Where should I restart?

[Jogger22]

I haven't run at all in over 2 months and would like to resume couch to 5k over the Christmas holidays. Previously I got as far as w7r2. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I should restart?

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

As its over 2 months since you last ran I would advise you to to start at run 1 of week 1, check out how you feel, if OK with that run then 2 days later restart with the 3 runs of week 3, week 3 is a popular week for graduates who have not ran for a little while, if the first run of week 1 is hard, then it's better to restart at week 1, see how it goes. 😊 🏃🏾

[Jogger22 Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks for the advice. I will definitely give it a try although I am not quite a graduate 👍

[Basil2010]

I have restarted a couple of times and go back to week 4 roughly, as surprising I found I still had the stamina etc to do it. I would find week 1 too slow and bitty

[Chocs_away Graduate]

I've restarted on week 4 - but I guess you need to make a judgement call on general fitness too. Perhaps better to start to easy and then skip to the next week for the next run if you need to?

[RunningMigster Graduate]

Tough call. You dont want to start again, but at the same time you dont want to risk injury by not going far enough back.

I think I'd probably go further back than I felt I needed to and then make a judgement call after that run.

[Jogger22 Graduate in reply to RunningMigster]

Thanks for the sound advice. I did W1R1 and then 4 days later I managed W5R1.

[mrrun Graduate]

I stopped mid program because of an injury and repeated the program from w1. Once l graduated l repeated the entire thing again. I repeated every program a few times (bridge to 10, HM and I'm doing the same with marathon training). And why not.

[Jogger22 Graduate in reply to mrrun]

Thanks for the sound advice. I did W1R1 and then 4 days later I managed W5R1.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

As stated in the guide to the plan, all you can do is to go out and have a gentle run to establish what you can comfortably manage.

Use this to select where in the plan is appropriate for you to pick up again.

[Jogger22 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks for the sound advice. I did W1R1 and then 4 days later I managed W5R1.

[Wenderwoo Graduate]

I’m pretty much in the same boat as you, and haven’t run for about a month. I’m not ready to start again yet, but when I do I think I’ll try a W1 run, rest for 2 days and if ok try W2, etc. If all goes ok up to W4 I’d then do all of W5 and onwards from there.

Hope that makes sense!

[Jogger22 Graduate in reply to Wenderwoo]

Thanks for the sound advice. I did W1R1 and then 4 days later I managed W5R1.

[sTrongFuse Graduate]

I restarted at week 2 after a 6 month lay-off through illness. I just couldn't face doing week one again. I'd say try W3R1, see how that goes. If you can do it comfortably, carry on from there; if you can't, drop back to W2R1 and see how that feels. The important thing is to avoid injury and setting yourself back even further.

I think, just as everyone has said, just see what your body decides it can manage, and build from there.