Week 9 distances?: Hello, I'm new to the forum... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Week 9 distances?

LadyWineGum profile image
17 Replies

Hello, I'm new to the forum but just finished Week 9 and I'm curious about the distances that people are running in 30 mins. I realised that "Couch to 5k" is a bit of a misnomer and that it's not about getting to 5k. I've done 3.2-3.35km in Week 9 which was unfathomable when I started!

Also, does anyone have any advice about how to carry on? I wasn't sure if was best to stick to 30 min runs and aim to get faster/cover further distances, or best to keep a similar pace but go for longer runs in order to achieve the further distances and eventually get to that elusive 5k?

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LadyWineGum profile image
LadyWineGum
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17 Replies
IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

Many congratulations on your graduation fellow runner.

This guide to post C25K running may be helpful healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

This poll healthunlocked.com/couchto5.... which you can now contribute to, shows the distance graduates covered in 30 minutes.

Keep running keep smiling.

LadyWineGum profile image
LadyWineGum in reply toIannodaTruffe

Ah great thank you so much!

E27M14 profile image
E27M14Graduate

I’m on week 8 and covered just under 4km today (including the 5mins walk at the start and end). Once i’ve completed week 9 I plan on continuing the same thing but just adding on a few minutes each week until I get to the 5k, then decide what to do after that.

LadyWineGum profile image
LadyWineGum in reply toE27M14

Oh that's interesting thanks. I was also unsure whether to start measuring only when I start running. When I started Cto5k I was tracking from the start of the warm-up run because it was mostly walking anyway. But now I'm running solidly it seems wrong to include the warm-up walk in my distance reporting.

E27M14 profile image
E27M14Graduate in reply toLadyWineGum

Same, but I have found if I don’t start tracking as I leave the house, I forget to turn it on!!!

LadyWineGum profile image
LadyWineGum in reply toE27M14

Good point!

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

Congratulations on completing C25K with week 9 run 3, I completed my 30 minutes graduation run in 4.25Km and ran my first full 5k in a time of 34.21 and a few weeks later got a PB of 32.21, however, there was someone earlier today telling us that he ran week 8 run 3 which is a 28 minute run, his distance was over 5 kilometers. 😊

To get your graduation badge and the word GRADUATE 🎓 next to your username leave a message on the January graduate post in the pinned posts on the right side of the healthunlocked C25K home page and tell the administrators that you have ran W9R3 of C25K 🎓 🏃 😊

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Firstly congratulations... Graduate ! Time to get that badge!

Many folk.. many different distances.. and a whole load not reaching 5K in 30 Minutes...

Follow the links from IannodaTruffe and you are on the way... so much choice and fun to be had.. and we are all right here with you as you carry on :)

The more running you do.. the more it evolves and as ever..it is the slow and steady runs that build stamina... and strength for distance and speed!

ButtercupKid profile image
ButtercupKidGraduate

Congratulations 🥇⭐️⭐️⭐️ and all the best with whatever you decide to do next x

ForestGrump63 profile image
ForestGrump63Graduate

3.75km for the run and a further km on the 2 brisk walks either end

Oldlady57 profile image
Oldlady57

Good advice given by IannodaTruffe & Oldfloss LWG. Many congratulations on graduating. Fab achievement. You’ll achieve 5k in no time. Great pace too for growing those running legs 👏👏👏👩‍🎓🥇🎉🍾🍾🥂

Jell6 profile image
Jell6Graduate

Congratulations 🍾🏅🍾

I kept repeating week 9 for a while, you will get ,further, faster,stronger.

My advice. Don't set yourself big goals, just consolidate, and enjoy yourself.

Be proud of yourself, it's a big achievement 🤩

LadyWineGum profile image
LadyWineGum in reply toJell6

Great thank you. I think that's what I'll do for now and see if my pace improves.

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

Congratulations on completing the plan. First run at least a week of 30 minutes until it becomes comfortable.

Then, yes, try to go faster/cover more distance... just not on the same run for now.

5k is unlikely to come to you... so you need to go get it and that means extending a run each week. You are running 90 minutes a week, so you can safely add 5 to a run, and be within the 10% rule. Run a week of 30, 30, 35 all comfortable... 30, 30, 40 the next... get to 5k. Then you can start once in a six run cycle reducing the time on a 30 minute run and going at a pace that is above comfortable... either 15-20 minutes or interval runs. This can get you used to a faster pace. The combination of getting beyond 5k and faster shorter runs should combine on “race day” (maybe once a month) to become a 5k above comfortable run to reduce the PB.

LadyWineGum profile image
LadyWineGum in reply toUnfitNoMore

Thanks. This all sounds very complicated. Who's making an app? =]

Azana profile image
Azana

I have no clue what distance I did on week 9 run 3, as I had miles set on my phone and didn’t work it out - what I have done since is do park run ( free and 5k), twice, no walking, and my latest time is 34 mins. I did it straight after a rest day on week 9. I’d really recommend it as you’ll find you don’t notice the extra as running with others and it’s a great next step. This might be less scientific than some other suggestions but you can always give it a try and walk if not managing it - plenty of people do. Hopefully there’s a park run near you. You can put couch 2 five k in the club part of registration apparently ... I couldn’t work out where. Well done on getting to week 9. It’s great isn’t it!

LadyWineGum profile image
LadyWineGum

Thanks, I think this makes more sense for me. Not keen on the Park Run environment though so think I may stick to my solo runs.

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