Couch to 5k - any good?

[johnwilliams77]

ORD said:

The thread is titled 'Is it any good?'

But you can have your safe space!

Wrong
It's titled: 'couch to 5k - is it any good' not 'is running any good' which you seem to be saying it's not that good for you with no real facts behind your statements

[ORD]

johnwilliams77 said:

Wrong
It's titled: 'couch to 5k - is it any good' not 'is running any good' which you seem to be saying it's not that good for you with no real facts behind your statements

It's a running programme for training novices. That is what I am criticising about it. In my opinion, training novices have much better options than a running programme.

Plenty of facts - running has positive effects on only one of the various facets of fitness and health; running is relatively high risk and cost in terms of joint trouble; there are much better things that a novice could do to improve overall fitness and body composition.

Lots of upsides, to running too, though: convenience, the social aspect; fast improvements in CV fitness; little skill to learn, etc.

A different perspective from someone who isn't persuaded by the merit of running for novices. Not sure why people are so easily upset.

[johnwilliams77]

ORD said:

It's a running programme for training novices. That is what I am criticising about it. In my opinion, training novices have much better options than a running programme.

Plenty of facts - running has positive effects on only one of the various facets of fitness and health; running is relatively high risk and cost in terms of joint trouble; there are much better things that a novice could do to improve overall fitness and body composition.

Lots of upsides, to running too, though: convenience, the social aspect; fast improvements in CV fitness; little skill to learn, etc.

A different perspective from someone who isn't persuaded by the merit of running for novices. Not sure why people are so easily upset.

I can assure you, I am not upset. But you're at it again, it does not need to be mutually exclusive! When I first did couch to 5km as a porker I did it offroad/ongrass (because I was heavy), alongside cycle commute and 2 usually half hour sessions with a trainer int he gym. Lots of people do it alongside an active life, like cycle commute and C25K does not take over your life. It's only 2-3hrs a week maximum.

[ORD]

A programme like this can form part of a more general fitness regime. We can agree on that!

[johnwilliams77]

ORD said:

A programme like this can form part of a more general fitness regime. We can agree on that!

Thank fking christ for that!

[smn159]

ORD said:

Not sure why people are so easily upset.

ORD said:

But you can have your safe space!

I'd guess that it's partly down to unnecessarily antagonistic statements like the one above.

[croyde]

Well I've only done the first week and already feel far more bouyant about life in general.

The fact that it has me running, albeit in one minute bits, has amazed me.

My last few sessions today even had me concentrating on pace and stride instead of just thinking I was gonna pass out lol.

[johnwilliams77]

croyde said:

Well I've only done the first week and already feel far more bouyant about life in general.

The fact that it has me running, albeit in one minute bits, has amazed me.

My last few sessions today even had me concentrating on pace and stride instead of just thinking I was gonna pass out lol.

Great job - keep it up!

[croyde]

Cheers

[MOBB]

croyde said:

Well I've only done the first week and already feel far more bouyant about life in general.

The fact that it has me running, albeit in one minute bits, has amazed me.

My last few sessions today even had me concentrating on pace and stride instead of just thinking I was gonna pass out lol.

Great stuff!

I was there a couple of years ago, and did my first parkrun last June in 39 minutes. At that time I dreamed of getting sub 30 mins one day. I did that by September lol.

This weekend I'm going to go all out to beat my current pb of 26.13 and go sub 26 mins.

Just keep doing it, you get better and better, I'm no athlete but can do 5km each weekend in a respectable time now.

[MOBB]

Also, even though you have only just started, if you can, have a go at parkrun. You wont come last!

The weekly discipline it has given me is better than any other fitness thing I've tried. Saturday 9am is now just parkrun time, I've only missed around 3 since June last year.

[croyde]

Cheers folks. Actually bought some decent running shoes today and it certainly helped.

I can just concentrate on other aches and pains now lol.

I'm on week 4 which has 5min and 3min runs. Certainly can't believe it considering how hard I found the 1min runs in week 1.

In fact I even kept running for another minute at the end of the last 5min session.

So now on 5k in 30mins. 17mins running and 13mins walking.

I changed apps so I now have Jo Whiley stirring me on. Funny to think I used to drink with her back in 1990 when she was a researcher and I used to go home all doey eyed.

