Care to join me in the Couch to 5k plan?

[zagafi]

You can find it hereCouch to 5k (http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml) I'm beginning Monday, and I'm doing this as my pre-marathon training warm up. It's a very reasonable plan and I'd love to have some company!

Pam

[pixiechick]

I just wanted to give the couch to 5k a plug. It took me from a complete non runner last January (I couldn't last a minute!)to someone who averages 25-30 miles per week this January. The plan is so doable!

Repeat weeks if you need to, and don't be afraid of some of the more difficult days. You may be surprised by what your body can do. I am fairly slow, so I always went by distance instead of time. The plan assumes an almost 10 minute mile, if I recall correctly, and I'm lucky when I do that now! So if it said x miles or y minutes, I went the full distance even though it may have taken an extra 10 minutes or so.

There is a weekly thread on the newbie board in their discussion section, where people following the plan report their progress. The coolrunning community is a pretty decent group of people with lots of great advice.

Good luck!

[chimera]

I've been thinking about it, zag. There's a 5K here in March that I'd like to do, but not sure I can be ready in time. Maybe I need someone to kick my butt in gear!

[crzy4pooh]

I did this program last May - like pixiechick, I could hardly last a minute! I set my first goal as a 5K that was at the end of my 7th week (that was the only one even close to the right time). I wasn't able to run the entire 5K by then, but I only walked a little. I even ended up with a bronze medal in my age group (of course, there were only 4 running in my group...) :flower: All that to say, couch to 5K is a super program! I actually went by the time, rather than distance (even though I was slower than their pacing) because I didn't know the exact distance where I was running. Either way should work fine. Here's a warning - it's such a practical, doable program, you might just get hooked on running and racing! ;)

Have fun with it and happy running! :banana:

[lizdotcom99]

I had my first10 mile week walking...and it was great...I am thinking this is WAAAAAAYYYY out of my leauge....but I may ry it...but a quick question...how do you time all this stuff or measure it all....I am so new at all of this, that I have no idea where to even begin!! Any words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!

Liz :cool1: :cool1: :cool1:

[perfectmatch300]

I'm thinking of trying this with you. I don't know if I'll be able to move on to week 2 right away, though. Heck, I'm not even sure I'll be able to do week 1! I do a lot of walking now, but running - any running at all - is a whole different story! I'll try it & let you know how I make out.

[HappyMommy2]

Thanks so much for that link! I printed it out and am considering it. My current exercise plan is cardio 3x/week and weights 2x/week so this would fit right in for the cardio part (I'm getting sick of aerobics).

I have always DESPISED jogging (I've always pushed too hard when starting off, then quit because I was so miserable) so this would be a stretch for me. On the other hand I am feeling up to a challenge right now, and jogging is something I can do with the kids in the jogging stroller--no need to find a sitter so I can go to the gym. The plan sounds very reasonable and I would be excited to be able to jog a 5K! DH would be really proud of me too.

I will have to think about this a bit more. Thanks again!

[lizdotcom99]

Another question....how many times a week should you do this training? I am seriously thinking about doing this......although I am thinking I might be a bit :crazy:

[zagafi]

I'm thinking of trying this with you. I don't know if I'll be able to move on to week 2 right away, though. Heck, I'm not even sure I'll be able to do week 1! I do a lot of walking now, but running - any running at all - is a whole different story! I'll try it & let you know how I make out.

And that's fine! If you read through, they tell you that it's fine to repeat weeks and that it's better to stretch it out than rush through and push yourself! I'm not running much yet, but I can do the short bursts. It's been awhile since I pushed my body but it'll come around eventually. ;)

[zagafi]

Another question....how many times a week should you do this training? I am seriously thinking about doing this......although I am thinking I might be a bit :crazy:

Liz, it's 3 days a week. Start slowly and work up to the bursts of running. Just keep your heartrate up with your walking pace and do the bursts when you're able!

[chimera]

I tried it yesterday, but a slightly modified version. I ran for one minute, then walked for two for 20 minutes. I did a 5 minute warmup at a slower pace, then a 3 minute cool down at the end at the same pace as the first 5 minutes. It was a bit more intense than I'd expected. Distance-wise, that took me 1.5 miles. It's a neat plan, but I don't think I'm an 8-weeker...may be closer to 10 weeks for me to get through the whole program, so I don't know how that'll work for the 5K I was looking at in March.

[perfectmatch300]

I finally started today! :earseek: :earseek: :earseek:

As I said earlier, walking is fine for me, but OMG the running!!!!

DH went with me, he's in much better shape than me so he was running circles around me - literally! It was good to have him along, though. It kept me motivated to keep running, & also helped me to keep track of what I was doing. We were doing time intervals because we were going around our neighborhood & weren't sure of exact distances.

I will DEFINITELY be repeating weeks in this program. As it was, I had to break it down even further to get started. Today I did about 10 min stretching, 5 min brisk warm up walk, then jogged for 1 min & walked for 3 min for 20 min, then walked the rest of the way home for a total walk/jog time of 30 min. I know that's twice the time they suggest for walking between runs, but in the shape I'm in, that's what I was able to do. I'm going to try that for a while then start cutting down on the walking until I can do week #1. Then I'll move on with the rest of the program from there. I'm wondering what you guys think of that approach. I was also wondering if it would be better to cut down the running to 30 sec, then walk for 90 sec. I chose the 1 min run, 3 min walk because I felt that would be easier to keep track of, but I'm open to suggestions. At any rate, at least I started! :cheer2: :banana: :cheer2: