Honestly, at the time, I didn’t think much about how quickly I was progressing from running 3.1 miles to doing 6.2 miles. But it was a little bit…faster than I expected. Here’s how I went from 5K to 10K in 5 weeks, while staying injury-free!

Disclaimer: I am not a fitness expert. Please consult a medical professional before beginning an exercise regimen of your own.

Image c/o: Daxiao_Productions / Depositphotos

How to Go from 5K to 10K in 5 Weeks

I want to stress that this is what worked for me. I know my body, my schedule, and my time demands, so I know what I can do. Please, please, please do not feel like you have to do this in 5 weeks to be a “real” runner.

Confession time: As I mentioned in my post about running my 5K, I use run/walk/run repeats, so I’m not running the entire time. That technique did a lot to help me avoid injury, but here are a couple of other tips that helped.

Add half a mile each week.

Since I had already done 3.1 miles (twice this year), I started training for the 10K immediately after my last 5K. The next week, my long run was 3.5 miles. After that, I added a half-mile to my long run each week. The final long run before my 10K was 5 miles. Once I completed 5 miles successfully, I felt that my chances of doing 6.2 were pretty good.

Choose a course you know well.

 The race I chose was held at a local park that I’ve visited with my family several times over the years. In fact, I had just walked the same route with my kids about a month prior. That was a huge help, because I knew what to expect and how to prepare.

The Reality about Running a 10K

I want to add: Even with the tips above, that 10K was HARD. During my race, I had to do the designated route two and a half times to complete the 6.2 miles. I promise that, during that sixth mile, it really felt as if the finish line was moving away from me.

When I finished, I was sore and tired and a tad discouraged. Later that day, though, I went out with my family and functioned like a normal human being, not like someone who had just run 6 miles that morning.

And that is when I started to feel like a real runner. I thought, “I’m out here with all these people and no one knows what I did this morning but me. But I’m still able to walk and talk and feel great.” It was a new (and wonderful) experience.

So  – yes, it is possible to go from 5K to 10K in 5 weeks. I did it. And, with a careful training plan, others can too!

For more fitness tips, follow my Bye Bye Baby Weight board on Pinterest!

And don’t miss the rest of my Couch to Marathon series: My year-long journey to running my first marathon!

The post Couch to Marathon: From 5K to 10K in 5 Weeks appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.

But if you’ve never done a 5K before, it’s natural to feel nervous and uncertain. I’ve definitely been there. But I’ve done my first – and you can too! For this edition of the Couch to Marathon series, we’re talking about running your first 5K!

Today is also another party with the Laugh and Learn linky! Check out the newest posts and our favorites from last week below!

Image c/o: Iko-images / depositphotos

Couch to Marathon: Running Your First 5K

Signing up for a 5K is one thing. Completing it is another. So how do you make sure you actually go through with your race? Here are a few tips that have worked for me:

Choose a race with a treat.

I need a reason to do a race. It has to offer something that I might not get somewhere else. For our first race of this year, we did the Hot Chocolate 5K. It was FREEZING, but the thought that I would get a large helping of sugar afterward kept me going.

Mmmmmm. That’s a finisher’s mug with hot chocolate, a banana, melted chocolate, a marshmallow, pretzels, and those Pirouline Hazelnut cookies. It was so good, y’all. Definitely worth the run.

Train hilly, run flat.

This is a tip I didn’t actually learn until our second 5K this year, so learn from my mistake! Train on a route that is fairly hilly, then choose a race course that’s fairly flat. You will run so much faster and feel amazing!

This was taken after the 5K Tigger and I did this past weekend. Know why I’m smiling? Because the race course was wayyyy flatter than our usual training route. I ended up recording a personal best!

Run, walk, run.

Run, walk, run is the training technique pioneered by running legend Jeff Galloway. And it’s exactly what it sounds like. You run some, walk some, and then run some.

I’ve been following a set routine that gradually increases my interval times, but you could really just run until you feel like you want to stop, then walk, then go back to running. Over time, your running spurts will get longer. I use the GymBoss interval timer to tell me when to stop running and start walking. It’s super reliable and mine has been working for years!

And those are my must-have tips for running your first 5K! Have you signed up for a 5K? How did you do? Are you planning to do one soon? Share your experiences in the comments!

Don’t miss the rest of the Couch to Marathon series!

For more running motivation, check out my Bye Bye Baby Weight board on Pinterest!

This week we have some great links to share with you. We are very excited to bring you another great opportunity to linkup with us!

Welcome to our 74th week of Laugh and Learn – Home & Family Linkup! Laugh and Learn Linkup will be open by 6 am every Tuesday morning.

New: We have decided to expand our linkup to home and family categories! You are still welcome to share homeschooling or parenting posts with us. That will always be part of the #LaughLearnLinkup!

Each and every week, all of the hosts will pick one favorite post to be featured on the next week’s linkup. All of your links will be shared on three blogs.

We are also sharing the top four posts on Pinterest: #LaughLearnLinkup {Featured Favorites}. It’s added exposure for your awesome content!

Reminder: Please share this linkup! You can help us build a great family, home, parenting, and homeschool group.

Laugh and Learn Linkup was created by Tina from Los Gringos Locos. We want to thank her for this opportunity and send her big hug on her new adventure.

Your Fabulous Hosts

Selena

Selena is a writer and a homeschooling mom to four kids, including three with ADHD/SPD. Selena and her husband, Jay, are committed to teaching their children at home and loving every minute of it! You can read about the family’s homeschooling experiences at Look! We’re Learning, written by Selena!
Find Selena at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
Google +
Instagram

Sarah

Sarah lives in Kentucky, USA, where she and her husband homeschool three children. Sarah writes for and about, families with special needs. She hopes to provide support and encouragement to all special needs parents in the homeschool community. Visit Sarah at Dedicated Homeschooler.
Find Sarah at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
Twitter

Haley

Haley hopes to encourage stay at home moms. She wants to help them learn how to make an extra income, to stretch a budget, to make crafts, and other useful information. Haley always has updates on the kids, and their funny antics. Visit Haley at Haley’s Vintage Finds & Deals.
Find Haley at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Facebook
Pinterest
Instagram
Twitter
Google+
YouTube
Stumble Upon

Reminder: To view our lovely featured posts just click on the image to go there. They would love some extra shares and comments!

Most Clicked on Link

What are the Advantages to Homeschooling Your Kids? by Crystal an International Bloggers Association Member

Selena’s pick for this week…

Add 1004 Blog Subscribers in 26 Days – From Feedblitz to Mad Mimi by Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool

Note from Selena:

As a blogger, I’m always looking for ways to build my audience. These are some great tips for email list building!

Sarah’s pick for this week…

Top 5 Resources for Homeschooling Your Dyslexic Child by Faithfilled Chaos

Note from Sarah:

These are some terrific resources for dyslectic children or struggling readers. I’m excited about using some of them.

Haley’s pick for this week…

Make Your Social Media Feeds Happy Again by Munfore

Note from Haley:

Social media is an important part of a blogger’s life. It can become old quick, but I love Audrey’s tips on how to be happy again with your accounts.

Your post was rocked!

To show our appreciation we have super fun badges for you!

Just go to this page. We also have a fun badge to show you linked up with us!

Thanks to everyone who submitted a post. Please check out the post above by clicking on the image. If you enjoyed these picks as much as we did, please share them also!

Have you joined our Pinterest Board yet?

Follow Tina Ernspiker’s board #LaughLearnLinkup {Featured Favorites} on Pinterest.

Now give us your best posts!

The post Couch to Marathon: Running Your First 5K appeared first on Look! We're Learning!.