[Captain Benzo]

I've been sticking to running 5km, 3 times a week for about 9 months now. I have a 10K cross country at the end of May, so ramping up using one of Hal Higdon's plans.

Last night was supposed to be a 4km run, I ended up saying sod it and did 10k, no issues at all. I did have to slow down on some of the uphill sections, went quicker on the downhills.

my only issue is, iguess due to my weight, is that I struggle to up my average speed above 8km/hour. this is my average speed irrespective of if i do 3km or 10km. any advice?

[smn159]

Captain Benzo said:

I've been sticking to running 5km, 3 times a week for about 9 months now. I have a 10K cross country at the end of May, so ramping up using one of Hal Higdon's plans.

Last night was supposed to be a 4km run, I ended up saying sod it and did 10k, no issues at all. I did have to slow down on some of the uphill sections, went quicker on the downhills.

my only issue is, iguess due to my weight, is that I struggle to up my average speed above 8km/hour. this is my average speed irrespective of if i do 3km or 10km. any advice?

I guess that the obvious advice is to lose a bit of weight

Assuming that your weight isn't such that it's risking your joints as you increase the distance, then intervals will help with increasing your speed as they will train your body to run raster when you're tired. When I started I found that increasing from 5k to 10k was pretty straightforward with no adverse effects at all, but that I needed to be careful when increasing distances beyond that as you need to give your body time to adjust.

Also, if you have a mainly desk job, as I do, then stretches become more important - hamstrings in particular have been an issue for me as sitting on your arse all day does lose you some flexibility.

Good luck!

[egor110]

Captain Benzo said:

I've been sticking to running 5km, 3 times a week for about 9 months now. I have a 10K cross country at the end of May, so ramping up using one of Hal Higdon's plans.

Last night was supposed to be a 4km run, I ended up saying sod it and did 10k, no issues at all. I did have to slow down on some of the uphill sections, went quicker on the downhills.

my only issue is, iguess due to my weight, is that I struggle to up my average speed above 8km/hour. this is my average speed irrespective of if i do 3km or 10km. any advice?

Re speed try sprinting between every 5th-6th lampost you get to or sprint the goal end of a football pitch and jog/recover the long bit of the pitch.

Also join a club , you'll get quicker just by running with others just a bit faster than you.

[rex]

I'm in week 5 of C25K. It's going well and this is the 3rd time I would have done it. Previously got up to 5 miles but then tend to stop.

This time I gave signed up with a mate for a half marathon in September. Question is, once I have finished C25K do I go onto some half marathon training program or find a 5K210K program first. If there are any recommendations then they will be gratefully received

[johnwilliams77]

rex said:

I'm in week 5 of C25K. It's going well and this is the 3rd time I would have done it. Previously got up to 5 miles but then tend to stop.

This time I gave signed up with a mate for a half marathon in September. Question is, once I have finished C25K do I go onto some half marathon training program or find a 5K210K program first. If there are any recommendations then they will be gratefully received

Work your distance up slowly, so yes, follow a transition program to 10km
If you can run 30mins then practice 3x12mij runs and slowly build it up

[oldbanger]

I am in week 4 as well, running 3 x a week then doing a 10-15 mile hill walk on Sundays. This weekend is going to be pretty interesting as I am doing a total of 975m ascent on my own.

[Captain Benzo]

egor110 said:

Re speed try sprinting between every 5th-6th lampost you get to or sprint the goal end of a football pitch and jog/recover the long bit of the pitch.

Also join a club , you'll get quicker just by running with others just a bit faster than you.

I'm in the wilds of nowhere, I'm not sure there is a parkrun here, but the sprinting , i'll try tonight. my main worry was that i'd be unable to do it, now it's being too slow.

I have a few days away on business next week, the hotel has an excellent gym, so i'll try running quicker on a treadmill before heading back onto the pavements.

[johnwilliams77]

rex said:

I'm in week 5 of C25K. It's going well and this is the 3rd time I would have done it. Previously got up to 5 miles but then tend to stop.

This time I gave signed up with a mate for a half marathon in September. Question is, once I have finished C25K do I go onto some half marathon training program or find a 5K210K program first. If there are any recommendations then they will be gratefully received

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkjoqNW2hq8