Hi all, I downloaded app last week with view of doing park run at end of Jan. However, my ‘kids’ are home for holidays at Christmas so we’ve agreed to do the run on 21 Dec. Eek!,,, Needless to say I’ll be walking and jogging. Can I train 6 days a week since I’ve very little time. On Tues I did week one, Thursday I did week 2, and Saturday week 3. ( I’ve never run before so nor fast at all)
Thanks😀
Welcome to the forum.
This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
When you run, the impact creates microtears in your muscles, which repair and strengthen on your rest days, not while running. Without rest, repair and strengthening are compromised and injury risk increased.
The rest days are a crucial part of training for new runners and if you miss them out it is at your own risk.
Enjoy your journey
Mmmmmm thought you might say that. I need to do what I can in 3 weeks. Any suggestions appreciated
Read the guide, it's full of really good advice and sets you up for success. You can run every second day if you really need to but depending on your fitness level you will really benefit from the rest days.
Unfortunately, I think trying to go too fast and skipping weeks might set you up for failure, particularly if you've never run before. Each week of the plan really sets you up for the next and there is no quick fix with fitness, it's about taking the time to build strength and stamina.
If I were you I'd start up the plan and just do my best come run day. There's absolutely nothing wrong with walking big sections of it, and it'll be a great way to show you how far you've come when you finally complete the plan and can run the whole thing.
I know it must be frustrating, but try to look at the bigger picture - it's not just about this one run, it's about your future fitness, and taking it easy and building up gradually is the best way to set yourself up for success in the long term!
Thanks for the advice
Definitely not 6 days! I’ve been running almost 2 years and I rarely do 3 days in a row. They say don’t do 2 consecutive days for at least 6 months.
I did parkrun from week 1 - just followed run 3 of the plan each week inside parkrun. By week 6 I had to do the warm up walk before the start. You don’t need to be able to run it all.
Thanks for the advice. Yes I was thinking of using the app on the day.
How about they run and you volunteer? At least that way you get to do it together and you get the hang of how it works.
Good luck 👍
I volunteer every week now. Felt so inspired more by the ‘non athletes ‘ tbh. They turn up and do their best and I’m guessing get better each week. I thought if they can do it, so can I. 😄
That's brilliant that you're feeling inspired and you can definitely do it IF you're sensible and build up slowly and steadily. You'll kick yourself if you end up injured from trying to do too much too soon. Relax and enjoy it, go to Parkrun and run whichever Couchto5k run you're on and enjoy!
Hello Ashcraig. Go back to wk1 and start again completing all the runs in a week with rest days in between.
The reasons for this is you need to build up your running gradually . If you do too much too soon you can get injured and it can put you out of running for a long time.
Running is for enjoyment and not a race.
Good luck 😊
Although I admire your confidence I do think you're setting your sights more than a little too high! It could end up being a case of 'short term gain, long term pain!' As others have said, the C25K programme has been properly designed so that each run, and each week prepares you for the next one, and this includes the all important rest days too. When I first started this I blindly expected that I'd be able to run 5K 9 weeks later. Once I started week 1 I realised this was not going to be the case. You are clearly fitter/a more natural runner than me with what you've achieved so far but I still think you'd be better to do as Buddy34 suggests, stick to the programme and when it comes to your park tun, just do whatever week & run is due that day. Good luck anyway!
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