Completing a 5k

[Janeeshaw]

I know it's really not about the time - my aim is just to complete a 5k without walking (seems a bit daunting at the mo!), but can anyone give me a rough idea of a good first 5k? 30/35 mins?

[Rignold]

Good is a very relative term. Good for a 20 year old and good for a year old are very different. Somewhere between 2 minutes and an hour would be a reasonable range, I would think.

Bear in mind though that the prgramme is designed to get you to running 30 minutes, not running 5k, despite the name.

[Janeeshaw Graduate in reply to Rignold]

Thanks. Will be very happy if I can run for 30 mins at the end of the programme 😊

[Rignold in reply to Rignold]

That was meant to be 20 mins and an hour, btw. Not 2 mins. Lol

[Janeeshaw Graduate in reply to Rignold]

Ha! That would be smashing Mo! 😂

[jaybro28 Graduate]

I'd say a good time for a 5k for you, would be whatever time allows you to complete it, without leaving much in reserve.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

My first 5K was 1hr 10 minutes (and I was definitely running, because the dog had gone AWOL)

My PB is 43 minutes

Do the programme first, consolidate your regular 30 minutes of continuous running and then extend it to 5K - it's all good!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

There is no such thing. Your good 5k time will be your 5k PB, which when you run your first 5k, will be whatever you manage to achieve and you should be proud of it, whatever it is. Constant comparing of yourself can be demotivating, if you set unrealistic expectations for yourself.

In four years on this forum I have seen people post 5k times of 20+ minutes to over the hour. You won't be faster than Mo Farah but you will be faster than some others.

Your pb will be hard won and something to build on.

[Janeeshaw Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Good point. I love the idea of setting a PB!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Good....is running it and not collapsing.... good is running it....because you want to, not because you have to... and good is running it when you want to....or not

[jt24 Graduate]

At the end of the programme a good 5k is one you can run whole with no walk breaks.

A good running time is dependant on your own speed.

I struggled with comparing times and distances and 'progress' for a number of months after graduation.

These days l'm completely 'getting' that all runs actually are good and your pace truly isn't comparable to other people! I'm 45 and reasonably chunky yet I can run faster than many lighter, younger folk and yet I have been absolutely trounced by massive old people!

Find your pace, set your own goals from there xx

(As a wee ps, just because I know where you're coming from, I reckon the majority of graduating c25k'ers would think a 5k in 35 minutes is quite fast )

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to jt24]

You mean ' Older' people surely 😃

I'm older than you, but I NEVER call myself old.

[jt24 Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

[Theziggy Graduate]

My goal when starting the C25K was to eventually be able to run 5K without stopping irrespective of time. So, forget about the time Janeeshaw, and just concentrate on the distance. I know it was quite a while after I graduated before I was able to run a 5K without stopping to walk.

Tell you something else too, it was quite the buzz!!!!

Good luck

[Janeeshaw Graduate in reply to Theziggy]

Thank you - you're right. I was just assuming that the programme would set me up for running the 5k without walking but I guess unless I can do it in 30 mins probably not. Will aim to complete - never mind the time.