Help

[Mamno]

I don’t know if I want to know the answer to this question but am I the only person who cannot run 5K in 30 minutes? I keep try to quicken the pace but my best time is 47 minutes😩. What can I do to reduce my time? I know it all takes time but I just seem to be standing still. I have just introduced faster interval sessions....first one a few days ago.

I generally run between 5 and 7k 3 times a week, as well as swimming, walking and the occasional game of Badminton. I am due to enter my first official 5k run on the 8th September and am concerned that I will be far behind everyone else. By the way, are there cut off times at these events. 😱

Any thought would be much appreciated.

[telford_mike Graduate]

Hi Mamno, I've been using this forum since May when I started C25K, and in all that time I think I can only remember 1 person who has done 5k in 30 minutes. It's very fast and completely unrealistic for most of us. Don't worry about it - just enjoy running at your own pace. You will get faster in time, but it's a gradual thing and you can’t really rush it. Happy running!

[Mamno in reply to telford_mike]

Thank you Mike your words are reassuring. Perhaps I should turn off my watch!

[telford_mike Graduate in reply to Mamno]

Not at all - I love the stats from the watch! The problem is that the programme is called Couch to 5k, when really it should be called 'Couch to half an hour'!

[K44ldo Graduate in reply to Mamno]

I felt a bit like that also Mamno, you wonder if the watch is actually helping or not ! I’ve stuck with mine, done my first 5k last weekend and finished in 35:33 ! Don’t let ur time bother u, ur still out there doing it and that’s wot counts 👍💪🥇

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to telford_mike]

I am sorry telford_mike but I disagree that it is unrealistic for the majority to run 5k in 30 minutes. While only about 10% of graduates on this forum manage that target at graduation, many go on to achieve it later on. It requires dedicated training for some and an appropriate lifestyle for all, but is in no way unobtainable or unrealistic aim, across a wide age range.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate]

Noooooo Mamno, in fact you’d be in the vast minority if you did! I ran my first 5k yesterday. 2 weeks post-grad, and I did it in nearly 43 minutes! 🐌🐌🐌 You’ll be just fine! 😀👍🏻

[Mamno in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you Cheekychipmunks. I was thinking I would be crossing the finishing line very much alone. Amongst the nerves I am actually looking forward to it...I want the Medal. 😀

[cheekychipmunks Graduate in reply to Mamno]

And you’ll get it! Have fun and tell us how it goes! 👏👍🏻😀

[Garden17]

I going to try tomorrow after the park run lot have got out of my way I tried park run last week and failed so going to try on my own

[Mamno in reply to Garden17]

As much as I am having a few anxious moments about my first race; I would say, you didn’t fail. You got out there! Well done you. 👏👏👏

[Goforitmama Graduate]

We could do it if we ran a 5k that was a gentle downhill all the way. Let me know if you find one and I’ll join you!

[Mamno]

I have a fairly steep hill near me, perhaps I’ll try. Going down would be good I think but to get back home I have to run back up!

[Berksrover Graduate]

Maybe I am in the minority but have managed a couple of sub 30 min 5ks, something I never imagined possible when I started C25K in April and not something I achieved prior to graduation. The most important thing to me is that I achieve what I want to achieve from running and that is multiple things, sometimes I want to run a fast (for me) 5k, sometimes a long slow run, sometimes just for the sheer enjoyment of it. It is pointless comparing yourself to others, there is always going to be someone better than you and worse than you, do what you want for you, if you really do want to run a sub 30 5k, look for one of the many training plans out there.

[Mamno in reply to Berksrover]

Thank you. I appreciate your reply