- Beginners should spend 2-3 months training for a 5k while experienced runners can prep in 2-3 weeks.
- Optimal training plans include a combination of endurance and interval runs.
Training for a 5k but strapped for time? The bottom line is, don't rush it.
An estimated 50% of runners get hurt each year. And running a race you're not ready for could make you one of them.
Here's how long you should train for a 5k based on fitness level and tips on how to focus your training.
How long you should train for a 5k
New runners should spend two to three months training for a 5k in order to adequately build endurance and understand what their body needs.
Experienced runners, on the other hand, can prepare over a few weeks of "focused training," says Cat Kom, an ACE-certified personal trainer and founder of Studio SWEAT onDemand.
"As with any athletic endeavor, the more training [you do], the healthier and safer you'll be" says Kom. "Don't rush if you don't have to."
If you have limited time to train, you'll want to do it as effectively as possible. I spoke to two athletic trainers for their top tips on how to quickly, and safely, train for a 5k.
1. Get a running assessment first
Before starting a training program, Kenny Ferrer, CPT and lead trainer for FitOn, recommends getting a running assessment — aka a gait assessment — at a local running store.
"Your gait refers to how your body moves [while] walking, jogging, and running," Ferrer tells Insider. "That info allows you to experiment with the proper running shoes to support your individual form."
Knowing how you move, and having shoes that give you the support your body needs, can help prevent injuries, like shin splints, hamstring pulls, or knee injuries, and allow you to improve running performance.
2. Strike a balance between running and resting
Your current fitness level impacts how much time you need to prep for a 5k, how much rest you'll need, and what you'll be capable of during training.
A key part of your fitness level is your aerobic capacity, which refers to how well your lungs function while doing a cardiovascular activity like running.
Ferrer says in order to build your aerobic capacity, you first need to strike the right balance between running and rest.
The amount of rest one needs varies, but running three days a week while resting for four strikes a good balance for most. Alternate on and off days to give your muscles time to recover.
3. Do interval runs
You can further improve aerobic capacity by going on interval runs, alternating between running at full speed and walking or jogging at a more relaxed pace.
This also helps improve your efficiency, speed, and endurance since the higher intensity of the workout pushes your body differently than something like a slower endurance run. Benefits include higher calorie burn (during and after the exercise), improved running performance, and better cardio fitness.
"Interval training involves combining high-intensity sprints usually performed for a shorter period of time with recovery periods between sprints," Kom explains. "For example, do a 45 second sprint with a 1:30 recovery performed 10 times in a row."
4. Add in endurance running
Endurance runs focus on consistency rather than intensity — instead of alternating between sprints and running, you maintain a low-to-moderate pace and try to run for a longer period of time.
Kom suggests implementing a mix of interval and endurance runs throughout your training. She adds that new runners should focus on running for no more than a 3.1 miles (i.e. a 5k) while training to avoid overdoing it.
If you experience any of the following warning signs, you might be overdoing it:
- Persistent fatigue, lethargy, and/or muscle weakness lasting longer than a recovery day
- Worsened performance (i.e., it takes you longer to run the same distances)
- Decreased appetite
- Trouble sleeping
- Irritability
- Apathy
- Depression
- General loss of motivation
Listen to your body, rest when you need it, and don't push yourself beyond your capabilities; you won't get very far with injured or exhausted muscles.
Note: Stretching is also an important step to help you perform your best and prevent injury. Our experts recommend doing dynamic stretches, such as gate swings and butt kicks, for about 5 to 8 minutes before every run.
The importance of a 5k training plan
Using a training plan – especially one personalized by a trainer or run coach – strikes a balance between challenging yet realistic.
With a proper plan, you can learn to pace yourself so you don't run too fast on race day due to nerves or excitement and burn out before the finish line. It also helps keep you motivated throughout the training process.
Here's an example of a beginner training plan designed by Cat Kom:
Week 1 | 2 Endurance Runs (8 Min) | 1 Interval Run (60 sec run, 2 min walk, 3X) |
Week 2 | 2 Endurance Runs (10 Min) | 1 Interval Run (60 sec run, 2 min walk, 4X) |
Week 3 | 2 Endurance Runs (12 Min) | 1 Interval Run (90 sec run, 2 min walk, 3X) |
Week 4 | 2 Endurance Runs (14 Min) | 1 Interval Run (90 sec run, 2 min walk, 4X) |
Week 5 | 2 Endurance Runs (16 Min) | 1 Interval Run (2 min run, 3 min walk, 3X) |
Week 6 | 2 Endurance Runs (18 Min) | 1 Interval Run (2 min run, 3 min walk, 4X) |
Week 7 | 2 Endurance Runs (21 Min) | 1 Interval Run (2.5 min run, 3 min walk, 3X) |
Week 8 | 2 Endurance Runs (24 Min) | 1 Interval Run (2.5 min run, 3 min walk, 4X) |
Week 9 | 2 Endurance Runs (27 Min) | 1 Interval Run (2.5 min run, 2.5 min walk, 3X) |
Week 10 | 2 Endurance Runs (30 Min) | 1 Interval Run (2.5 min run, 2.5 min walk, 4X) |
Week 11 | 2 Endurance Runs (33 Min) | 1 Interval Run (3 min run, 3 min walk, 3X) |
Week 12 | 2 Endurance Runs (36 Min) | 1 Interval Run (3 min run, 3 min walk, 4X) |
Note: Ferrer recommends HIIT workouts as a good complement to training when preparing for a 5k, though it isn't mandatory for all runners. HIIT workouts often combine strength training and cardio and some can even be done in as few as 15 or 20 minutes.
Should you run on a treadmill or outside?
Both Ferrer and Kom recommend running outside as much as possible.
If you're used to running inside an air-conditioned gym, hot sun or cold wind could throw you off on race day. Practicing in a variety of real-world conditions helps you learn how to manage your breath and pace when the weather throws you a curveball.
Running on a treadmill also doesn't work your body the way running outside does.
"When you run outside, you use your body to propel forward, driving from the ground underneath you," Ferrer adds. "Running on a treadmill requires keeping pace with a moving belt which creates subtle changes to your [running style] and overall efficiency."
Both experts add that treadmills aren't entirely useless. Kom recommends keeping routines fresh by doing some interval workouts on a treadmill.
How to stay motivated
It's natural to have days when you're not motivated to run. Ferrer recommends creating an "attitude of disciplined commitment" toward training to overcome this.
"Saying 'I'll train no matter what,' and sticking to it, is transformative," he says. "It takes away a lot of the drama that comes from fighting yourself."
Having a purpose behind your goal can also be helpful. Whether it's to boost your self-esteem, get mood-boosting endorphins flowing, improve your cardiovascular health, or just to prove to yourself you can do it, it can push you past mental walls.
Kom suggests writing a mantra about why you're racing and to post it somewhere you'll see every day.
Insider's takeaway
Adequate training is crucial to avoiding injuries and ensuring your best performance for running a 5k.
It's important to not rush your training, too. With a focused plan, beginners can prepare for a 5k in anywhere from six to 12 weeks.
If you're a seasoned runner, then you may be able to squeeze enough training into as few as two to three weeks.
Don't forget to listen to your body, properly rest, and develop a disciplined commitment to why you're training for a race.