Couch to 5K in less than 8 weeks?

remaho80

I just recently started C25K, but I'm feeling like it's a bit slow going. I'm not totally out of shape to begin with. I'm curious if I can run 4 days a week instead of 3 and speed up the process a bit? Have any of you ever done that? Thoughts? Opinions?

ladyjoie

It'd probably be better to skip a week than do it four times a week. So if you're in week 3 move ahead to week 4 or something.

fit4life_73

I would say it all depends on your fitness level. I personally like doing it everyother day. Some days I do back to back. Just listen to your body. Most people who start c25k have never workout before or atleast not regularly. So three days a week is good for them so they dont injure themselves. Just listen to your body. I'm in week three and this is my second round. You can add me as a friend if you like.

Good luck!

remaho80

Thanks for the input, ladies! I think I'll be jumping ahead a bit.

BerryH

I would stick with three sessions a week but do just two at each level before moving on, then you haven't overtrained and you haven't skipped any levels.

Got some beginner's running tips here that might help:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/BerryH/view/20-things-i-wish-i-d-known-about-running-when-i-started-103936

ubermagee

Yeah, I'm powering through it a bit at the moment but my body will tell me when to stop...like today - owch!

athensguy

I stopped C2K after week 5. In the version I have, you ran 20 minutes straight on that Friday. I also compressed the schedule.

nickichambers

I agreee with some of the previous posts, this all depends on your fitness level.

A friend of mine is super skinny, does strength training relentlessly but can't walk the length of herself without panting for breath! She started the C25K a few weeks ago and gave up cos it was "too hard".

Now, I had to try this for myself. I used to go to spin class 3 times a week and since my gym membership ran out I have been *trying* to do 30 day shred and run as often as I can: which I have to be honest, is nowhere near enough!

I could NEVER call myself a runner- not at all, i hate runnign, it hurts and i'm asthmatic....but despite all this, I managed to run 7k THE VERY FIRST TIME I WENT FOR A RUN, and the only reason I stopped was because I was back home.

Try doing a country route. My fiance lives in the back end of beyond so I usually run down his lane and then do a full circle, which is around 7k. I keep running and don't stop until I physically feel my legs turning into jelly and instead of walking I stop and catch my breath before starting again.

You can do it......You just need to do it first successfully to realise this! The first time I ran it was 6am and 20 degrees (Northern Ireland was experiencing a little heat wave in May 2012) and I only knew it was 5k after the run so I felt well good with myself!

So think positive- try not to think about the distance or the time just do it- you'll really surprise yourself! :happy:

bluefox9er

I understand where the OP is coming from. I stuck fairly rigidly to the c25k schedules even though I wasnt finding 3x a week a little "light". I also ran 5k after week 5. What I did after week 2 was do another day from week 1 After the the day I was supposed to do, so I'd be running 2 sessions instead of one 30 minute session. Week 6 onwards I was pretty much running 5k's every session, but walked when I felt tired for a minute or so.

And I quit c25k on 3 separate occasions last year after week2 as it was ' too hard'...good luck!