New to Running - What is a good "time" for a 5k?

karenkwalker
karenkwalker Posts: 155 Member
edited September 29 in Success Stories
I am doing the Couch to 5k program. Since I am new to running - I wonder how long does it take before a person is really ready to run a 5k? The Couch to 5k is a 9 week program - but I suspect it might take me longer. Also I don't really know what's a good goal to work toward - speed/time wise before signing up for a 5k? ie: should it take me 30 mintues to run a 5k or what? I am almost 49 - and new to running - I figure it might be next spring before I sign up for a 5k - just want some idea of what I'm shooting for. I don't want to walk it or take too much time to complete it running. Help!
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Replies

  • therealangd
    therealangd Posts: 1,861 Member
    In the couple of 5k races that I've done, the times have been anywhere from 22 minutes to 55 minutes.

    My times for the two races that I've done were 42 minutes and 39 minutes. I walk a fair bit.

    I think you should pick a race and sign up. Regardless of where you are in your running training.
  • Meggie_pooh
    Meggie_pooh Posts: 316 Member
    Ultimately, the C25K program think u will be able to do a 5K in 30 minutes, so that should be ur goal....any time under that should just make u feel VERY PROUD of urself :0)
  • Ilovedrinkingtea
    Ilovedrinkingtea Posts: 597 Member
    Yeah, I ran my first 5k in just under 30 minutes, it was 29 something - I had to stop for a quick wee on the way round!!! Good luck with your race, just do the best you can!!!!xx
  • mollymoo89
    mollymoo89 Posts: 202
    You can EASILY do a 5k! I promise! Just start slow and walk when you need to. Just keep it at a pace where you feel comfortable and every day you run, try and run a little farther. I promise you can do this! My bet is that if you stay dedicated, you can do one this fall/winter! Feel free to add me if you would like! :flowerforyou:
  • cmduncan
    cmduncan Posts: 69
    You'll be surprised how fast running gets easier. I'm starting week 5 of C25K and I'm already doing 2+ miles in my 35 minute sessions - even though I'm still walking almost half! I agree that you should pick a race and sign up. Even if you're not running fully yet the race will feel rewarding and give you something to work towards.
  • hng2101
    hng2101 Posts: 54 Member
    My fiance and I did the couch to 5K program and ended up deviating from the program because we liked running so much!

    Our original goal was a 5K under 30 minutes. The first real 5K we ever ran I came in at 33 minutes, he did it in 34. After a month we were running them in 25 minutes or less.

    My best 5K ever was 22:55, his best 5K ever was 22.

    Keep in mind we got a little crazy about running and now we run 6 times a week so it might not come that fast. When I was running without a buddy I was happy with 3 miles in 35 minutes because i had no one to push me.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    No matter how fast or slow, or if you walk some or not, be proud of your time. :smile: The only one you're competing against is yourself, and you'll get better with each one.

