The Couch to 5k Program is a running plan designed for absolute beginners, especially those with this unfortunate tendency of spending too much time on a couch. You don’t have to have lots of workout experience for this program. In fact, Josh Clark, the designer of this program, made this specifically for his mom, who was in her 50s. And if a 50-something lady who doesn’t work out can deal with 5 kilometers of running, so can you.
The program runs for 9 weeks, with 3 runs on alternate days each week. You can just fire up Google on your web browser and find out more about it. It’s not as if there’s a lack of information. It’s an extremely popular program, and there are plenty of reasons why you might like it:
It’s Free
Sure, you can into a Planet Fitness gym and start paying for monthly memberships, and it probably won’t cost you a ton of money. But with the Couch to 5K program, you don’t have to pay for anything at all. You can download the program for free, or you can download a PDF with the right plan for you.
The Instructions are Clear
This is one of the clear advantages of Couch to 5K. Sure, you do have several plans to pick from. But once you make your choice, you get very precise instructions on what to do, and when to do them. All you really need is to clear your schedule for those runs on the appointed days.
There’s no dilly-dallying, and no confusion whatsoever. Just do whatever’s written on the PDF.
It Offers a Lot of Health Benefits
What makes this program so effective for plenty of fitness goals is that it also incorporates stress interval training into the running routine. This is much more effective in making you healthy in a lot of ways, compared to running at a constant pace.
It really works well enough for weight loss, as you really burn off a lot of calories. Of course, to be truly effective, that means you need to match this with a proper diet plan. Eating less is a good start for weight loss, in case you’re not sure how to begin.
This program also boosts the health of your lungs and your heart, and it can really do wonders for your endurance. There’s also some evidence that it might help with boosting bone density, which can help with bone diseases like osteoporosis as you get older.
Finally, running for 5 kilometers is great for stress relief. It lets you vent your stress out, and the whole thing is quite relaxing afterwards.
It Seems Easy
Some workout routines may feel overwhelming and undoable, especially when it’s your first time to seriously work out. But running 5 kilometers seems easy enough. That’s especially true when you remember that this program was created for a mom in her 50s—are you sure she’s tougher than you?
Having confidence when starting out is an essential part of the deal. Don’t forget what Yoda once said—if you don’t believe, that’s why you fail.
It’s Fun
First off, it seems impressive when you tell your friends that you’re running 5k a day. But it’s actually a distance that’s short enough that you can complete it with just a bit of training. You might not be able to complete it on your first day, but it’s eventually doable.
It’s also a fun activity that you can do with your friends, so you’re not lonely going at it alone. It becomes a social activity that you gith look forward to.
All things considered, this Couch to 5k program might just be what you need to start getting fit!