What do you think?
Rate this book
Not Your Average 5K: A Practical 8-Week Training Plan for Beginning Runners
If you've ever tried a Couch to 5K training plan that promised to work for anyone, only to end up quitting after three weeks because it was too hard, this is the book for you.
Building on the concepts taught in the best-selling book Running With Curves, Why You're Not Too Fat to Run and the Skinny on How to Start Today , Jill Angie gives you everything you need to finish your first race—and feel great about it—including a step-by-step training plan that takes into account all the challenges of being an overweight athlete in a size-six world.
Where other training plans fail you, this book steps in and gets you to the finish line with ease, bringing out your inner runner girl and showing you that you're capable of so much more than you ever thought possible.
This book is for anyone who wants to complete their first 5K. That means you don’t even have to be a runner right now. As long as you can walk for 3 miles, you will be able to do a 5K in two months. I promise. Also, this book is designed to train you to finish that 5K in a way that feels good to you, both mentally and physically. That means you can walk, run, skip, or even disco dance your way across the finish line. Now, if you’ve already done a 5K (or two… or five), this doesn’t mean you won’t get anything out of this book. Just the opposite, in fact. There is a truckload of helpful information here that will help you take your 5K performance to the next level.
Praise for Not Your Average 5K
Jill Angie has created a 5K training plan that not only gets you to the finish line but addresses the #1 reason that many new (and experienced) runners face when taking on new challenges. Mindset. In this easy to follow program, Jill walks you through exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to get rid of self doubt, fear and anxiety known as your "inner mean girl" so that you finish strong, confident, and proud. Whether you struggle with the physical aspects, mental aspects, both or neither, this guide will have you totally prepared on race day.
—Steve Carmichael, running coach and host of The RunBuzz podcast, www.RunBuzz.com
"Not Your Average 5K is a highly readable and engaging book that will have you BELIEVING you can do a 5K in eight weeks and provides a roadmap with plans to accomplish it. It is authentic, thorough, and motivational from start to finish! We highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to do their first 5K."
—Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano of Run The Edge, www.RunTheEdge.com
Building on the concepts taught in the best-selling book Running With Curves, Why You're Not Too Fat to Run and the Skinny on How to Start Today , Jill Angie gives you everything you need to finish your first race—and feel great about it—including a step-by-step training plan that takes into account all the challenges of being an overweight athlete in a size-six world.
Where other training plans fail you, this book steps in and gets you to the finish line with ease, bringing out your inner runner girl and showing you that you're capable of so much more than you ever thought possible.
This book is for anyone who wants to complete their first 5K. That means you don’t even have to be a runner right now. As long as you can walk for 3 miles, you will be able to do a 5K in two months. I promise. Also, this book is designed to train you to finish that 5K in a way that feels good to you, both mentally and physically. That means you can walk, run, skip, or even disco dance your way across the finish line. Now, if you’ve already done a 5K (or two… or five), this doesn’t mean you won’t get anything out of this book. Just the opposite, in fact. There is a truckload of helpful information here that will help you take your 5K performance to the next level.
Praise for Not Your Average 5K
Jill Angie has created a 5K training plan that not only gets you to the finish line but addresses the #1 reason that many new (and experienced) runners face when taking on new challenges. Mindset. In this easy to follow program, Jill walks you through exactly what to do, when to do it, and how to get rid of self doubt, fear and anxiety known as your "inner mean girl" so that you finish strong, confident, and proud. Whether you struggle with the physical aspects, mental aspects, both or neither, this guide will have you totally prepared on race day.
—Steve Carmichael, running coach and host of The RunBuzz podcast, www.RunBuzz.com
"Not Your Average 5K is a highly readable and engaging book that will have you BELIEVING you can do a 5K in eight weeks and provides a roadmap with plans to accomplish it. It is authentic, thorough, and motivational from start to finish! We highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to do their first 5K."
—Adam Goucher and Tim Catalano of Run The Edge, www.RunTheEdge.com
- GenresNonfictionFitness
126 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2015
158 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 16, 2018
I haven't run my 5k yet, but this book gave me a great foundation for my physical training regimen as well as some piece of mind mentally about the whole process. I feel well prepared to dig into training and have a successful 5k in two months.
March 12, 2016
Glad I borrowed this for free from the Kindle library because I would have been really mad had I spent money on it. The first 16% of the book was testimonials about how great the book was. When I finally got to the book part, I thought I was getting the actual tips AND the 8 week training plan. Not so. Got a lot of great tips, but nothing I had not already got for free elsewhere. As for the training plan, there was a link in the end where I could go purchase the 8 week plan or any other plan they offer for 50% off. Thought this book was the 8 week plan. Very disappointed. Glad I borrowed the book and returning early as it was worthless. Wish I could give it 0 stars, but that is not an option.
