C25K QUESTION ON SPEED/TREADMILL

pannellkat

I just started Couch to 5K yesterday using the gym treadmill. The workout schedule states to start off with a "brisk 5 minute warm up walk." I consider brisk to be at 3.5 to 3.7 mph. Is that considered a "brisk walk"
Also when it is time to jog - I am jogging at 5.0 mph.

Wondering what others are doing that have used this program on a treadmill?

I don't want to cheat myself by not going fast enough on my brisk walking and jogging. I've seen people sprint at 7.5 mph on the treadmill and I think I would die! lol.

CrystalT

I'm starting week 4 this week. I've been doing most of it on the treadmill. I'm walking at about 3.7 and my jog is about 5.6.

Just keep in mind that everyone has a different stride length and that effects the speed of the treadmill. My hubby just started and his walk and jog are considerable faster than mine because he has a very long stride. We're both using the same podcasts and matching our steps to the beat. While our feet may hit the ground at the same time, he covers more distance.

MadWorld

If you feel that 3.5 to 3.7 is brisk-- then that's brisk to you. Brisk is different for everyone. For me, 4.0 to 4.2 is pretty brisk. That's what I warm up on. Then I kick it up to 6.0-7.2 ( and 7.2 is on a realllly good day) to finish it out.

It's different on a treadmill bc you're trying not to fall off, number one! Haha. My stupid emergency cord is broken too-- so that sucks.

Anyway, it's different for everyone. Do what's comfortable for you. Eventually you will get faster and faster. You def don't want to be at an uncomfortable pace (or you will burn out quicker), you have to work up to it.

amymeenieminymo

It's different for different people. I am currently doing my own training program of working up to more and more running (I found the beginning time too slow of running for only 1 minute but that it progressed too quickly from there). But I think I remember the guy saying you should jog at a pace in which you could still comfortably be able to talk without being too winded. There is another thing that is different for everyone....I cannot even walk briskly and still be able to talk to someone without sounded winded, despite my losing weight and being in better shape, I think my lung capacity just isn't what it is for others.

But to give you some idea, I am short (5'2) and to boot I have short legs (even for a short person, lol), so my warm up walking is between 3.3 and 3.6, my beginning run is around 4.5-4.7 and my average is around 5.0. The fastest I've gone is around 5.7 but that is almost an all out sprint for me, meanwhile I see others leasurily jogging at 6.5. It all depends on the person.

CrystalT

I've seen people jogging at the same speed that I walk at. It just depends on the person. I admit that I I worried about this, too, when I first started. Downloading the podcast and matching my pace to the beat has really helped me to stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and just worry about what I'm doing.

keiko

But to give you some idea, I am short (5'2) and to boot I have short legs (even for a short person, lol), so my warm up walking is between 3.3 and 3.6, my beginning run is around 4.5-4.7 and my average is around 5.0. The fastest I've gone is around 5.7 but that is almost an all out sprint for me, meanwhile I see others leasurily jogging at 6.5. It all depends on the person.

You have just described me! I could have wrote this exactly. Weird, it's like you're my running twin!
I can run faster for doing sprint work, run one min, walk 2 min. But for regular runs 5 is my comfortable speed. I think it is the short legs,lol.

LittleSpy

I'm on week 3 day 3 today. The first 2 weeks, my walk was 3.5 and my jog was about 5.0 but this week I've had to slow my jog to 4.5mph. Like someone else said earlier, I'm short (not quite 5'4") AND I have short legs for a short person. Also, I still weigh 232 pounds. :laugh: Plenty of excuses to be a turtle.

Anyway, do what you can, but rather than stop running during a run interval, try slowing your speed instead before you get to that point. I've decided to work toward stamina during Couch25K. I'll work on my speed later after I can run for 30 minutes straight.

It's a great program! I was so out of shape when I tried to start I ended up having to work up just to start week one. Yesterday, just a few short weeks later, I did week 3, day 2 running 3 minutes straight 2 times. One thing's for sure, as soon as I think I'm almost comfortable with a workout, I'm moving onto the next week and I can almost never do the workout without walking a little in the last run interval that first day. Then the 2nd day I can do it but it almost kills me. :laugh: Then, the 3rd day I can do it without almost dying. Then, it's time to move on already. Amazingly fast progression though.

amymeenieminymo

But to give you some idea, I am short (5'2) and to boot I have short legs (even for a short person, lol), so my warm up walking is between 3.3 and 3.6, my beginning run is around 4.5-4.7 and my average is around 5.0. The fastest I've gone is around 5.7 but that is almost an all out sprint for me, meanwhile I see others leasurily jogging at 6.5. It all depends on the person.

You have just described me! I could have wrote this exactly. Weird, it's like you're my running twin!
I can run faster for doing sprint work, run one min, walk 2 min. But for regular runs 5 is my comfortable speed. I think it is the short legs,lol.

Ha, weird! Ok then, can you run for me tonight because I don't have time