# Running advice needed (3 weeks to 5K)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-advice-needed-3-weeks-to-5k/572071>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 21, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-advice-needed-3-weeks-to-5k/572071 "2011-02-21T01:16:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Novalyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@Novalyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novalyne)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-advice-needed-3-weeks-to-5k/572071/1 "2011-02-21T01:16:16Z")

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I have recently started jogging again and was doing the couch to 5K program. Of course, I got the perfect storm of illness, knee pain, and really busy schedule that resulted in missing out on about 2 weeks of workouts.

Prior to the break, I was doing a comfortable 1.5 miles jogging and was ready to increase. Today, I did 1.5 miles but the knees were giving ominous signs and it wasn’t exactly comfortable.

I want to do a 5K on March 12, jogging as much as possible. I have 3 weeks - how much distance and/or speed can I reasonably attempt to increase each week without too much risk of going overboard? I have 10% in my mind but I’m not sure where that figure comes from. Thanks!

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-advice-needed-3-weeks-to-5k/572071/2 "2011-02-21T01:23:16Z")

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Your first concern is to resolve the knee issue, you only have the one pair.

Where is the pain, both knees or one?  
During run or before /after?  
Sudden or gradual onset?

The general rule of thumb is to increase no more than 10% per week.