Roseabi’s Bridge to 5K plan!: ✅ This post is for... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

134,173 members159,523 posts

Roseabi’s Bridge to 5K plan!

roseabi profile image
20 Replies

✅ This post is for C25K graduates who have been consolidating their 30 minute runs for two or three weeks.

Are you running less than 5K in 30 minutes? Try gently increasing the time you are running until you reach 5K - it's a great goal!

Here's a little plan for increasing your time running with one 'long run' per week, with an aim to get to 5k and then on to an hour of running. I have shared this in previous Consolidation Clubs posts, and a number of people found it useful.

The basic idea is to reduce one weekly run to 20 minutes, and increase another one by 5 minute increments. I have suggested that it might be best to repeat the first two weeks, but you can carry on repeating weeks if you feel the need. Alternatively, don't repeat weeks at all - see how you feel!

Week 1&2: Run 1, 20 minutes; Run 2, 30 minutes; Run 3, 35 minutes.

Week 3&4: Run 1, 20 minutes; Run 2, 30 minutes; Run 3, 40 minutes.

Week 5: Run 1, 20 minutes; Run 2, 30 minutes; Run 3, 45 minutes.

Week 6: Run 1, 20 minutes; Run 2, 30 minutes; Run 3, 50 minutes.

--

Here is a link to a printable version of the plan to stick on your fridge: drive.google.com/file/d/1Yx...

Written by
roseabi profile image
roseabi
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
20 Replies
nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate

Just in case anyone's wondering why the first two pairs of weeks repeat, it's so that you keep within the 10% rule for increasing activity without getting injured.

If it were a strict 10% growth, starting from 30 minutes baseline, the runs would be 33.0, 36.3, 39.9, 43.9, 48.3, and 53.1 minutes. They've either been rounded up a little or down a lot. You're pushing a little more in the first week, but compensating for that by running less overall by reducing the length of one of the three weekly runs.

roseabi profile image
roseabi in reply tonowster

This plan assumes that a runner has been doing 3 x 30 minute runs per week, so actually the first week amounts to a reduction in the weekly running time.

nowster profile image
nowsterGraduate in reply toroseabi

Understood. 👍

Newbie_Megan profile image
Newbie_MeganGraduate

Love this plan! This is what I’m trying roughly! Thank you 🙏

roseabi profile image
roseabi in reply toNewbie_Megan

Great! Keep us posted xxx

Popstess profile image
PopstessGraduate

Hi roseabi Is it best to consolidate for a few weeks of 30 minute runs 3 times a week before starting thus plan? Or can it be started straight from completing week 9?

roseabi profile image
roseabi in reply toPopstess

Consolidate first xxx

Popstess profile image
PopstessGraduate

Thank you!

Jogger22 profile image
Jogger22Graduate

Hi roseabi i completed W9R2 today and intend doing W9R3 on Tuesday. I want to do parkrun when it restarts next Saturday but obviously won't have done 3 weeks of consolidation runs before then. At the moment I'm covering 4km in 30 minutes so 5k will probably take me 37 1/2 minutes. Is it ok for me to attempt 5k next Saturday as I really want to do parkrun?

roseabi profile image
roseabi in reply toJogger22

Just take it easy, walk briefly if you need to (you don't have to run the whole 5k), take an extra day's rest afterwards, and then get onto consolidating your 30 minute runs after that. And enjoy the day!! xx

Jogger22 profile image
Jogger22Graduate in reply toroseabi

Thanks @roseabi will try and run for the first 30 minutes at least and then anything else I can do will be a bonus. It’s not forecast to be quite as hot next Saturday which should make it a little easier :)

roseabi profile image
roseabi in reply toJogger22

Exciting!! Have fun xxx

Popstess profile image
PopstessGraduate

Hi sorry for all the questions, I'm considering doing this plan after another week or 2 of consolidation runs.

I've been looking at the plan and reading tips on the forum, would all these runs be ran at the same pace? E.g my easy conversational pace or would the 30 and 30+ be ran at conversational pace and the 20 minutes ran faster? I'm not sure how it works?

roseabi profile image
roseabi in reply toPopstess

Take them all at an easy pace xx

Popstess profile image
PopstessGraduate

Okay, thank you

MrBassmanjazz profile image
MrBassmanjazzGraduate

Hi. Still consolidating, but this looks like the way to go. (Still only hitting 3.6K at 30 mins). Thanks, M :-)

Poppdog profile image
PoppdogGraduate

Is it possible to have the link?

roseabi profile image
roseabi in reply toPoppdog

Which link?

Poppdog profile image
PoppdogGraduate in reply toroseabi

The link to the printable version but don’t worry I’ve written it out. Thanks

roseabi profile image
roseabi in reply toPoppdog

The link is in the post, but here it is again:

drive.google.com/file/d/1Yx...

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Consolidation runs. My plan

I'm trying to get a little faster, my aim is to get to 5k easily within 30 minutes. So I planned...
StarkeyGo profile image
Graduate

Bridge to 5k

Hi there all; just reporting from the slow end* - I consolidated for a couple of weeks after...
Languid_Lil profile image
Graduate

⭐️Beyond Couch to 5k runs ⭐️

Have you updated your app recently? If not, you’re in for a treat! Once you’ve graduated, you’ll be...
MissUnderstanding profile image
Administrator

Bridge-to-10K: Week 4 Run 1

Ten runs down, eight more to go! Hard to believe I'm already closer to the end of Bridge-to-10K...
IronMatt profile image
Graduate

Bridge-to-10K: Week 2 Run 1

Tonight was another session of 1am running. Didn't intend it to be. However, I went to work......
IronMatt profile image
Graduate

Moderation team

See all
MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministrator
Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleAdministrator
Yesletsgo profile image
YesletsgoAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.