When I decided to increase my running distance from 5 to 10k, I tried to find accounts of those who had already done it to see if it was a realistic goal for me. I didn’t find anything at all useful on line so here I will describe my own experiences. I had decided to train for a 10k so that I could take part in the Dublin Women’s Mini Marathon. I am going to put in my whole experience, good and bad.
It took me from 8/2/15 to 1/5/15 (11.5 weeks) to go from being able to run approx 1k to 10k non-stop. I documented the experience on my Runtastic app so know my information is accurate. I had previously been able to run 5k but my running had lapsed for 5-6 months. That is why this is not a true couch to 10k experience. I was able to get up to 5k more quickly than someone starting from no running experience. At the time I was 43 years old.
I began by using the couch to 10k training app from Zen Labs http://www.zenlabsfitness.com/ which you can download for Apple or Android for free. However, after about 5 weeks, I got bored of doing the same kind of runs every time and did some research and developed my own plan which included some speed training, hills runs and more intervals just to keep me interested. I will post my plan when I have made it fit to be seen in public!
If you are reading this because you are thinking of training to run 10k and wondering if you are able, the answer is yes, you are. It takes some hard work but if I can do it, so can you. Have fun and let me know how you get on!
running not racing 