Fitness Friday | Couch to 5k

This week I completed the 9 week podcast for the couch to 5k plan. I complete this week by running for 6km which is more than I even expected to get out of this plan when I started. At the moment I run 6km 3 times a week which is 18km a week!

I downloaded this podcast in January. The podcast slowly builds you up to be able to run continuously for 5km. The first few weeks of the podcasts are gradual, I started with 60sec jogs and 90sec brisk walks. In the first week I run for a total of 8 minutes, this was made up of 60 sec jog and 90 sec walks in between, by the end of week 4 I was able to run for 8 mins nonstop.

The biggest joy for me came when I was able to run for 20 mins nonstop and slowly built up to 30 mins nonstop. Week 7 and 8 were the hardest for me, the whole idea of running 20 mins and more non- stop terrified me. But after I conquered my fears I have been able to run for 5K and more.

I am happy beyond words that I have gotten to this place, when I started I was sure I would not see this through, and I am so happy I have proved myself wrong. I have developed an amazing running habit, now that I have been able to run 18km a week, I can do anything.

I highly recommend if you are trying to get into running, these podcast have been so amazing and I really do encourage you to try them out. It has taken me more than the intended 9 weeks (maybe 11 to 12 weeks in total) but I have now set myself to a rhythm I can run to.

Has anyone tried the couch to 5K podcasts?

‘Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.’ – Samuel Ullman