5K to 10K in 4 weeks too ambitious?

  • Hey guys! So I'm new at running for distance...

    I tested out my endurance on the treadmill the other day and ran 3.5 miles! (on 6.4 or 6.5 speed, can't remember which.) It wasn't even difficult until the last few minutes.

    I was thinking of going for 4 miles on Wednesday, then doing a 5K on Saturday. Is this advisable? Enough rest from Wednesday's run?

    There is another race my sister wants me to do with her on May 7th - 4 weeks from Saturday's 5K. When she first told me about it I was planning on doing 5K but now I'm thinking I might go for 10K. Do you think I can get there in time? Does anyone have any good 4-5 week training schedules for someone at my starting point? The ones I found online where 10 weeks and so.

    There isn't another 10K in the Nashville area until July 4th, so if I can be ready by May 7th that would be awesome!

    Thanks for any help!
  • I think it is too ambitious. You should not increase by more than 10% a week on the treadmill or you risk injury.
  • I think it depends on just how easy the 5K is. I routinely run 5K and have worked my way up to a point where it's pretty easy to do at a moderate pace. I ran 10K one weekend on a whim and was surprised at how easy it was.

    Running outside is a lot different than running inside. I can barely do 4 miles inside, but 6 outside is no big deal.
  • Quote: Running outside is a lot different than running inside. I can barely do 4 miles inside, but 6 outside is no big deal.
    Weird I thought it was the reverse!

    Well, I may just sign up for the 10K and walk part of it....
  • Just my opinion, of course, but I think you can do it. If you are running that pace and consistently able to run a 5k distance, working up to a 10k in 4 weeks should be quite doable.

    Good luck, whatever you decide.
  • Sounds like a nice challenge, I think you should go for it. Chances of success? I dunno that's up to you, it can be hard for someone to get over the 5k slump. It'll probably take a lot of dedication. But even if you have to stop and walk through the race a bit, at least you're out there doing it, which is better than not, right?
  • Go for it, if you walk part of the distance, so what, you still have bragging rights that you did a 10k
  • Quote: Go for it, if you walk part of the distance, so what, you still have bragging rights that you did a 10k
    This.


    And even if you run 80% of it, you'll still beat some of the back-end people!

    You might as well try!
  • Thanks everyone for the support!