    That said, the men who win locally finish around 17 minutes, which is just insane. Young women who win are typically around 20 minutes. Then there's the rest of us mortals who are anywhere between 25 and 45 minutes. Thirty minutes is good. I was hoping for 30 for my first, and squeaked under at 29:40, and got a little faster since then.
  • just4peachy
    just4peachy Posts: 594 Member
    There's no good/bad time- finishing it is all that matters! My first 5k was 38:00, my most recent was 32:39. I never actually finished the C25k, I'm asthmatic and still have to walk some. Just find your own groove and make it work for you :)
  • Nikstergirl
    Nikstergirl Posts: 1,549 Member
    Your first one you should just focus on finishing. My first was 41 minutes, second was 36, third was 29... it all gets faster when you keep doing it! Don't worry, you'll have tons of people finishing before and after you! Just enjoy the experience... racing is amazing!!!!!
  • UltraRunnerGale
    UltraRunnerGale Posts: 346 Member
    Any time is a good time as long as you are out there doing it!! You are doing better than most of the population that is sitting on the couch (or still in bed, as most races start early)!! I've see runners knock it out in 17 minutes and I've seen people take close to an hour. A lot of people believe that a "good" time is around a half an hour. That's the ballpark that I'm in. Just sign up for a race and do it. It will give you motivation and you will have a ball. I was "hooked" at my first race!! I didn't start running until I was 44 years old and was battling breast cancer. I'm 52 now and doing ultra marathons on trails!! When I ran that first race I had no idea I would be where I am today!! Good luck and happy trails!! :drinker:
  • Andrea7701
    Andrea7701 Posts: 40 Member
    I started doing 5K runs about 5 months ago and have found that I have gotten a little faster. However, I am a slower runner. I will run the full 5K where I see many people walking then running much faster than I do. I guess I prefer to keep a steady pace throughout the entire run. That's what has worked for me anyway :). Good luck!!
  • karenkwalker
    karenkwalker Posts: 155 Member
    Such an inspiration - when I find myself whining (which I don't give into often), I will think of you!!! Thanks.
  • karenkwalker
    karenkwalker Posts: 155 Member
    Thank you everyone for your input - very helpful. Everyone is so encouraging - I really appreciate your normalizing it for me! I tend to have very high expectations for myself.
  • srp2011
    srp2011 Posts: 1,829 Member
    Don't shoot for a target time for your first race, just pick one, sign up, and go out and do it - take whatever time you get - that will give you a baseline and you can then compete against yourself in future races. At 48, times in your age group will range from 25 minutes up to an hour. The time doesn't really matter, you are really competing against yourself when starting out. Eventually, if you get hooked on racing, you can work on more serious speed work and training, but at first, just go out and have fun and be proud of yourself for getting out there, which most people aren't doing :-)
  • tamiesue2
    tamiesue2 Posts: 149 Member
    I am starting C25k next week and I just want to say thanks for asking the question, it has been on my mind too and there are some great answers on here. Any time is better than no time at all.

    Good luck on your runs!
  • FatUncleRob
    FatUncleRob Posts: 341
    There's no such thing as a "bad" time. :smile:

    Just completing a 5K makes you a winner in my book!
  • beernutz
    beernutz Posts: 136
    Running can sometimes be hard on your body but its great for your soul. Some of my best memories are of races or just runs I've done in beautiful locations around the world.

    Just focus on finishing the race and having a good experience and you'll be fine.

    Bob--who ran his 17:19 5k PR at age 34.
  • antipholous
    antipholous Posts: 116
    A lot of people would say don't run for a time, but if you're competitive like me, that's just not going to fly.

    I'd say for your first 5k any time under 30 minutes is good. To keep up with the fastest, though, you're going to have to be pushing right at or under 18 minutes.

    I wanted to keep it under 30 for my first 5k, and 25 was my next goal which I (just barely) met. I'm going for under 24 next time. It's kinda how the game's played.
  • I want to do the C25K really bad but am a little apprehensive but just may give it a shot... It's tough to jog/run at my weight but I do a little here and there as I can... good luck!!!!
  • runlorirun
    runlorirun Posts: 389
    It's taken me longer, but I started on the treadmill and running on the hard ground seems to take more out of you...lol I also had a hard time with the running times so I kind of readjusted it to fit what I needed. I started over and worked my way up to now running 5 to 7 mins with 2 min walk breaks. My first 5K (in two years) is on July 4th.

    When I started over I was running 10 seconds at a time, then worked my way up. My 5 to 7 min. runs were actually accidentally ran, I was suppose to be running 3 mins and looked down at my watch and it was at 4:45 mins so I kept going to 5 mins and it felt great. I am in no means fast, I run at around 4 mph.

