Friday, December 31, 2010

My Train for 5k Plan

     It was a struggle for me to choose a training plan to prepare me for my first 5k.  This is not the first time I have embarked on this adventure.  However, I hope this is the first time I will actually run a 5k and achieve my goal.  I am a little tentative to use a plan that I have tried before, because obviously, I did not achieve my goals, with the previous training schedules.  However, after I considered my current fitness level, my time frame, and my 5k goals, I have decided to go back to a running schedule that I have tried before.   
     I will be using this training plan.  It suits my current fitness level because it starts from the beginning and helps me to build a running base.  I have not exercised regularly for a while, so I need to start at the beginning.  My timeframe is not too limited.  My goal is to run a 5k, sometime during the 2011 calendar year.  Therefore, I have plenty of time to train.  My goal is to run the entire race and finish the 5k in 38 minutes or less.  This is at the pace of a 12 minute mile.  I know that is slow, but I am only 5’3”, and I have a very short stride.  Also cut me a break --  this is my first 5k!
     I have used this plan before, and I followed it through to completion.  However, I did not run a 5k, after I finished the training schedule.  After I completed the training schedule, I could run a full 30 minutes without stopping.  However, because of my short stride, I was not running 3.1 miles.  Therefore, I was not running the length of a 5k in 30 minutes.  Instead of trying to increase my distance, I got busy with something else, and I quit.  Since I now know my problem with this plan, I am going to do a modified version of this plan.
     Instead of running each day at the specified run/walk intervals for the suggested amount of time or distance, I am going to run the intervals for a total distance of 3.1 miles, regardless of the amount of time it takes.  I know this will make my training schedule more time consuming in the beginning.  However, my training times should decrease with time, as I run more and walk less. 
     Now, you know my plan.  What’s yours?

1 comment:

  1. I bumped in to your website and the information, enthusiasm you are trying to share with world is amazing. Please kindly accept my reverences in this regard. I am choosing this same C25K plan and I have not excercised for many years. So, I have ordered a treadmill as I live in extremely cold climatic conditions. I will certainly check back on your blog on this journey. Please wish me good luck.

    ReplyDelete