Start from the beginning or not

[brookes111]

I have a question for you all.

I want to build up to running 5k using the plan but I feel like I can start off at week 3 easy. I have been running on off for the past few weeks on the treadmill following no particular programme, I just do what I can.

My question is do I start from week 1 or shall I skip to week 3?

[huffnpuffin Graduate]

If you feel that you can - why not. You may like to try 1 session of week one/two to see the progression. But stick to the plan do not over exert yourself.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

For most people I would say stick to the programme, the designers probably know more about running than you. But you have been here before, so you probably have a good idea what you can cope with. If you try W3 and can handle it, then I can't see any real reason why that should not be your starting point. That said, I would not recommend jumping weeks, once started, because the slow and gentle conditioning that the programme provides is carefully devised to help you avoid injury, which is the quickest way to stop you once again, if you push too hard.

I was tempted to miss a couple of weeks at the start, but decided to stick with the plan, simply to avoid injury. I was 57 and hadn't run for forty years, although was reasonably fit, whereas you are still a youngster and can take a lot more punishment. Remember though, there is no short cut or quick fix and patience is a virtue.

[brookes111 in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks for you advice. I think ill do one run of week 3 and see how it goes from there. I know there aren't any short cuts as ive been looking for them for years xD

[KANdoit]

I was going to say "have a go" but then I thought "what's the rush?". If you skip ahead you might be setting yourself up for a fail or injury. If you start at week one when you are capable of week 3 then you will have six "successes" and some muscle conditioning under your belt before you start seriously challenging yourself.

[brookes111 in reply to KANdoit]

I hadn't thought about it that way. Maybe starting at least at week 2 would be a good idea

[Ice_and_Fire]

I started at week 2, but not on purpose. I was all dressed and left my house to start my first run, turned my ipod on and realised week 1 was missing, I really didn't want to postpone or go back and faff around getting week 1 on it so just did week 2 instead. I'm just about to start week 7 so it worked ok for me

[brookes111 in reply to Ice_and_Fire]

I just did the first run of week 2 went great, glad I didn't start at week 3 though as I had forgotten how much more difficult running outdoors is to running on a treadmill and probably would have struggled. Great that you're on week 7, keep it up

[KANdoit in reply to brookes111]

Well done getting started and surviving. Week 1 is definitely my level - if not week 0.