I'm actually still learning the torrent ropes as well...
I have good speeds sometimes and crap speeds at other times, I find that if a torrent has very slow speeds and not to many hosts, I will cancel it for a day or two and resume it from my incomplete folder at another time and half the time they start zooming along...
Just remember you may get well up into the 100's for hosts...
Have a look through these, it will give you some tips on what the torrent scene is all about...
What is a torrent? BitTorrent FAQ and Guide http://www.gnutellaforums.com/283980-post2.html