

Any time I have to fight something I finish the battle and my follower finally catches up and looks at me like "where are they!?"

If you're wearing light armor and your follower wears heavy it's extra hopeless. But I've got used to it now, and I actually like that I'm not running around like crazy any more, but take my time to jog or even walk every now and then. Or just stand looking at the view while my follower is catching up.

I'm only jogging and it's ok, they can keep up.

Same with me. I never sprint because that's just asking for trouble, but at the start I jogged for a bit and stopped to see whether they could follow me. That was quite unnecessary, so I'm barely even checking whether they're following me as I jog nowadays.

For me Lydia is really BADASS at wandering around aimlessly

I walk...