Week 3 run 1 Less distance covered, slightly improved pace…will I ever get to 5k??

[Runningrickard]

So far I have covered 2.2km from start to finish, this morning, 1.99km

I’m confused!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done.

W3 workouts have the shortest overall duration of all the weeks of the plan, so you are highly likely to cover less ground.

Also bear in mind that as duration increases you will have to pace yourself, so you will not necessarily see week on week increases in distance.

It is a duration based programme. The distance you cover is irrelevant.

Only a small proportion of graduates from this forum who responded to a poll, managed 5k in 30 minutes by graduation healthunlocked.com/couchto5....

Graduation requirements are that you complete three thirty minute runs, regardless of distance.

There is a link in the guide to the plan to a spreadsheet view of the plan.

Forget the numbers, relax and enjoy a nice steady jog, which will develop your body more effectively than pushing too hard.

[Runningrickard Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Noted, thank you!

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Your progress is fine, why are you confused ?

As advised, week 3 is the shortest workout of the programme so will cover less ground.

You do also know (I hope) that this program is not about getting to 5K .

Don't be concerned about 5k

Distance is totally irrelevant

The programme is to get you to running for 30 minutes 3x in week 9.

Nothing more , nothing less

Have a look at this post regarding 5K .

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Relax and enjoy !

[Runningrickard Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

I was confused about the progress in distance going backwards, however now realise it is more about the running time rather than reaching the 5k distance. Thanks for responding 😊

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

Week 3 is a bit really to be worrying about distances!

Note that your are asked to run by TIME and not distance ... hence the aim of the (mis-titled) program is to get you to run 30 minutes continuously, 3 times in Week 9 - nothing more, nothing less.

Only 10% of graduates actually manage 5k in that time , so please relax and enjoy.

[Runningrickard Graduate]

Thank you! I suppose it’s trying to understand how to measure my progress as I work through the program. Still early days but fun all the same

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Runningrickard]

Completing each session, still with something to give, will indicate your progress from week to week.

[Cmoi Graduate]

Hi Runningrickard , I didn't measure anything in terms of pace or distance until after I'd completed C25K. Stopped me stressing about it!

Also, IannodaTruffe is absolutely correct - the very fact of going through and completing the programme is itself a great indicator of your progress.

[Vespina Graduate]

I totally understand your thoughts on this. Statistics-obsessed me is the same. Here are some things that helped me at that stage (and now too).

1. Focus on hitting the goal. The programme is smart and knows how to get you there. Just follow what they say. The important thing is to run and walk the times they say. If you’re doing that, it’s a successful run.

2. Look at the total length of the time you’re out. As others have said, this is a short run so you’ll cover less ground. I liked to see the total time so I could understand the ups and downs in distance.

3. Find your comfortable pace - with a focus on comfortable. I went through a phase of pushing hard to PB runs and took all the joy from one run in particular. If you’re pushing on too hard, you may start to dread sessions and that makes it so much harder to get out for the next run. Find the joy in the running and don’t worry about pace or distance.

That’s just my personal take on things and what worked for me but hopefully that’s useful.

[Runningrickard Graduate]

Thanks Vespina I hadn’t thought about checking the overall time until later this morning!I’ve managed to keep my ‘run’ speed manageable throughout and am really loving the process. I’ve tried another c25k app in the past and this is so much better, it seems to really work (so far!)

[Vespina Graduate in reply to Runningrickard]

Good news. Glad the pace is both comfortable and enjoyable.

This is my second c25k programme too. My first was written by a marathon runner who clearly didn’t understand mere mortals. I was stuck on week 2 run 4 (5 minute walk, run 8, walk 3, run 8, walk 3) for two weeks before I could do it. Encouraging it was not! By the end of week 4, you were supposed to be running for 30 minutes!

So I’ve found this programme a breath of fresh air. It will take me two weeks longer but I’ve enjoyed it so much more. It definitely does work. The graduate badges next to people’s names are wonderful proof.

[Runningrickard Graduate in reply to Vespina]

Great to hear you’re getting stuck into this programme too, it’s a big step to start again, but one I don’t regret 😊

[Vespina Graduate in reply to Runningrickard]

True. It’s nice to know you’ve done it before so you know you can do it again.