C25K / Week 5 then week 6 transition - huh??

GOT_Obsessed

Week 5 Run three:
a brisk five-minute walk, then 20 minutes of running, with no walking.

Then

Week 6 Run one:
a brisk five-minute walk, then five minutes of running, three minutes of walking, eight minutes of running, three minutes of walking and five minutes of running.

It looks weird to go from a straight 20 minute run back to adding walking. I have complete faith in the program but wonder why is it built with this progression. Any ideas why that would be set up this way?

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Monday I do the 20 minute jog. Eeeeeek, I am very, very scared.

lulalacroix

Congrats on getting so far! I just graduated from C25K this week. The last run was surprisingly easy. My lungs felt great, my legs felt like they could run longer.

I honestly don't know the why's of it's set-up, but I do know that it works. Don't be afraid of the 20 minutes, you've got this!

BrianKMcFalls

It's been a while since I've looked at the program, but it's an increase in volume, even though you are walking. You should also be able to run faster with the walk breaks.

lorrpb

First, congrats on getting this far! Great work! Second, that 20 minute run is "easier" for most people than we expected. You will probably make it the first time, but if not, repeat week 5. I have no idea why the program is structured the way it is in weeks 6 & 7 and no one could really explain it. It works for most people, so just follow it.

dewd2

That is a typical training plan. To improve you increase for a couple weeks and then have a lower impact week. This is normal. Marathon plans work the same way.

The reasoning is your body needs to adapt and those adaptations occur when you are resting. The easy week is for growth and recovery.

Great job. Keep it up and trust the plan.

Good luck.

GOT_Obsessed

Oh my God I did 20 minutes without stopping to walk!! It was on the treadmill and super slow. But when I had 1 minute left I even sped it up.

I can't wait till it's not icy out here so I can re-do the program outside. I know it will be a challenge since it's waaaaay harder on the ground. I started the program at the indoor running track but I was away for Christmas and had to use a treadmill then. I like being able to see the timer count down so I know how far in I am and how long is left. I plan to finish on the treadmill because I have people who will walk along beside me and distract me. But come Spring I want to be outside.

30kgin2017

It looks like a recovery run plus its actually only 2 mins less of running so you are likely to cover more distance in the 24mins (excluded warm up time). If I do a hilly run I find my next run is always way slower as my body takes longer to recover from the hills as compared to a flat run.

Unknown

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dewd2

Great job!!!!

It's not 'that' much harder to run outside. Keep with the program and maybe start the 10k program and you'll be running outside easier than you think. No need to completely start over. Take it easy and avoid hills for the first couple weeks and you will be fine.

Good luck.