Is it possible to train for a 5k in a month?

paleopin

Is it possible to train for a 5k in a month? The couch to 5k thing is 9 weeks long, but its going to be fall soon so my options are limited and I want to do one this year. Has anyone trained for one before? I know at the very least I can definitely walk it, 3 miles isn't too bad and I walk a lot normally. I've really never done a race before though so looking to find some more info.

sammyneb

I think a lot of that would have to do with the kind of shape you are in, and if you have ever ran. if you goal is to just finish, and you already walk a lot then, yes you could probably do a 5k in a month. Now if you want to run the whole thing, and have never ran before, that may be a lofty goal, but probably not impossible. I didn't do the actual couch to 5 k when i started running, but I did something similar. I believe mine was around 5 or 6 weeks and I got up to running a 5k. You could probably modify the couch to 5K to shorten it up if you are in good shape..

FitbitVanessa

Agree, it depends on the kind of shape you are in. I was an avid walker, but couldn't run more than 1/10th of a mile without feeling like I was going to die. But, I made a commitment to follow the c25k plan and was able to complete it and run my first 5k after 5 weeks. I don't think it would have been possible to do it that quickly if I hadn't had a strong base from walking. That said, the first 2 weeks of c25k were killer for me, I did not think I would make it! So glad I did - now I'm training for a half marathon!

chelledawg14

I ran my first 5K last September after starting to run in March, but then only walking for two months due to bursitis in my hip. I did fine, but I was walking anywhere from 3-8 miles 5-6 days a week. I walked a 5K this past June and came in first in my age group, then did an intense 8 mile trail hike two weeks later and came in third out of the 23 families in it. I had hip problems again this summer & haven't been able to run again until the past two weeks. I'm planning on running a 5K again on Sept 14. I say go for it - you can always run/walk/run/walk. I know a lot of people who do that That's the way I'm looking at it. I never followed the C25K; I just wear my HRM and use MMR on my phone. I watch my HRM and do intervals of running walking a few days, then other days I don't look at all and I just run until I am too tired to keep running. Good luck whichever you decide - you'll be proud of yourself for doing it, either walking or running.

ATT949

Is it possible to train for a 5k in a month? The couch to 5k thing is 9 weeks long, but its going to be fall soon so my options are limited and I want to do one this year. Has anyone trained for one before? I know at the very least I can definitely walk it, 3 miles isn't too bad and I walk a lot normally. I've really never done a race before though so looking to find some more info.

5k = 3 miles.

When I was losing weight, I used the ellip for 6 months. I weighed at about 295 when I started and was able to start running on June 6, 2011 when I'd lost about 90 pounds.

On August 21, 2011 I ran a half marathon in 2:21 - and then got on a motorcycle and did a 1000 miles in a day ride through the deserts in CA and AZ, out to Tucson, and back to Southern California.

https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=367c4e4e87ed45c19

I was 55 years old at the time and hadn't done any exercise since 1989.

Can you run a 3 mile race with 9 weeks of training? The only person who knows for sure it you, right? ;-)