Newbie 😬

[Jen07]

Hi all! I've just started out on the journey (week 1 run 2 completed this morning!!) Just curious really...looking at my Fitbit info from today...does this look like the right kind of pace/time/distance?? I'm not really sure what to aim for each week!!

Thanks! x

[LeeU Graduate]

Well done on starting.

There's nothing to aim for, it may be called Couch to 5k but all it guarantees is that if you finish the program it will get you running for 30 minutes, now that may not mean you have covered 5k BUT it gives you the tools to be able to do it.

A simple suggestion, unless you have run before or already have a good level of fitness, slow and steady is the way to go, as the weeks progress and the amount of time you spend running increases you may not be able to keep your original pace up. Slow down, aim to complete ALL the runs.

If running 5k is your goal, then once you can run for 30 minutes you can then work towards increasing pace, etc, to do 5k in 30 minutes.

[Jen07 in reply to LeeU]

Thanks so much for the advice! I'm not really fit at all...do play some sport and have done a bit of running in the past...not really sure how to slow down without walking?!! Seems like a natural pace for me! Sounds like I've got a few shocks coming!!! 😂

[LeeU Graduate in reply to Jen07]

When I'm outside my body wants to do 9-10kph, at the minute I can't sustain that for longer than about 5-8 minutes BUT when I'm at home on the treadmill I can plod along at 6kph for over 25 minutes, outside 6kph seems way to slow but that's the treadmill effect.

Your quickest pace, according to your fitbit app is around 7.1kph, I too started out on week 1 doing between 7 and 7.5kph BUT as the run lengths increased I found I was struggling a little to maintain the pace AND complete the run when I got to week 3.

Here's where OldFloss came in, she explained that slow and steady were the way to go, as I'm mainly a treadmill runner at the minute changing the pace it easy enough. To some, I may move at a slow jog, to others that jog may seem quick but the thing is, it works for me and allows me to finish the run I'm on, if I needed to slow down to complete the run I'm on then I would, pace will come later.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Welcome , and the only aim is... to enjoy the journey to the Graduation podium

As LeeU has said so beautifully..the programme will get you to the thirty minute runs after nine weeks, and you may, just may, be running for 5K... many, many folk do not achieve that and there is no pressure at all to do so

Just follow the programme, take your rest days and listen to your body... And... please. keep posting too!

[Jen07 in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you! So glad I found this group...everyone seems so encouraging and enthusiastic!!!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Jen07]

They are...we have all been there, or are going there, and we have all experienced the up and downs ...the highs and lows.... and the sheer joy of this fantastic programme