Why not Couch to 30 ?

[Instructor57]

Just curious, why is this program called Couch to 5k when you are concentrating on the times and not distance ?

I would imagine very few achieve 5k in the 30 minutes at first

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Just not as catchy a name ..the guy who devised the programme named it and that stands.

Our FAQ for all new runners, essential reading, explains this clearly...

We make it very clear on our replies to posts m that 30 minutes of running is a really desirable outcome...and all that is needed to Graduate...no pressure to achieve the 5K...

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks , I was certainly not criticising the plan 🙂

I'm so glad I have started it .

I was just curious 🙂

[Yorki_Girl Graduate]

It doesn’t take long to build up to 5 K after the programme ends. Win win all round

[icklegui Graduate]

I liked to think of it as Couch towards 5K. With this programme you can get to 5K, it just might not be within the 30 min, but you'll have the running legs to get there eventually.

Also, you get 5K races, but you don't often get 30 minute races

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

I think that Couch to 5k is an aspirational name and anybody who completes the plan will be well on their way to being able to run 5k, whether they can do it in 30 minutes or not.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

There's probably some history with this - there are variations eg an 8 week course and some with more emphasis on pace, but mostly a catchy title. This particular presentation was for the NHS.

What you say is certainly borne out by polling we've done here - most people are not running 5K in Week 9, although some certainly are. It does mean that there's a nice ready made post graduation goal of getting to 5K, and for some 5K in 30 minutes is within their reach.

[Newbie59 Graduate]

I think Couch to 30 minutes of running would be far too scary for most people! Some of us still aren't sure what exactly 5k is

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Newbie59]

Yeah, I guess so 😁

[Elfrun]

Couch to 3.4 k doesn't quite cut the mustard and 5 k in 30 minutes is not a bad aim although it will probably take me another 6 months if not a year to achieve

[Suesixty Graduate]

This forum helped me manage my expectations that I would not run 5K in 30 minutes but run without stopping for 30 minutes. I was disappointed at first but then refocused on what I was trying to achieve and now focus on 30 mins of running. I say ‘running’ as my distance is 2.5K (a very slow jog) in 30 minutes so 5K is a long way off yet. Keep going.

[Instructor57 Graduate in reply to Suesixty]

I will certainly keep going ! 😬👍

[MarkyD Graduate]

Imagine you’re telling your friends about starting to run. “Oh yes, I’m following the C2r430m3xi1w program”. Doesn’t quite have the same catchy appeal, does it???!!!