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Couch to 5K Training Plan Calculator

Place the official nine-week NHS Couch to 5K structure on three weekly run days with rest-day spacing and calendar export. Sensitive inputs stay in your browser.

Reference toolCouch To 5k Training Plan CalculatorPlace the official nine-week NHS Couch to 5K structure on three weekly run days with rest-day spacing and calendar export. Sensitive inputs stay in your browser. Verify important decisions with a qualified professional.
Reference calculation

Enter your details.

Calculated locally. This page loads no analytics and uploads no inputs.

Mon, Aug 24, 2026
The NHS plan uses three sessions per week with a rest day between runs.

Plain-date semantics · start date is not counted unless the result explicitly says inclusive.

Your result
Nine-week plan finishes Oct 23, 2026

The calendar places 27 NHS Couch to 5K sessions on the selected three weekly run days.

Plan startsAug 24, 2026
Sessions27 · three per week
Rest-day ruleAt least one non-running day between the selected sessions
Final planned sessionOct 23, 2026
Aug 24, 2026Week 1 · NHS session 1 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Aug 26, 2026Week 1 · NHS session 2 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Aug 28, 2026Week 1 · NHS session 3 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Aug 31, 2026Week 2 · NHS session 1 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Sep 2, 2026Week 2 · NHS session 2 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Sep 4, 2026Week 2 · NHS session 3 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Sep 7, 2026Week 3 · NHS session 1 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Sep 9, 2026Week 3 · NHS session 2 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Sep 11, 2026Week 3 · NHS session 3 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Sep 14, 2026Week 4 · NHS session 1 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Sep 16, 2026Week 4 · NHS session 2 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Sep 18, 2026Week 4 · NHS session 3 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Sep 21, 2026Week 5 · NHS session 1 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Sep 23, 2026Week 5 · NHS session 2 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Sep 25, 2026Week 5 · NHS session 3 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Sep 28, 2026Week 6 · NHS session 1 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Sep 30, 2026Week 6 · NHS session 2 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Oct 2, 2026Week 6 · NHS session 3 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Oct 5, 2026Week 7 · NHS session 1 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Oct 7, 2026Week 7 · NHS session 2 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Oct 9, 2026Week 7 · NHS session 3 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Oct 12, 2026Week 8 · NHS session 1 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Oct 14, 2026Week 8 · NHS session 2 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Oct 16, 2026Week 8 · NHS session 3 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Oct 19, 2026Week 9 · NHS session 1 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Oct 21, 2026Week 9 · NHS session 2 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Oct 23, 2026Week 9 · NHS session 3 of 3Follow the official NHS app or plan for the run/walk instructions.
Calendar options

Add to calendar

Choose a calendar service, then confirm the event. Downloading an .ics file does not add it until you open or import it.

Read before relying

Context matters.

  • Use the official NHS plan or app for each session's run/walk instructions; CalcSpan does not reproduce or invent workout content.
  • Repeat a week or pause when needed. Pain, illness or concerning symptoms override the calendar.
Rule set 1.1.0

Sources & scope

Source & calculation QA reviewed

The calculation guide and this source trail show what the result means, where the rule came from and when it was last reviewed. This is source-and-calculation QA, not a claim of medical, legal, tax or other professional review; time-sensitive decisions still belong with the linked authority.

JurisdictionUnited Kingdom NHS Couch to 5K calendar structure — official session content, individual health and readiness control
Last reviewed2026-08-23
Next review due2027-02-23
Review scopeCalcSpan source & calculation QA
PrivacySensitive input stays local
How this calculation works

A visible path from input to answer.

Place the official nine-week NHS Couch to 5K structure on three weekly run days with rest-day spacing and calendar export. The page keeps the calculation scope and its limits beside the result so the output can be checked, copied or revisited.

Calculation flow
  1. Read the record. The calculator uses Week 1 starts, Usual run time, Three run days and Current exercise / health check supplied in the form.
  2. Apply the scope. It applies the United Kingdom NHS Couch to 5K calendar structure — official session content, individual health and readiness control reference and the explicit date, unit and counting conventions shown in the result.
  3. Expose the checkpoints. Intermediate rows, warnings and timeline events stay visible; the emphasized row identifies the primary checkpoint when one exists.
Illustrative default example Nine-week plan finishes Oct 23, 2026

The calendar places 27 NHS Couch to 5K sessions on the selected three weekly run days.

  • Sessions27 · three per week
  • Final planned sessionOct 23, 2026
Defaults are an illustration only. Replace them with the record that applies to your situation.
Assumptions and scope

Calculation purpose: Place the official nine-week NHS Couch to 5K structure on three weekly run days with rest-day spacing and calendar export. This is a high-sensitivity reference output; the linked authority or qualified professional controls the final decision.

Boundary behavior

Calendar inputs use plain year-month-day semantics. Leap days, month ends, date-pair order and unsupported dates are checked before the result is shown.

Rule trail

Rule set 1.1.0 · Last reviewed 2026-08-23 · Next review due 2027-02-23. The source panel below contains the linked evidence.

Questions answered

What to know before using the result.

How long is the NHS Couch to 5K plan?

The official NHS plan is nine weeks with three sessions each week and a rest day between runs.

Does this page contain the full run-walk instructions?

No. It schedules and exports the 27 session dates; use the official NHS app or plan for the content of each session.

What if I miss a session or have pain?

Repeat or pause as needed. Pain, illness, injury or clinician restrictions override the calendar and can require qualified advice.