To train for a 5K with obstacles, work backwards from the event date. Break down your training into bite-sized chunks. Commit to at least two to three sessions per week, if possible, and give yourself 6-8 weeks minimum to train. Decide your goal time, and if you want to finish a 5K under 30 minutes, you’ll need to run sub-10:00 miles. It makes sense to train shorter distances at your intended race pace in order to get used to running that pace.
You can do interval training, which built my capacity to handle faster paces and paid off when I decisively beat my friends who were training for a full and a half marathon each in a local 5K race. A great plan might include 1-2 interval workouts per week and 1 longer-distance run on weekends. You can and should continue to strength train during your race prep, and I recommend 1-2 full body strength sessions each week.
When you add up the interval training, longer-distance run, and strength workouts, that’s 3-5 sessions per week, and each workout type can be done in 30-60 minutes. If you want to train for a 5K or 10K or other race, give yourself at least 6-8 weeks to train for the event. Longer is better if you’re a beginner or have a very busy schedule and can only commit to 2-3 weekly training sessions. Follow the strength training principle of “progressive overload” – incrementally increase the challenge of your running workouts from week to week. You can do this by increasing distance, adding more intervals, or picking up your pace.