5K Run: 7 Week Training Plan for Beginners (2023)

5K Run: 7 Week Training Plan for Beginners

By Mayo Clinic staff

Running a 5K can add a new level of challenge and interest to your training schedule. A 5K run is 3.1 miles long. Don't be afraid of the distance. A 5K is a long distance for a beginner. You can prepare for a 5K race in just two months.

If you think running a 5K doesn't seem possible or you don't have enough time or energy, this 5K plan can help. It includes several short sessions throughout the week of only about 30 minutes each. Write on your calendar when you will be training and make a note of when your 5K will be. If you don't feel comfortable walking, you can walk! Give it a try and maybe you will reach your goal and finish 5km.

If you're just starting out, be sure to start slowly. Start at a slower pace and train for shorter periods of time, e.g. B. a few short walks during the day. Work your way up to move faster and longer as your body adapts. Then start the 5K training plan when you can train for 30 minutes at a time.

The Department of Health also recommends getting 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week, or a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. If you're active for 30 minutes a day, most days of the week, you can meet the guidelines.

How to use the 5K training plan

Consider using this seven-week 5K training plan as a guide. It's tailor-made for beginners or anyone looking to complete a 5K run. You can also customize it for a 5 km walk.

This 5k training plan includes a mix of running, walking, and rest. This combination helps reduce the risk of injury, stress and fatigue while increasing the enjoyment of physical activity. Remember that you can jog or walk slowly to help your body adjust to this 5K training plan.

(Video) 6 Week Beginner to 5km Interactive Training Plan

If you want to choose an exercise other than walking on walking days, you can try cross training and alternative exercises like running on the water, biking or rowing.

In this 5K training plan, you will spend part of your time walking. For example, the first week on run/walk days, you'll run 15 seconds and then walk 45 seconds, repeating this cycle for 30 minutes.

Over the weeks, you will gradually increase the time you spend running and decrease the time you spend walking. Or you can always walk if you tailor your training to a 5K run.

One day of the week, Friday in this 5k program, is a rest day from training. This gives your muscles time to recover. On Sunday you can have another rest day or walk as much as you want. Also, take a rest day the day before your race. In this 5K training schedule, race day falls on Saturday of week seven.

5K Run: 7 Week Training Plan for Beginners

Printable 5K Training Plan(PDF file requiredAdobe Reader)

week 1

On run/walk days, hikers just walk. Runners run 15 seconds/walk 45 seconds.

to assemble Run/walk 30 minutes
mars 30 minute walk
Wednesday Run/walk 30 minutes
Thursday 30 minute walk
Freitag Chill out
Saturday Run/walk 3 miles (4.8 km)
Domingo rest or go for a walk

week 2

On run/walk days, hikers just walk. Runners run 15 seconds/walk 45 seconds.

(Video) 6 week 'beginner to 5k' training plan

to assemble Run/walk 30 minutes
mars 30 minute walk
Wednesday Run/walk 30 minutes
Thursday 30 minute walk
Freitag Chill out
Saturday Run/walk 3.5 miles (5.6 km)
Domingo rest or go for a walk

week 3

On run/walk days, hikers just walk. Runners run 20 seconds/walk 40 seconds.

to assemble Run/walk 30 minutes
mars 30 minute walk
Wednesday Run/walk 30 minutes
Thursday 30 minute walk
Freitag Chill out
Saturday Run/walk 2 miles (3.2 km) with Magic Mile*
Domingo rest or go for a walk

week 4

On run/walk days, hikers just walk. Runners run 20 seconds/walk 40 seconds.

to assemble Run/walk 30 minutes
mars 30 minute walk
Wednesday Run/walk 30 minutes
Thursday 30 minute walk
Freitag Chill out
Saturday Run/walk 4 miles
Domingo rest or go for a walk

week 5

On run/walk days, hikers just walk. Runners run 25 seconds/walk 35 seconds.

to assemble Run/walk 30 minutes
mars 30 minute walk
Wednesday Run/walk 30 minutes
Thursday 30 minute walk
Freitag Chill out
Saturday Run/walk 2 miles (3.2 km) with Magic Mile*
Domingo rest or go for a walk

week 6

On run/walk days, hikers just walk. Runners run 25 seconds/walk 35 seconds.

to assemble Run/walk 30 minutes
mars 30 minute walk
Wednesday Run/walk 30 minutes
Thursday 30 minute walk
Freitag Chill out
Saturday Run/Walk 4.5 miles (7.2 km)
Domingo rest or go for a walk

week 7

On run/walk days, hikers just walk. Runners run 30 seconds/walk 30 seconds.

Source: J. Galloway Galloway 5K/10K Race. 3rd edition Meyer & Meyer Sport; 2017. Used with permission.
*The Magic Mile is a training tool designed to help you find a realistic race pace. For the first magic mile, warm up as usual, then run or walk 1 mile (1.6 km) a little faster than your normal pace. Time your 1 mile run/walk with a stopwatch. Just run or walk the rest of the set daily distance. For each consecutive Magic Mile, warm up as normal, then try to beat your previous 1-mile run/walk time. Your 5K pace should generally be 1-2 minutes slower than your fastest Magic Mile time.
to assemble Run/walk 30 minutes
mars 30 minute walk
Wednesday Run/walk 30 minutes
Thursday 30 minute walk
Freitag Chill out
Saturday 5K race day
Domingo rest or go for a walk

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  1. Riebe D, et al., editores ACSM Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescribing. 10ª edición Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2018
  2. 5K/10K training plans. Jeff Galloway Productions. http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/5k-10k-training/. Consulted on September 16, 2019.
  3. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. 2nd ed. US Department of Health and Human Services https://health.gov/paguidelines/2nd-edition. Consulted on September 16, 2019.
  4. Race Galloway J Galloway 5K/10K. 3rd edition Meyer & Meyer Sport; 2017

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See also

  1. 10,000 steps
  2. warm up exercise
  3. aerobic exercise
  4. Buy sports shoes? check your bow
  5. Shopping for new training shoes? Get the right fit
  6. Choose the right hiking shoes
  7. Do you need to warm up before exercising?
  8. Exercise: Are You Working Enough?
  9. Exercise to lose weight: calories burned in 1 hour
  10. Exercise: How much do I need?
  11. exercise intensity
  12. A practice? go up a bit
  13. Pay attention to the fit when buying shoes
  14. walking time
  15. How much exercise do you need?
  16. interval training
  17. kids and exercise
  18. Vary your cardio workout
  19. exercise and opioids
  20. water exercises
  21. Boost it with an activity tracker
  22. Time for new hiking boots?
  23. Tired of walking alone? Get prepared!
  24. The Path to Fitness: Overcoming Setbacks
  25. Walk to Fitness: Stay Motivated
  26. Fitness walk: warm up, cool down
  27. walks and trackers
  28. sport walk
  29. Walking with ankle weights? To stop!
  30. Would you like to be more active? Try an activity tracker
  31. Do you want to maximize your daily walk?
  32. What's in a sports shoe?
  33. whole body vibration

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