November 26, 2016
I had high hopes for this book, but in the end, it was kind of a rip off. I bought the ebook, and the first 16% was just positive quotes for the book. The rest is dependent on a 8-week training journal that you're supposed to download from the author's website. At the end of it, you aren't going to actually run a 5k in 8-weeks. You'll run-walk a 5k. There's nothing wrong with that, but be honest about that up front.
March 18, 2016
Having run a few 5k and half marathon in the past-trying to re-up my running again...
February 26, 2019
The first 16% is testimonials which would have been handier at the end of the book. The "encouraging" if you can walk 3 miles you can do this was really off putting for me as im in recovery from ME / CFS and cannot walk 3 miles. I am determined to do a programme in my own way and own time using tips i've picked up from other books along the way.
November 14, 2020
Not a lot of new information, couldn't access training plan
I'm always looking for new training plans to help keep me motivated on my path to becoming a runner, but this one didn't deliver. Literally, I can't access the training program. The information in the book was fine, but nothing really earth shattering.
I'm always looking for new training plans to help keep me motivated on my path to becoming a runner, but this one didn't deliver. Literally, I can't access the training program. The information in the book was fine, but nothing really earth shattering.
July 30, 2019
A good read that gives excellent information to someone planning to run a 5K. Actual training schedule is available on her website. The book is setup with weekly training assignments and homework. She has lots of tips of what to expect on race day. I enjoyed her first book much more.
May 24, 2018
Very practical
I liked how no-nonsense the instructions were. I agreed with the recommendations. I disagreed with the suggestion that this was helpful for seasoned runners.
I liked how no-nonsense the instructions were. I agreed with the recommendations. I disagreed with the suggestion that this was helpful for seasoned runners.
January 2, 2021
Another quick read 111 pages. This book is more specific since it encourages you to train for a race.
January 4, 2021
Great guide for beginners
July 30, 2025
Good to know
Great information for a newbie or anyone already running. If you’ve never done a 5k the list was great to help to know what to expect.
Great information for a newbie or anyone already running. If you’ve never done a 5k the list was great to help to know what to expect.
March 8, 2017
An interesting eight week guide but some chapters are repeated verbatim from Running with Curves: Why You're Not Too Fat to Run, and the Skinny on How to Start Today. I'd be disappointed if these were anything but Kindle Unlimited and I had to directly pay for them. I like her case studies of the two runners and which the reader was closer to.
November 17, 2015
Practical and fun
If you are thinking about participating in a 5k and you aren't sure where to start, this is this book for you. No matter your fitness level, shape, or size, Jill Angie will guide you on your way to train for and complete your first 5k, AND she will do it with knowledge, compassion, experience, and a lot of humor! If you already have a 5k or two under your running shoes, this book is still a great reference. Best of all it comes with a link to training plan that is like getting a whole workbook that will help you bring YOUR goals into focus and give you the tools you need to be the most fabulous you you can be!
If you are thinking about participating in a 5k and you aren't sure where to start, this is this book for you. No matter your fitness level, shape, or size, Jill Angie will guide you on your way to train for and complete your first 5k, AND she will do it with knowledge, compassion, experience, and a lot of humor! If you already have a 5k or two under your running shoes, this book is still a great reference. Best of all it comes with a link to training plan that is like getting a whole workbook that will help you bring YOUR goals into focus and give you the tools you need to be the most fabulous you you can be!
January 1, 2016
Although I have not started running in any way. I read this and her other book "Running with Curves" to get some information before I start. This book is focused on preparing for your first 5k race and she does a great job walking you through all the different things you need to know for race day as well as how to prepare for it. Hopefully with her advice and techniques I can find myself running.
December 16, 2015
The confidence you need to get started
This is a straightforward knowledge book for someone who needs to the ins and outs of beginning running. I definitely recommend this book for beginners.
This is a straightforward knowledge book for someone who needs to the ins and outs of beginning running. I definitely recommend this book for beginners.
November 25, 2015
Beginners that can walk 3 miles
Thankful for the motivation. Great at removing any mental blocks that keep someone from being successful and finishing a 5K. You can do it!!!
Thankful for the motivation. Great at removing any mental blocks that keep someone from being successful and finishing a 5K. You can do it!!!
August 8, 2016
Definitely motivational, as it was meant to be. Jill's purpose with this book is quite clear, telling us all it isn't too late to start and every single body type can run.
June 26, 2016
Very encouraging and practical
This book provides practical steps to get from a to b without feeling overwhelmed. Love the journal and calendar tips.
This book provides practical steps to get from a to b without feeling overwhelmed. Love the journal and calendar tips.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews