Couch to 5k a bit misleading

[Markboswell]

Hello all. I am on week 7 and observe that I am not on schedule to cover 5k in 30 minutes. A bit disappointing, no?

However I love the app, Jo Whiley keeps me moving

[Rignold]

Pretty much the first piece of advice given to new C25kers on here and in the ever present FAQ, is that the point of the programme is to take you to running for 30 minutes continously rather than 5k per se. The majority of people who do the programme do not run 5k in 30 minutes at the end of the 9 weeks. Some, in fact never do.Most, I think, tend to be pleased and proud that they are able to run for 30 minutes when they struggled to run for 1 minute at the beginning. Very few tend to be disappointed.

If it is a roblem, though, it is one that remedied easily enough: just run a bit faster.

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to Rignold]

To be truthful, the podcast is clear, ‘we will get you running for 30 minutes if you follow the programme “ .

I assume the app says much the same.,. From week one it says it too.

[Rignold in reply to Millsie-J]

err, yes, I think that is what I said.

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to Rignold]

I was responding to the poster Rig. Emphasising the point of the programme.

Chill man 😆

[Rignold in reply to Millsie-J]

ah okay. Just in the wrong place.

[sallenson Graduate]

But you are now running continuously for 25 mins at a time which you may not have been 7 weeks ago. That's a cause for celebration no?

[davelinks Graduate]

It explains it here in the link..

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Amandana]

I hear you! I signed up for a 5k event knowing there were "couch to 5k" training programmes... however it really is a bit of a misnomer. I was disappointed when I realized it, but have come to terms with the fact that I'll be doing some walking during the event.

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to Amandana]

I get what you mean but I’m just glad it got me running. “C230” might be a better name, I guess.

My aim after graduation is to work up to 5k, however long that takes in terms of extra runs to build up to however many extra minutes that will take.

Keep going!

[Amandana in reply to Jay66UK]

Absolutely! I agree... I'm running for 25 minutes now (woohoo!) and whether I make it to 5km in 30minutes or not, I'm a heck of a lot better off than if I hadn't started at all!

[Rignold in reply to Amandana]

Does the event you have signed up to have a 30 Minute time cap?

[icklegui Graduate]

The "original" couch to 5K, and others, aim to get you to 5K (because that's a nice distance and people actually run 5K races), but they don't impose a time requirement. This version aims to get you to 30 minutes, but doesn't impose a distance requirement. Therefore neither ask you to run at a particular speed. I like our version better to be honest as it seems closer to "one size fits all"

[sallenson Graduate in reply to icklegui]

I'm hoping that it doesn't turn into the unpronouceable C23.10685596M post Brexit tho.

[icklegui Graduate in reply to sallenson]

Naaah it's USAian in origin, so we're safe ... on that front ... ! Off topic, I've often wondered why does this country (UK) still use miles for distance and speed limits, though? We do love our mishmash of Imperial and metric units!

[sallenson Graduate in reply to icklegui]

I can't possibly respond without getting into a whole heap of potential political trouble :-))

[icklegui Graduate in reply to sallenson]

we'll stick to running, however it's measured

[AliK0871 Graduate in reply to sallenson]

🤣

[Rignold in reply to AliK0871]

Marathons etc are still in miles

[icklegui Graduate in reply to Rignold]

I know (but marathons are something to be sponsoring other people to run, not something I think about yet - mind you sponsoring per Km would yield more ££ so maybe we should switch reference...)

[BarryR Graduate in reply to icklegui]

Maybe it should be C230. Couch to 30minutes?

[Ang33333 Graduate]

I doubt I'll ever run 5k in 30 minutes. But I'll be over the moon if I can run for 30 minutes and am determined to make 5k at some point after that, however slow I am. I've accepted I'll never be fast but am loving just to be able to run and enjoy it for the first time in my life!!

I guess 5k is the aim but 30 mins will be a huge huge achievement!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Ang33333]

Never say never... I was never, ever going to run 10K... ha! I was never, ever going to try and train and do a Half marathon ...Ha!!!

[Ang33333 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

I know. The fact I ran for 20 mins last week means anything is possible!

[Ripcurlrana71]

I agree with what you say with the name of this programme. I too thought that at the beginning. Now I’m pleased I can run 25mins straight so know I will be able to run 5km in 30 minutes soon....👊🏼

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

No... many, many, never make the 5K and the name C25K is a bit of an oxymoron... but then, 'Couch to Running for 30 minutes three times' is a bit of a mouthful

Slow and steady and relax into the lovely, longer runs... 5K will come, when it and you are ready to meet

[kwise9]

I'm with you Markboswell - I took the name of the app somewhat literally. I too am at the start of week 7 and I'm NO WHERE close to running 5k. I'm so, so thankful I didn't make some huge announcement on Facebook telling people I'd be running a 5K in 8 weeks (which I *almost* did, as I thought it would be a good accountability motivator). Still, among the 4-5 people I did tell, I'm getting a lot of "so, when is that 5K you were going to do in May?"

Nonetheless, I love the app and I love that it's got me up and running and I'm so proud of the progress I've made! And I'm very happy to have found this thread. I've been feeling kind of down, realizing how far I am from running 5K. If I refocus on a new goal - running for 30 minutes nonstop - I think I'll be less hard on myself. Because if running 30 minutes is actually the goal, then I'm really close!

[Ajs07 Graduate]

Hi I graduated in December and still can’t do 5k in 30 mins but I CAN run continuously for 8 and half miles 😂 don’t worry too much , just trust in the program, it will get you running continually for 30mins then the running world is your oyster 😁

[Denbo64 Graduate]

By the time I reached week 9, whilst I knew I wouldn’t be at 5K in 30 minutes I KNEW that I could probably do 5K, would just take a little longer. It was only a couple of weeks after graduating that I pushed my distance to 5K and I always run that now, whether it takes 37, 38, 39 mins.

[Rignold]

On the other hand (or foot)

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Rignold]

Have a read also of the ‘couch to 10k in 12 week’s’ post.