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The Couch to 5K Challenge - #MakeYourMove

Couch to 5k is back with a new trainer, Laura....but in a new home! Click for the new and updated page. We'd also love it if you'd join our community group where you can share your progress stories and get advice on progressing through the weeks with other members.

Think you can’t run? Surprise yourself.

Just because you don’t run doesn’t mean you can’t. If you can walk for half an hour, chances are that you can pick up the pace and give running or jogging a try.

大象传媒 Get Inspired has teamed up with Public Health England’s One You campaign to bring you the Couch to 5K programme. It has been especially designed for people who have done little or no running.

In this 9 week plan, you will work on your running 3 times a week. By the final week you will be running for half an hour, or approximately 5K.

And you won’t be on your own - choose your trainer from some familiar faces. Radio DJ, Jo Whiley; comedian and actor, Sanjeev Kohli; 13 time Olympic and World Championship gold medallist, Michael Johnson and comedian Sarah Millican will talk you through your run and support you every step of the way.

This challenge builds in time and effort, so you’ll constantly be impressed with what you can do if you push yourself a little.

  • Install the .
  • Don’t have a smartphone? .

The challenge in a nutshell

Your Why
Aim To run 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes (approx. 5K).
Benefits Running at any speed will get your heart pumping. Running regularly, or 3 times a week, will increase your fitness so you don鈥檛 feel so out of breath. Plus it鈥檚 great for boosting your mood and feeling energised.
Goal The programme is 9 weeks long but take as long as you need. It is fine to repeat weeks, but try not to skip any weeks. You don鈥檛 want to do too much too soon or else you鈥檒l get burned out. As long as you keep on moving you鈥檒l find the more you can do the more you鈥檒l want to keep it up.
Next steps The Couch to 5K plan is great way to start running. Once you are running regularly the key is to keep running 3 times a week. Read the Get Inspired guide (below) for ideas on how to keep it up 鈥� whether you want to register for a race or get more social, there are loads of ways to impress yourself now that you are a runner!

Don鈥檛 forget

Enjoy the new you that you鈥檝e become.
Jo Whiley
  • Track your results - motivation looks different for everyone, but nothing helps you to see progress like looking back at how much you have achieved.
  • If you would like to keep a manual diary, and keep notes.
  • Show us how you are getting on. Use #MakeYourMove on , or to join the conversation and see who else is using the Couch to 5K Challenge to get moving.

Need more convincing?

Imagine the finish line in the distance.
Michael Johnson

Starting the Couch to 5K plan not only means that you are helping yourself, it also puts you in a club of millions. There are people all over the UK who are completing or have completed the programme.

  • The simplest, purest form of exercise there is, and the building block for most other sports.

The Movement Challenges