How often????

Ok guys, I have gotten a lot of inspiration and motivation from you all so here it goes. I started training for my first 5k. I plan on using the couch to 5k plan. How often should this be done a week for best results. I usually walk/jog 5-6 days a week 2-3 miles. What is the best routine for great results?

Any advice is welcome, Thanks in advance!

i believe the couch to 5K spells out exactly what you should do each day.  I think it has you walk/running 5 days week.  I did exactly what it said.  you might want to add weights/strength training in on the same days or whenever.  REST days are important!

The plan is meant to be done 3 times a week.
If you look at their page it will show you.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

It is meant to be slow steady progression with lots of room for success.
If you are new to running give your body time to adjust and complete the workouts.
Do something else on the off days, do an upper body workout or something like that to give you body a chance to recover.  If you can't complete one of the workouts, it isn't a failure, you just do it again.  It's not a race to the 5k.

If you find that it is too easy, go ahead and fini**** it will get harder as the weeks go on.
You can do it over and over just increase the speeds you do it at, make it a challenge.

Good luck, it's an awesome program, excellent for helping people get started.

Scott

I did see that it was for three days, should these days be spaced out or all together, or whenever I feel like it.
I have an elliptical and stair stepper for my off days, in combination with a cardio dvd for all over work, and some light weights. I'm just not sure when they should be done.

What Marie said in her post!!!

Do strength training, it is easier to maintain muscle than it is to get it back.
I made that mistake.  I focused entirely on lose weight, do cardio etc etc, now I feel really weak and wish I had added some weights in there.

Scott

I try not to run two days in a row. It's too hard on my body.

I also think people should do strength training types of exercises at least two days a week while losing weight because it helps you retain your muscle mass.

Yep, I did it every other day.  Even now, I tend to run (about 3 miles) every other day.  On the "other" days, I try to do something else active, but using different muscle groups.  My ultimate goal is to alternate running with yoga, which I really enjoy and think would make me a better runner.

Enjoy C25K.  It took me awhile longer that the designed program length-- I repeated lots of weeks-- but I just ran my third 5K yesterday.  I'm starting to consider longer races.  It's pretty cool.

Meg

For a better result, or let me say to get the best result, one must engaged in a daily exercise. Not necessarily  you have to run miles over miles but at least an hour a day.