Couch to 5K: Barney Fun Run Style

Training plan brought to you by Matt stone founder of ‘the basic trainer’

It’s that time of year again. There’s snow on the ground, you can still make a left turn in downtown Sister Bay, yet signs of Spring are starting to appear. Birds are chirping, snowbirds are opening up their summer homes, and the Barney Fun Run is only 6 weeks away. If you’re like me and notoriously slack on your cardio in the winter, the Barney Fun Run is an annual opportunity to get back on the proverbial horse. But this year instead of waiting until the day of the race to lace up those running shoes that have been collecting dust in the corner of our closets, let's make a commitment to actually prepare ourselves. As someone whose main focus is strength training, developing a running program was a little foreign. Fortunately for you (and me) there’s a very well known concept in the running community called “Couch to 5K” where amateur runners like ourselves ease into the pavement pounding one day at a time. So here’s my take on the “Couch to 5K”, give it a shot, run along and get ready for the Barney Fun Run.

Note: If you want to improve your performance or endurance further, you should continue training beyond this program. Additionally, make sure to listen to your body and adjust the program as necessary to prevent injury. Good luck with your training and have a great race.