Running a 5K Before the Training Plan is Done

Weird, someone else just asked the very very same question on my blog: "Are you hooked now?" And I think the answer is yes!

I'm glad you were able to get out and do it. It's surprising how it feels different to run with a pack of people - how watching them do it, keep running, made me want to keep running. By myself I tend to talk myself out of being able to do things. I'm much better in a group setting.

Congrats to you!! Thanks for all your encouragement.

Awesome!!!! I did one today after being unable to train for the past 2 months or so because of a hip injury but needed to get back into the feeling of being an athlete. I could't run much of it yet because I'm out of running practice but walked a lot and did it in 43:32. Not an awesome time, but after what I've been through I was happy to do it under 45. That feeling of finishing and pushing ourselves harder than we think we can is just so awesome isn't it! Are you hooked now?

Update: I ran the event today and got a time of 37:33, much faster than I ever would have thought I could do. I appreciate all of you challenging me to challenge myself. Now back to your regularly scheduled running plan . . .

I think that's awesome! I've entered some events way before I was ready for them but was glad to challenge myself. Congratulations!

Kelli. You'll do fine. Listen to your body. Walk if you have to run if you can.

Go for it. My first 5K will be at the start of week 8 for me.

Ditto to SWAN47!
My Week 9 Day 3 was on the day of my first 5K - that's what drove me to keep on track with C25K, but I think I was actually ready before that!
You will do great!!! :)
A little advice . . . at my first 5K, I decided not to bring my mp3 player at the last minute. Bad idea for me! I seemed to focus too much on when I was winded or heading up a tough hill. The next race my friend and I both brought them and it made a HUGE difference for me. Just wanted to pass that along!
Good luck to you!

I ran my first 5K before I finished the C25K training. I believe I was at week 5. I didn't think to use the 5K as my W53D. I ran/walked the entire thing. I ran when I could and walked when I needed to. I did my personal time time this way that day and since then!

Go and do the best you can do. Don't injure yourself but push yourself a little bit.

I am signed up for a 5K with some women from work. It's prior to finishing the C25K plan. I am not afraid of walking a 5K so I signed up not planning to run it.

My question is: Should I try to run as much of it as I can, or should I just use it as my normal run for the week (I will be on W4D3 or D2)? I'm afraid to push it but also kind of curious to see what I can do. Would that screw me all up in the grand scheme of the C25K plan?