Couch to 30 minutes?

[Serenity0365]

I assume the people who designed Couch to 5K, which is a brilliant and effective programme, felt that 5K was achievable in the final week. Would the programme better be called "Couch to 30 Minutes"? This would at least set expectations for those starting the programme. Maybe C25K is more attractive than C230M? Interested to hear people's thoughts.

[ButtercupKid Graduate]

I think the idea of 30 minutes would have scared me off ! I still think in miles so I didn’t know what 5k meant in real terms 😂 In practice, I’ve still to run beyond 3k, but I have legs like a dachshund (without the fur, thankfully) and it doesn’t trouble me.

[Serenity0365 Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

Yes 30 minutes was insane to me. Before embarking on C25K I could manage just over one minute on the gym treadmill. How far we have come!

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Serenity0365]

Wow, you were good ! I only did the first 20 seconds before keeling over 😂

[Serenity0365 Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

Oh how I love running outdoors, finally getting fresh air and vitamin D, rather than the man-made gym environment.

[Fatgirlslim19 Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

Laughing at that image!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

Dachshund legs...ha ha.you do wonderfully!

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

You think I’m joking ! Primary 4 children can look over my head these days 😂

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

Oh my!!! X

[backintime Graduate]

I didn't get to 5K in 30 minutes and still, nearly 5 weeks after graduation, I still haven't.

I have run 5K, I have run 30 minutes

Yesterday I did 6K in 55 mins

I'm not fussed about the name, I'm just pleased I can run for 5K, if it takes me longer than 30mins, so be it

[Serenity0365 Graduate in reply to backintime]

Yes, not fussed about names. Sloth to Hare in 9 weeks (S2Hi9W) perhaps

[nif100 Graduate]

Hi I agree with you, I have read tons of past posts on here people worrying that they have not achieved 5k distance although they have completed C25K, me included. I am not speedy runner just potter along. It is a really good incentive though to get people up and exercising but I feel that you have a good pointx

[Serenity0365 Graduate in reply to nif100]

I'm just aware of the almost daily repeating of posts which are effectively pointing out that 30 minutes is the goal not 5K. It is what it is and doesn't concern me, just amuses me I suppose

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Over the years we have discussed this and the only conclusion we come to is that C25K is catchy and people know what it means. If we did C230M, it could mean 30 mins, 30 metres or 30 miles. I think once people realise they adjust quickly. I was less than 5km at graduation and I remember when I realised, it was great to have this forum to let me know it was fine. We did a poll on finishing distance and the results were Interesting. Also on the bridge to 10km forum Ju-Ju’s plan is 10km or the alternative of one hour. We also have a paced plan up to 10km that goes to up to 15 mins a km.

healthunlocked.com/couchto5....

[Serenity0365 Graduate in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Couch to 30 miles, now there's a challenge

[backintime Graduate in reply to Serenity0365]

Especially in 9 weeks : )

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to backintime]

Can I take the WHOLE nine weeks ? If I go 24/7 I might make it 😂

[backintime Graduate in reply to ButtercupKid]

Go on then, as it's you : )

[ButtercupKid Graduate in reply to backintime]

You’re just too too kind 😂

[MarkyD Graduate]

Ah yes, the accurately named C2r430m3xi1w program. Instantly forgettable...

C25K appeals to a very wide user-base with an equally-wide range of abilities. We have teenagers and runners in their 80's, over-weight, under-weight, tall, short, in full health and those with pre-existing medical conditions. It's impossible to define a goal based on speed, pace or distance for that user-group - everyone will have their own ability. Yet still the program is called C25K. But as Laura (or your own trainer) says near the beginning "the object is to run for 30 minutes or 5km three times in one week". 30 minutes. That's all you have to target.

[Serenity0365 Graduate in reply to MarkyD]

LOL!! Thanks Mark

How about C+W1R1+W1R2+W1R3+W2R1+W2R2+W2R3+W3R1+W3R2+W3R3+W4R1+W4R2+W4R3+W5R1+W5R2+W5R3+W6R1+W6R2+W6R3+W7R1+W7R2+W7R3+W8R1+W8R2+W8R3+W9R1+W9R2+W9R3+repeats25K

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

My run club took all the numbers out of it... their C25K is called “pub to parkrun”.

A lot of people who are looking to get into running end up with a version of C25K as it’s the really famous tried and tested approach. If we here had a different title then we probably wouldn’t get as many people starting our identical plan. Hopefully this forum changes the mindset of the majority of new runners and had them focus on what they really came here for... to get fit and healthy.

[Serenity0365 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Yes the /brand/ C25K is powerful and perhaps one of a few paths into that other healthy /brand/ called parkrun.

Totally left field perhaps but the company called Carphone Warehouse is a commercial example of a /brand/ that has little to do with the actual product.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Serenity0365]

Yep... they should have been gone in the 90s but they adapted well. If I was to run a C25K group I think I’d have one session at 9am on a Saturday... walkers are welcome, and so are C25Kers... just need mental strength or leadership to not try and run it all.

parkrun does mirror carphone warehouse in a way... they started as a time trial for serious runners and adapted into something so much more. As my coach says it’s all about running, it’s not all about running. parkrun kinda stumbled upon becoming a huge health project... and recently the medical profession celebrated a year in partnership with them.

I watch the news about the obesity crisis... the answer is clear... it’s not a sugar tax, it’s not low fat... it’s to go back to what our grandparents did... move a lot more.

[Serenity0365 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thanks UnfitNoMore, interesting stuff.

[Beccaaboo in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Totally agree. I listened to the news in disbelief the other day. The government are trialing a scheme (1 in Blackburn) where local takeaway owners are given a tax break if they change their menu to offer healthy food as well. All to combat childhood obelising!! So they will add a salad to the menu and not one child will order it! How about putting money into educating families on how to cook healthier options and also providing free clubs where kids can run around! Who comes up with these ideas?

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Beccaaboo]

I’ve thought about this... and yes, I wasn’t quite right. Our grandparents did two things differently... they moved a lot more, and they cooked from ingredients. My chilli comes in at 350 calories a portion... not quite from ingredients but close... I dread to think how many are in the eating out version.

[Martianchild Graduate]

With my 2 walks either side of the 30 minute run I covered 4.74k in week 9 day 1. So maybe it's about total distance covered... there's no way I'm going to run 5k in 30 minutes at the moment but I will over the coming weeks after I graduate I think calling it couck2yayicanrun might be an idea 🤷‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Serenity0365 Graduate in reply to Martianchild]

Nice! couch2yayicanrun ☀️👍