Couch to 10k (under an hour) race in six months time.

[Invisibleolicana]

Hi, am I kidding myself that this is achievable? Having previously been a fit person, running and long distance walking - I had a black chapter of five years in my life where my health and fitness declined. From active 12st to sedentary 18st. I need this challenge on different levels but would appreciate any thoughts or knowledge/wisdom to enable me to best execute my plan. 10k race I have entered is in October 2019. Thank you!

[ArthurJG Graduate10]

Couch to 10k is definitely achievable in six months. But don’t set yourself a speed target on top. 9 weeks C25k, 3 weeks consolidation, 8 weeks on juju’s magic 10 is 20 weeks if all goes well: in reality there will be hiccups but six months is 26 weeks so you’ve got a little slack. But it’s a mistake to try to improve distance and speed at the same time so forget about 60 minutes: make your target just to run the whole 10k, and once you’ve done that you can look at training plans to make your next one a bit faster.

[Invisibleolicana in reply to ArthurJG]

Thanks for your thoughts Arthur, duly noted and understood.

[Irish-John Graduate10 in reply to Invisibleolicana]

Apart from anything else, the course matters. HM winning time in St Louis a few weeks ago was 1:07 by a very fast and fit young lady.

Two weeks before that in Seattle, a pal of mine in his 50s and who would never consider himself on a par with 'fast runners' did his HM in 1:03.

Definitely possible to RUN 10k non-stop starting from 'total zero running' and I am living proof of that - but running a 'fast' 10k is all down to so many individual variables its is impossible to predict without a lot of info and a heaping of 'educated guessing'

However - and again I am living proof of it - I CAN safely predict that running is the best tonic for depression/PTSD/Combat Shakes/General Heebie-Jeebies that I have ever had true success with

Give it a go - after all, at its very worst, what is there to lose except a bit of time that would have gone by anyway

Wishing you many happy miles in your future

[Invisibleolicana in reply to Irish-John]

Many thanks for your reply John. Your bang on - what’s to lose.

Best wishes to you.

[Irish-John Graduate10 in reply to Invisibleolicana]

To paraphrase Lenin (bet THAT is a first on the Forum LOL )

"Runners of the World, Line Up - you have nothing to lose except your mental chains"

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Irish-John]

Are you sure that time of 1.03 for the Seattle HM is correct, if it is, that time for your pal in his 50's is amazing, he's up there with the Mo Faroes of running long distances. 😊 🏃

[Irish-John Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

My mistake Al - HM on the brain. It was a 10k he ran LOL.

Flipping miles over here and Metric over there and the crossover in k and mile races get me addled sometimes

Don't let me even start on the difference between US and UK spellings though LOL.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Irish-John]

Thanks John, no problem, I'll tell you what the weather is where I am in Central Scotland, its a beautiful sunny day at ten to four BST, (15.50), temperature is 23C/73F, not a cloud in the sky, my runiversary of C25K run 1 of week 1 was on Wednesday, this morning I reran run 1 of week 4.

Have a happy Easter John. 😊 🏃

[Irish-John Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Enjoy that good weather Al, and congratulations again on your Runaversary

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Irish-John]

👍

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10]

Couch to 10k in 6 months is more than doable. Many of us have done it. The crux is the time you’ve set yourself. We don’t know how old you are, how quickly you can get your fitness back and whether your legs remember quickly what to do. Don’t expect miracles (it’s a horrible thing to say, but you’re 50% heavier than you were in your running days!). But do expect to feel a whole lot better about yourself and if you enjoyed running before I’m sure you will again.

Start slowly, do the C25k programme. Don’t make the mistake of comparing yourself to the fit person of 5 years ago. That will lead to frustration. Compare yourself with the “you” of last week or last month at first. Re-find the enjoyment you used to have. After you’ve done the c25k programme move on to Ju-Ju’s magic running plan.

I also wouldn’t see the 10k race in October as a race in the sense of being in competition with everybody else. I would see it as a confirmation that I can run again!

And keep posting here or on the C25K forum. There is so much advice and wisdom. Someone, somewhere has a motivating answer. And we won’t let you give up.

Good luck!

[Invisibleolicana in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

Thank you for your thoughtful analysis. A lot of chords struck here in your post. I’m an old sod now (bullseye) but not past it by any means 🙂

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10 in reply to Invisibleolicana]

Ha, ha - many of us are old sods! We just wish we were young gazelles!

[Pianism Graduate10]

I'm in the camp of "go for it and see where it gets you" with the caveat that you need to look after your body first and foremost.

I started running from zero exercise and zero history of fitness (and around 17.5 stones) and my legs have found it a challenge, but an achievable one. It's only after 15 weeks of training and 2 stones of weight loss that I'm beginning to be able to run 5k+ without suffering afterwards. However, 10k is on the horizon for me so I don't see why it shouldn't be for you too.

From personal experience, diet is just as important as the exercise... two ways to cut calories... burn them off or don't put them in in the first place. A bit of both is the way to go.

I wish you every success and have no doubt that if you want it enough, you will succeed.

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Pianism]

Ps - my 10k will most definitely NOT be under an hour!

[Invisibleolicana in reply to Pianism]

Morning, thanks for your reply and thoughts. I concur with your observation on weight related issues. I know running isn’t something I can do until I’ve seen off some weight (circa two stones) so hill walking (where I live)in 5k bursts is my initial starting point to burn some calories. I’m fortunate in one sense that I have plenty of time to devote to this. I know historically that my body responds well to training-just not going to overdo things. I have learned a great deal about myself over this last five years - I’m grateful that this is part of me heading towards the light and choosing life.

Anyway, sorry about that...thanks for responding. Happy Easter.

[Pianism Graduate10 in reply to Invisibleolicana]

No need for apologies - I understand.

Ps - I started running at my heaviest... perfectly possible and a great way to shift both the first couple of stones and to lift mood. It's just that I had to go nice and slowly and not let my ego be bothered by fitter and lighter people who were making faster progress than me.

[Invisibleolicana in reply to Pianism]

Thanks! Sage advice. Hope the suns out where you are!

[lollytwist Graduate10]

I managed couch to 10k in less than 6 months, but I concentrated on distance rather than speed. Aiming for an hour is just an added pressure, which you probably don’t need. Enjoy your running, the speed will come in time.

[Invisibleolicana in reply to lollytwist]

Morning lol, thanks for replying. You know what...the speed thing is just part of my competitive former self waiving in the near distance saying - yoo hoo, remember me! Happy Easter to you!