Going From the Couch to 5k Running the Easy Way

Come on now that the Christmas festivities are over it's time to start getting yourself into shape and the best and cheapest way is through running!

Because being a runner doesn't require a huge expense to start with, I suggest you just get out and try it. Here are a few helpful ideas to help make your transition from couch potato to 5k race expert as smooth and fast as is feasible.


Give Yourself a Target To Aim At.

Investigate your first race and book yourself a place on it. After you've made an actual physical commitment and invested some money in to something, you're a lot more likely to commit 100% to it.

Make Sure You Are Fully Prepared

If you want to be able to run the entire 3.1 miles without stopping, you'll need to have progressed your training to performing at least a couple of 30 minute runs almost every week. It's very possible to complete a 5k without stopping with as little as six weeks of dedicated training.

It Doesn't Have To Be Hell To Be Healthy

Getting up out of your couch to 5k running is a wonderful way of meeting people and getting in to great shape at the same time as feeling better about yourself and having more energy. Running a 5k is an excellent starting point for a beginner. They're the shortest race distance with an average finishing time of 30 - 40 minutes.

Have a Bite to Eat

You do need to eat before you set off, but this isn't the time to try something new which might cause digestion problems. You should ideally base your pre race meal on carbohydrates, so something like toast and jam, a bagel and peanut butter or simply a banana and sports drink are safe choices.

The secret to getting up off the couch to 5k running and keeping it going in the future is to building up a solid foundation of fitness in the first place. Don't rush through your running plan because without following a well structured training schedule you risk injury and stagnation.

Instead, build up slowly and try other types of aerobic exercise that build stamina without challenging the body the same way as running. Swimming, rowing and cycling are great for this purpose.