What is graduation?

[Benjos96]

Hi All! I have just completed W9R1. I had a couple of weeks off between weeks 6 and 7, so had to do a couple of repeat runs, but here I am now having powered through weeks 7 and 8 onto 9 now

My question is, what is graduation? In my 30 min run today I covered 4.1km, so not at 5K just yet! Do I graduate after W9R3 or do I only graduate after covering 5K in those 30 mins? Now obviously the title of the program should say it all, it is Couch 2 5K afterall, not Couch 2 30mins!

Also, if I don’t make the 5K this week (which I undoubtably won’t), what do people tend to do then? Do you just keep upping the pace until you make the full 5K in 30 mins?

Be interested to know peoples experiences/thoughts!

[Debston Graduate]

Couch 2 30 minutes would be a more accurate name. You graduate when you have completed Week 9, running 30 minutes x3, regardless of distance. You are so close now!

[Stephen_UK Graduate]

Well done. Graduation just means completing W9R3. Most people do not reach 5k by this point.

See healthunlocked.com/couchto5....

[Laurzmum Graduate]

You graduate once you run 30 mins or 5k. I graduated at about 4.5k. When I did a I 5k parkrun it was in 34 mins. Over time my 5k has come down but 9 weeks on I still can’t do sub 30 mins !!! Be proud when you can run for 30 mins and get that graduate badge 🏃🏻‍♀️

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

To graduate you must run 3/30 minute runs on the final week of C25K, you can take longer than 9 weeks if you want to.

Only 10% of people complete C25K by running run 3 of week 9 in 30 or less minutes.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

2 more runs and you’re a graduate. 30 minutes changes your life... distance does not. Love those last two runs!!