Do you include your 5min walks in your distance log?

[che130]

Hi all,

I have just completed Week 6, Run 1 - A fairly relaxed schedule of 5/8/5 minute runs after the week 5 20 minutes. I'm looking forward to being able to run for 25 minutes at the end of the week (hopefully!).

My query is around tracking distances, and what everyone else does. I use the Strava app and begin recording as I leave the house, so my 5min warm up and cool down walks are included in the distance. I'm hitting just under 4k all-in at the moment.

I know that distance isn't the be-all and end-all, and it's about being able to keep running for 30 minutes and that I can try to increase my speed/distance once I've completed the programme, but I like to keep track of the distances I'm completing.

I will continue to track my 'all-in' distance, as I think it's worth noting the total distance I'm moving, but do you, or do you start and end your tracking once the running bit starts and ends?

[MonkeyMagic77 Graduate]

Personally, I'm not tracking distance on Strava until I've graduated C25K and am doing my own thing, but I'd say it's fair to track walk and run distances to see how far you go each time, and how fast. Eventually I will do that to see my distance and average speed improving over time. The only reason I don't at the moment is that having 2 apps going (C25K and Deezer music) is enough to be coping with already

[che130 Graduate in reply to MonkeyMagic77]

Thanks. Since posting I've found some old threads with the same question, and everyone has a different take. I'll stick with tracking as I leave the house, as it works for me - I have my 3 apps (C25K, Spotify, Strava) next to each other on my phone, so just start them all when I leave home. I might change it to just tracking the running distance once I've graduated C25K, as you say.

[Papillon17 Graduate]

Hi I have done both before, I have included the warm up and cool downs in the early weeks rather than fiddling with Strava whilst running then when got to the later ones recorded warm up walk and cool down walk as walks and recorded the running section as a run. I have put everything on a spread sheet and see how I compare each time I have completed it. It’s up to you what sort of results you are looking for and do what’s best for you. I am same as you C25K, Strava and music on phone all going at same time.

[che130 Graduate in reply to Papillon17]

Thanks for your response. I think I will stick to tracking it all as one for now, for ease and because I am also plotting onto a spreadsheet, so I have been seeing improvements anyway and it's a good way to keep the comparisons going.

[Never-too-old-run Graduate]

Yes. Always. When I graduated I was only hitting around 4k of running time 🏃‍♂️within the 30 minute period including the two warm ups/downs. I never ever miss my warmups and stretches in order to avoid injury which is drummed into you if you follow the Couch 25k app. However, since then, I've been following a consolidation programme that I got from this site whereby you do 3 runs a week: 20, 30, 35 including warm up and down with the third run gradually increasing each week to 50 mins. I'm now at 45 mins on the long run and am just touching 5k of total running, still including the two warmups. I've been finding this an effective way to increase the length of my running time. Hope this might help you too🏃‍♂️

[che130 Graduate in reply to Never-too-old-run]

Good to know someone does the same. Do you have a link to/ name of the consolidation programme you're using? I'm trying to plan my life after C25K and looking at various options - the Nike Run Club seems to be a popular choice.

[Never-too-old-run Graduate in reply to che130]

It's called Consolidation club's Bridge to 5k. If you do a search on the site hopefully you'll come across it. You can print out an 8week programme to chart your progress. It was written a couple of years ago but it still very useful. Let me know if you cant find it and I'll try and find the link that Miss Understanding sent me a while back

[Never-too-old-run Graduate in reply to che130]

healthunlocked.com/couchto5... again. Finally found the article I ead referring to. Hope you can use it

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

I start my tracker as I get out the door so includes warm up and cool down. I have done some runs that are shorter and then I only include the run part and my times are faster of course but it really doesn't matter what we do we are running 😀

[Bikafella Graduate]

I use fitbit for my distance and start it in run mode after my warmup exercises. My plodding at Wk 6 R 1 is 3.8 km. I'll be satisfied in doing 30 mins at the end of the course then looking to go a but faster. I'm fortunate I live close to a country park with half the run elevated so it's a pleasant route.

[Crolla]

I use the Runkeeper app which I start as soon as I start running, but my FitBit and my phone will track the distance from when I leave the house.

[Never-too-old-run Graduate]

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Here's the article I mentioned. You may have got it twice by now! Sorry if so 😳

[che130 Graduate in reply to Never-too-old-run]

Great! Thank you so much. I joined the Bridge to 10k group yesterday, so I'll start taking a look at that once I'm nearing the end of C25K in a couple of weeks

[nowster Graduate]

I have my watch track the whole of the session, with warm up walk, the run itself, and the cool down walk back home, as separate "laps".

And apart from organised runs (like parkrun) I always have a five minute warm up walk, even now, three years after graduating.

[Zev1963 Graduate]

I choose to only log from when I begin running to when I stop running. But it is only my personal choice. I don't think it really matters a jot. I'm just a creature of habit, and have always done it that way.