Training for 5K

[russell]

Hi,

I plan to run a 5K race, how long would you suggest I train for this? I am not that fit, but I am normal weight mid 30s. Don't smoke or drink much ( A few pints a week)

[doodab]

Start by spending a few hundred at a time and work your way up. With a bit of practice you should be able to get through £5k in less than 10 minutes and fit everything into a single shopping bag.

[Mich the Tester]

Give yourself 3 months. First month, basic aerobic fitness, endurance and 'getting used to running'. Second month, increasing VO2 max through interval and fartlek (google it) training. Third month, increasing speed (lowering your time) over distances ranging 1km to 6 km. Ease off the training in the last two weeks of the race.

Plenty of stuff on t'internet about this.

Oh, and do a cooper test every 3 weeks to track your progress; basically it's a 12 minute run to see how far you get; your local athletics club probably organises cooper tests regularly. (they'll be able to give you good training too)

[russell]

Start by spending a few hundred at a time and work your way up. With a bit of practice you should be able to get through £5k in less than 10 minutes and fit everything into a single shopping bag.

Sorry but I meant running? Was that not clear?

[Mich the Tester]

Start by spending a few hundred at a time and work your way up. With a bit of practice you should be able to get through £5k in less than 10 minutes and fit everything into a single shopping bag.

Erm, no, just find a woman; she won't need 10 minutes and one whole shopping bag to spend 5k.

[russell]

Give yourself 3 months. First month, basic aerobic fitness, endurance and 'getting used to running'. Second month, increasing VO2 max through interval and fartlek (google it) training. Third month, increasing speed (lowring time) over distances ranging 1km to 6 km. Ease off the training in the last two weeks of the race.

Plenty of stuff on t'internet about this.

I bought a Polar watch/HRM as well, this should help.

Thanks for the info, Google will be put into use.

[doodab]

Erm, no, just find a woman; she won't need 10 minutes and one whole shopping bag to spend 5k.

Yes, but you're more likely to come back with something useful if you do it yourself.

[Notascooby]

Have a search for couch to 5K but in all honesty, unless you're super unfit, you could do a 5K now.

[amcdonald]

It's age and fitness related

I did a 126 mile canoeing marathon with 2 weeks training when I was in my 20s, but I was doing a lot of sports at the time

If I did that now I'd probably need six months training, being unfit and a lot older

YMMV

[russell]

Have a search for couch to 5K but in all honesty, unless you're super unfit, you could do a 5K now.

I don't think I could. So I must be super unfit. however that will change soon.