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Has my 5K Training Plan gone bananas?

Sarc1942
over 4 years ago

Hey everyone,

I've been following a 'Garmin Coach 5K Plan' for 11 weeks (11 of 18), and it's asking me to run 5.63 km on Saturday.

I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else, and if they've managed to get the plan back on track?

The plan started acting off last week when I paused for a week due to a knee injury, and then restarted the plan. It changed my 'long run' day to Saturday instead of Thursday, and had me run 4.83 km.

With 7 weeks to go, I'm scared the plan will continue to increase the distance and I won't be able to finish it. Having done it for 11 weeks now, it'd be really disappointing if I have to scrap it.

Thanks

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago

    Are you asking if it's normal for a 5k plan to have you run a longer distance? It totally is. 

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

    Thanks for your reply.

    Yes I was kind of asking that I guess. It kind of makes the whole 'race day' thing pointless though if that's the case.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Sarc1942

    Not really. Being able to run continuously for a distance greater than the race you're aiming for makes sense, in guaranteeing you have enough stamina to keep the pace required for the race. After all, if you can run at x min/km for 6 K no problems, it means you can do it for 5

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Ɛpsilon

    Thanks AJR, that makes perfect sense. I'll keep going then. This is my first time using it, and first time running, so it's all new to me.

    Thanks again.

  • +1 over 4 years ago

    In addition to what others said: once you do your "first 5K", either you will continue to do longer distances or will crush the time you accomplished in your first 5K. Imagine if you ran a 6K in a 10 min / mile pace. That would give you the confidence to go at a 9 or 9:30 min/mile pace on race day.  Also, you will be strong enough to go the distance without worrying about not finishing. 

    I recently saw a non-Garmin "crush your 5K" workout plan that asked for 20-35 miles a week and a lot of the runs were 12-13 miles. The longer distances build strength and endurance so you really can crush the smaller distances. Personally I have run 3 marathons distance races and the pace was 12-13 minutes per mile.  However, if I did a 5K tomorrow and did it in, say, an 8 minutes / mile average pace, I would be very proud of myself (I think I can do 9-10 min / mile on a 5K if I was really motivated).  Personally, the hardest part is knowing that you can do the distance.  For example, if you pass the barrier of a 10K run, you won't get easily scared of a 5K or 6K run in the future.

    Don't be disheartened if you end up with a longer than 6K workout, just remember that you can do intervals of walking and jogging when you don't think you can keep running.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Kiran

    Hey Kiran,

    Thank you so much for your detailed reply, I found it really inspirational and a huge help going forwards.

    It did freak me out when the distance suddenly jumped from 1-2 mile runs to 3.5 mile runs, I honestly thought the Garmin plan had gone nuts. I thought the curve to 5K would have been smoother, and the end result, or 'race day' would have been the actual 5K run.

    I understand it a lot more now, and I feel a lot more clued up on running in general, so thank you so much for taking the time to reply in such detail.

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Sarc1942

    +1 to Kiran. After your first 5K, and as your journey progresses, you'll find you'll either want to go faster (and get better PB's at 5K), further, or a combination of both. Think of the 5K as the first 'turning point' in your running journey.

    And best of luck on it too!

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Most training plans will include a "long run" once per week or so (haven't looked at the Garmin Coach 5K plan in particular) - so pretty normal. This long run at below race pace is typically designed to increase your aerobic capacity and endurance. Also, slower paces involve less impact, and gradually extending your long distance at a lower pace will help your body adjust to the greater impact of 5K at race pace.

    Trust the plan, and keep up the great work!

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Thank you all so much, you've all been really helpful and supportive.

    I'm confident now that it knows what it's doing, way more than I do, and I'll keep going to the end of the plan then start working on my speed.

    Thank you all again, and hope you all keep well and safe.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Well I'm at the end of week 5 tomorrow and it has me running a 4mi run. Longest run I've done in the last 4 years was 2 mi last week, 1mi the week before, another 1mi the week before than, and I've done no running since retiring from the Army 4 years ago...

    I'm willing to bet it's based on your goal time that you set in the beginning.