5K in 30 minutes? I think not.

[Spud-U-Like]

I've come to realise that I'm not going to be able to reach the perceived goal of 5K in thirty minutes, but I *will* reach the more realistic goal of running for thirty minutes. That's fine with me, we can't all be racing snakes, you always need a few stalwarts to chug along at the back of the pack. I'm on Week 7, just finished Run 1, and at the end of it I was feeling fine, felt like I could keep going without busting a gut. When I've finished this Couch to 5K program, with my good mate Sarah Millican cheering me on, I'm going to consolidate by running 5K at a time, which I suspect will take me around 40 minutes, just in time to start the Saturday Park Runs, which hopefully will re-start at the end of October. I'm glad I decided to do Couch to 5K, it's certainly made a difference to my overall health.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Well done on completing week 7 run 1

And there is absolutely no requirement to do 5k in 30 minutes to graduate .

As long as you run the 3x30 minutes of week 9 without walking then that is it !

I think my week 9 run 3 distance was 3.9k and my first 5k was 39:?? 🙂

[Whydothis Graduate]

Doing the 5k really doesn't matter by week 9! I graduated a month ago with 3.6k in my 30 minutes, and have gradually got just a little faster, but this morning I ran my first 5k. It took me about 42 minutes, but I am very pleased with it!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Congratulations on completing the first 6 weeks of C25K, you are now OFFICIALLY a RUNNER, well done also on completing run 1 of week 7, you do not need to run 5K in 30 minutes, as long as you run 3/30 minute runs in week 9 that is fine, as for the parkruns resuming at the end of October, hmmm, not sure about that, October 2021 more likely, anyway, enjoy your runs, it's not too long now until you graduate. 😊 🏃🏾

[Frizzbomb67 Graduate]

Sounds like a plan. Few of us reach 5k by the end of week 9 and few of us can run a 30 min 5k! It depends on so many things like gender, age, build etc. After about 6 weeks of consolidation runs I managed a 5k in 38 mins which is not too bad for a woman of my age. Focus on graduating then focus on extending your distance slowly to achieve that 5k. You’ve got this!

[Jamesfan73 Graduate]

5k took me 43 minutes on my graduation run - to do 5k in 30 minutes would mean an increase in pace of over 25% - thats never going to happen! I'll be over the moon if I ever get it just under 40 minutes! I think we all have a natural pace, and I'm not worried about it now - for me it's about building distance and stamina.

[Week7 Graduate]

Hi I didn't make it to 5k till a few weeks after graduation and still take over 35minutes now to do 5k but I'm really enjoying it all and am sure you will too.

Sarah was my special mate during C25k too_couldn't have done it without her.

All the best!