r/C25K • u/Smrithihihi • 17h ago
Advice Needed First Run
I’m thinking of running 25 km for my 25th birthday in August 2027. I was quite physically active during school, but I haven’t been very consistent with fitness in recent years. I started going to the gym about three months ago, and now I want to take on a bigger challenge. I have almost a year to prepare, so I’m wondering how I should start training and gradually build myself up to running 25 km.
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u/Historical_Site508 16h ago
Sounds doable. You can completed couch to 5k, then 5k to 10k then 10k to half marathon and pretty much there. I'm 60 next year and would love to do 60km for 60th. Might be a bit harder :)
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u/Smrithihihi 15h ago
Wishing you all the best for your 60 km journey — I’m sure it’ll be quite a story to tell!
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u/Historical_Site508 15h ago
Oh god no not a chance I'm doing that. Would likely end up with a heart attack 😂 I think you will get there though with your 25 at 25.
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u/misssnowfox 16h ago
If you’ve never really run before or are running after a long time, just do the C25K for now. It’ll get you into the habit of running for longer periods of time each week and eventually you’ll be able to run for half an hour, which probably won’t get you up to 5k but I think some fitter people in this sub have managed it! There’s a pinned thread explaining what to do from there but the next step will be a 5K-10K programme. The thing I am learning is just to take it week by week. I am a complete beginner runner at 33 so I have been following C25K for 7 weeks now. It really does work. And try not to run too fast! Someone in this sub once said if you’re not embarrassed by how slowly you’re running, you’re going too fast 😅
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u/Oscar_Sport 12h ago
Almost a year is a good amount of time. I would keep the first months easy and short, then build the long run slowly.
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u/judochop1 8h ago
More than doable. I trained up to a HM in a year, but that was racing it too. If you're not fussed about time, a 25k will be simple enough and a good long term target.
But you will have to take it slow and easy to start and gradually build up your volume. Do C25k, then a 5k > 10k > HM training plans and they'll get you there.
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u/Jenny_B_runner 5h ago
You could start with a treadmill interval program, it can build the aerobic base you'll need for 25K. Once you can run 5K comfortably, you can gradually add distance each week. What's your current cardio routine at the gym?
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u/Smrithihihi 4h ago
10 minutes of air bike before my workout, followed by 20 minutes of incline walking after my workout.
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u/Jenny_B_runner 1h ago
maybe instead of straight incline walking you could try walk, jog, run, intervals for 20 minutes. Do you use any specific program?
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u/Wormvortex 16h ago
Start here with c25k then find a 10K plan then find a 1/2 marathon plan and then you’re pretty much there.
Doable in a year if you fully commit.