C25K on treadmill?

[Ling_Bedford]

Hi, I have been on-off trying to do C25K for a while now (since summer last year) but has never complete the whole course. Since the weather was getting cold I bought myself a treadmill. Just wondering if anyone has done C25K on the treadmill? And any tips? Thanks 🙏

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your decision.

Of course C25K can be done on a treadmill, if you can face the boredom.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

Enjoy your journey.

[Ling_Bedford in reply to IannodaTruffe]

IannodaTruffe, thank you

[Hidden]

Listen to music, watch movies on a tablet, I use a treadmill and really enjoy it, but it's not for everyone.

Good luck.

[Ling_Bedford in reply to Hidden]

I normally watch TV sitcom, but I am finding hard to set to the correct speed and I can't get the timing quite right.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

Lots of people here have done C25K on a treadmill, including me. It then took another month of running on that, before I headed outdoors and I when gyms are open, I do about 30% of my running on a treadmill.

As for speed control, this should quite straightforward.

Find your brisk walking speed - a walk that is fast but controllable but which gets you warm after 5-10 minutes. Mine is 6.8 km/h but I know that's quite fast compared to some people. Start at 4 km/h ... and ramp it up gently until you feel that you can't walk any quicker.

And then... nudge the speed up a fraction, only by 0.2 or so and break into a jog. That should be your C25K pace

As for timings, why not write them down on paper and have that their to remind you?

[Ling_Bedford]

Thanks for that John_W, that's really helpful. 6.8km/h is too fast for me as my current running is 6km/h, lol! I haven't restarted C25K yet, I am using pre-programmed functions on treadmill for one hour 5 times a week, but I am hoping to start C25K program again. 🤞

[Hidden in reply to Ling_Bedford]

If you are out of breath when you walk/run or struggle to speak clearly it more than likely means you are going to fast.

[Ling_Bedford in reply to Hidden]

I think I should be able to walk/jog faster than my current speed. Thank you for the tip.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to Ling_Bedford]

Try and find the manual mode - it's makes life much easier. YOU control the speed and the timings. You just adjust the speed for your runs and walks, simple.

[Ling_Bedford in reply to John_W]

Yes I was going to figure out how to add my own program, but haven't found it yet 😅

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to Ling_Bedford]

You shouldn't need to add a program. Just use 'manual' mode so you get to vary the speed yourself at the appropriate time during a run.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Hi there. I got a treadmill last year but have been using them in the winter in the gym for a couple of years. I take my fast walking pace then add one. So for you your speed that you mentioned above I would walk at 5.0 and run at 6.0. You can change these whenever you feel like it. Some days I get on and I feel full of energy so I’ll up my pace one or two points. Good luck and happy running.

[nowster Graduate]

On the other hand, some people like running in the cold, myself included.

If you'd told me this time last year that two weekends ago I'd be enthusiastically going outside in a biting wind with snowflakes dancing in the air, and then running for 10km, I'd have told you where to go. Beware: this stuff changes you! 😉

What I would suggest is when the weather gets warmer in a month or so, you do venture outside again.

[Ling_Bedford in reply to nowster]

That's my plan. I do enjoy running outdoors, only when the weather is a bit warmer, and it's not too dark or Icy! 😄