    Start slow, add time as you see fit, add speed as you see fit. This is what I have been doing and have been working at it since the end of April and I have been injury free :smile:

    Good luck to you whenever you decide to start.
  • peteyTwang
    peteyTwang Posts: 250
    any time is a good time to run - but I prefer going out when it's not too wet and not too hot
  • Sadie98072
    Sadie98072 Posts: 212 Member
    The C25k program is about running continuously for 5km OR 30min, not 5km IN 30min. Lots of people dont get that then feel all let down when they dont make that goal.
    Any running is great running, so be proud of that fact.
    Also, aim for distance first then build up your speed. If you run too fast just to make someones idea of a good 5km time you are going to hurt something and not be able to run at all. Slow runs are just as important as fast ones.
    It took me 10 weeks to complete the C25k as I got a cold and took a week off, I was also 33 and had 2 x 6mth old babies so running on no sleep lol.
    You can do this.
  • lkenn67
    lkenn67 Posts: 215 Member
    I am also doing the c25k and signed up for a 5k in Aug. I just started week 3, but ended up doing a 5k with my husband last Sat. I ran what I could and walked some. I ended up with a time of 34:40. So now I have a time to beat in Aug. Most runners work at beating their last time. If you want to sign up for one now, walk/run it and create a baseline time. Then do your training and work at beating your time. Also once you are able to run work at beating your last time. That is one of the things about running you are working at your pace, the only one you have to worry about beating is yourself. I know I'm not a 20 year old runner, so I am not looking to win the race, just finish it and feel good about myself.
  • EZGruv
    EZGruv Posts: 215 Member
    There's no such thing as a "bad" time. :smile:

    Just completing a 5K makes you a winner in my book!

    This.
  • JoBFit
    JoBFit Posts: 81
    I have done the C25K app and I took a couple of extra weeks when I felt I wasn't ready to move on. 9 weeks is a guide only so take your time if you need to! I am running my first race in 2 weeks and I am soooooo excited. It's really a good idea to have something to work towards- especially for those times you need motivation!
    Good luck!
    You CAN do it!
    I am hoping to finish in under 30 mins- but we'll see!!
  • Rosy103
    Rosy103 Posts: 1
    Just sign up......I have a torn ACL that my doctor refuses to operate because of my weight which in turn caused me to be even less active making matters worse. I signed up for my first 5k and it inspired me to train for it. I started at 54 minutes...oh the shame. But I kept going....on race day I did 49. So on a trip to Dallas I got up one morning and signed up for another. 47 minutes .......so now I'm going to meet the kids at the Vampire 5k .....and this mornings training session had me at 43:18......look out. Wait I forgot the best part of the story........I lost 25 pounds. Yea me! Jump in the water is fine
  • I finished the c25k in August with other people on cool running, when we all finished we kept running and increased our distance each week. I ran my first race Ever in November (the Turkey Trot) and to my surprise I ran in 36 minutes. I started running when I was 42, I'm now 45 and still running. good luck :)
  • I'm a freshman athlete at William Peace at WPU, 18 year old male. I run four or five times a week... I usually complete a 5k into 21:00-21:30 minutes. I like to think I'm above average physically, considering how often I train. I would say a good time would be between 24:48 and 26:18. You would average an 8:00/8:30 mile.
  • ginag516
    ginag516 Posts: 44 Member
    I am 38 I did my very first 5K last Oct I didnt trained all just wanted to know how bad out of shape I was the first one took me about 2hrs and it was bad out of shape. Ive been joggin since then and I can jog 4 miles in 1hr I believe is a improvement. I am planning to do another 5k in the near future. Plan your 5K not right away enjoy your jog/runs theres a lot help here and do some more research.

    Good Luck!
  • Steffani911
    Steffani911 Posts: 196 Member
    I think there are several things that will determine your time. I run a lot, but I run slow. Call it genetics. I don't know. I am happy if I run a 35 minute 5k. When I tried training to get faster, running wasn't fun anymore. So I run slow and that's how it is. Most people that I know have a time between 35 and 40 min for their first 5k.
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