5k Training Programs
5k Training Programs
The most popular 5k training program is the Couch to 5k, or C25K.  It has been followed by thousands and thousands of people all over the world since its introduction in 1996. The philosophy behind the idea is that running does not need to be painful and time-consuming: it can be rewarding and the 5K training program will deliver results that you, the participant, can really see.
The designer of C25K, Josh Clarke, was determined that no-one would share the agony he went through in his first few months of training. He says: ‘Too many people have been turned off running simply by trying to start off too fast. Their bodies rebel, and they wind up miserable, wondering why anyone would possibly want to do this to themselves.
So if you are reading this because you want to make changes in your life, but you have no idea how to set about doing it, then the 5K training program could be exactly what you are looking for. The program has been designed for people who are maybe embarrassed to go out for a run, who have not been physically active since high school, and who do not want to join a manic exercise group that leaves you feeling sick and exhausted after each session. The bottom line is, you want to get fit, but you want to feel comfortable and in control while doing it. If this sounds like you, then read on.
The premise behind the 5K training program is simple: to introduce you to regular jogging sessions that do not push you so hard that you get injured, or put off exercise for ever. The 5k training program is based on nine weeks of gradual progress that will help you transform from couch potato to a person who is confident running 5K. It takes you through the process at a pace that you can cope with and, unlike so many training programs, it doesn’t leave you feeling exhausted at the end of each session. In fact, the 5K training program could be called a walking and jogging program, as it allows you to vary the pace to suit your fitness levels.
If you visit running forums, you can read the experiences of thousands of other runners who have started exactly where you are. There are people who just decided that they needed to get more active in their lives, there are people who needed to change their lifestyle for health reasons or to lose excess weight and there are people who felt that their lives were spiralling out of control and they needed something that would get them grounded again. Whatever your reason, the 5K training program will get you on track to a healthier, more active lifestyle. The running forums will also give you ideas for varying your training by visiting different running locations and terrains – if you get fed up with pounding the tarmac, you might decide to visit the beach or a forest trail. The forum will give you all sorts of new ideas, posted by people who have been there before you.
Once you have embarked on the 5K training program you might find that you cannot keep to your commitment to run three times a week. This might be due to work pressures, you might find that you are struggling to find time, or you might fall ill and be unable to run at all – none of this matters. You can stretch the program out to last as long as you want it to. If you miss a week, that is fine, just move your schedule back. If you feel you are being pushed along too fast then repeat a week. The beauty of this 5K training program is that there are no set rules.
Each session should last for 20-30 minutes, this amount of time spent exercising will help you reduce your weight, tone your muscles and get you fit.
You can approach the 5K running program in two ways: you can run for a time or you can run for a distance. You might say: ‘I am going to run as far as I can in 20 minutes,’ or you might decide to run 3k. Either way, don’t make the time or the distance an all encompassing target – if you don’t quite keep running for 20 minutes or if you fall short of the 3k target that is not the end of the world, the important thing is that you are enjoying getting active and following your 5K training program.
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