C25K query - regarding distance

leighkent

Hiya, I have started this programme and was wondering if anyone could advise me.

I carried out day 1 of week 3 tonight and I'm just as surprised as I was when I carried out day 1 of week 2 - in that the distance walked/jogged has not increased from the previous week - it has decreased.

Did this happen for anyone else? I thought that I was quite strong with my jogging tonight and kept up a brisk walk in-between jogs (whereas in the past I've had to slow down quite a bit to recover from a stitch) yet the distance travelled was nowhere near the distance travelled in week 1 or 2?

Here are my distances:
Week 1.
2.36miles
2.21miles
2.6 miles

Week 2.
2.32miles
2.66miles
2.6 miles

Week 3.
1.91miles

Am I just mega unfit ???

mirandamatte

I never wound up actually running a 5k with that program.

bethrs

Are you keeping track of your pace? Were your walking bouts slower perhaps? I don't remember the exact timing of the weeks in the program right now, but I know there are people out there who can walk faster than they can run, and as you extend the period of time you run steadily, your running pace may slow, and as you tire out your walking pace may also slow.

i know from 5k race experience, sprinting for short distances interpersed with walking can be MUCH quicker than running the whole time.

HTH

edit: I focus on pace here and I assume you know that the slower you go on a time interval the less distance you will cover, but I thought I better be clear just be be sure.

Chenoachem

No, you are not mega unfit. Those are not bad distances. Heat and hydration usually play huge roles in what we accomplish. Take not of weather and what you eat/drink. See if you find any trends of when you feel better. It should be done at a comfortable pace so don't beat yourself up about the distance.

Great job for getting this far!

Cilenia

In week 3 you less time in total so it might have got something to do with that.

Whereas in week 1 the total workout is 30 mins in week 3 its 28. And you spend less time in total running, your running is longer 2 mins and 1.5 mins alternating, so you will improve the time you can run without having to walk. But the total time you ran is less then in week 1 and 2. No worries your distance will improve per week again after this

amyrc12

I just did week 6 run 3 on saturday - and I did 3.01 miles.... You'll get there - don't worry so much about distance right now, it will come.
Good Luck!

getsveltEagain

Are you keeping track of your pace? Were your walking bouts slower perhaps? I don't remember the exact timing of the weeks in the program right now, but I know there are people out there who can walk faster than they can run, and as you extend the period of time you run steadily, your running pace may slow, and as you tire out your walking pace may also slow.

I agree that it is possible that you longer runs are a bit slower. Just something to consider

I am on a treadmill to keep the same pace the whole time since my goal is to increase speed over the program.

bethrs

In week 3 you less time in total so it might have got something to do with that.

Whereas in week 1 the total workout is 30 mins in week 3 its 28. And you spend less time in total running, your running is longer 2 mins and 1.5 mins alternating, the total time you ran is less then in week 1 and 2. No worries your distance will improve per week again after this

Ahhh- this probably explains it. I was thinking this, but I couldn't remember for sure. This 2 minutes combined with some heat and pace change could totally account for a .4 mile distance difference.

Cilenia

To make it more clear basically the difference is 2 mins workout time. And compared to the previous weeks you spend 2 mins less jogging too

Here are the workout summaries to help:

Edit:
To clear things up a bit better in week 1 you do
00:00-5:00: Warmup walk
5:00-6:00: Run
6:00-7:30: Walk
7:30-8:30: Run
8:30-10:00: Walk
10:00-11:00: Run
11:00-12:30: Walk
12:30-13:30: Run
13:30-15:00: Walk
15:00-16:00: Run
16:00-17:30: Walk
17:30-18:30: Run
18:30-20:00: Walk
20:00-21:00: Run
21:00-22:30: Walk
22:30-23:30: Run
23:30-25:00: Walk
25:00-30:00: Cooldown Walk

Total running time: 8 mins

00:00-5:00: Warmup walk
5:00-6:30: Run
6:30-8:30: Walk
8:30-10:00: Run
10:00-12:00: Walk
12:00-13:30: Run
13:30-15:30: Walk
15:30-17:00: Run
17:00-19:00: Walk
19:00-20:30: Run
20:30-22:30: Walk
22:30-24:00: Run
24:00-26:00: Walk
26:00-30:00: Cooldown Walk

total running time: 9 min

week 3
0:00-5:00: Warmup walk
5:00-6:30: Run
6:30-8:00: Walk
8:00-11:00: Run
11:00-14:00: Walk
14:00-15:30: Run
15:30-17:00: Walk
17:00-20:00: Run
20:00-23:00: Walk
23:00-28:00: Cooldown Walk

total running time: 7 mins

Jaradel

When you're starting out on C25K, don't worry so much about the distance - just stick with the time intervals. As you progress through the weeks and do more running (jogging) and less walking, the distance should increase. You're still building endurance and allowing your body to become more accustomed to running for longer time intervals, which is the real point of C25K. Distance will come eventually. After you finish the program and can run for 30 minutes straight, then you can start increasing the time spent running until you can run a full 5K.

I did C25K last spring (2010), and I still can't run a 5K in 30 minutes, but I CAN run a 5K, which to me was the important part.