Couch to Commit · free · 7 weeks
From the desk chair to 10K
Three short walk/run sessions a week, about 35 minutes each. No pace, no app. Your 10K is split over three days, so the real target is about 3.3K a day.
Week 11 min runs
Week 4your first 5K
Dec 29–3110K, merged
Longest run without walking
It goes up slowly, then eases off before race week- 1
Week 1 · git init
Email on Nov 128 min running1 min longest34 min3× 5 min walk, then 1 min easy run + 2 min walk, ×8. 5 min walk.
💡 Easy means you could still talk. If you can't, slow down. That's the whole trick.
- 2
Week 2 · first commit
Email on Nov 1914 min running2 min longest38 min3× 5 min walk, then 2 min run + 2 min walk, ×7. 5 min walk.
💡 Same time, same shoes, same route. Make it boring so it sticks.
- 3
Week 3 · small diffs
Email on Nov 2618 min running3 min longest37 min3× 5 min walk, then 3 min run + 1.5 min walk, ×6. 5 min walk.
➕ Bonus: one 40 min walk with friends or a podcast.
💡 Missed a day? Don't double up. Just do the next one.
- 4
Week 4 · refactor
Email on Dec 325 min running5 min longest40 min3× 5 min walk, then 5 min run + 2 min walk, ×5.
➕ Weekend: 5K any way you like, walk breaks welcome.
💡 Your first 5K is the halfway point of commit/10. Screenshot it.
- 5
Week 5 · tests passing
Email on Dec 1024 min running8 min longest35 min3× 5 min walk, then 8 min run + 2 min walk, ×3.
➕ Weekend: 6K, walk-run.
💡 Cold out? Treadmills count. So do laps of a parking garage.
- 6
Week 6 · code freeze
Email on Dec 1730 min running10 min longest33 min3× 10 min run + 1 min walk, ×3.
➕ Weekend: 7K, walk-run, no clock.
💡 This is the biggest week. Next week you ease off on purpose.
- 7
Week 7 · ship it
Email on Dec 2412 min running4 min longest20 min2× Two easy 20 min walk-runs. Then rest.
➕ Dec 29–31: 10K total. One go or ~3.3K a day.
💡 Lay out your shoes on Dec 28. Close the laptop. Go.
If you can't say a full sentence, slow down. Slower is the plan working.
Don't double up. Do the next session. Repeat a week if it felt hard.
Park, sidewalk, treadmill, laps of a parking garage. Walking breaks always count.
Not medical advice. If you have a health condition, haven't exercised in a long time, or feel pain, check with a doctor first and walk more. Stop if something hurts.
