Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I think that the "From Couch to 5K" exercise schedule is excellent for those who are unused to exercising and want to make a start.
Your friend is doing really well......
My younger daughter has progressed from doing 5K to 10K, and is planning on running a Half-Marathon in October.
Walking very briskly, and for a longish distance daily, is also very beneficial health wise.
Having a dog also helps here.....you don't feel quite such an idiot striding out if you have a dog in attendance!
I read somewhere that the way to keep fit and slim was to copy what your dog does........run when, and where he/ she does .......follow the dog everywhere.
Whoever wrote that hasn't met my dog....she never walks...she always runs.....
She must cover three miles to one of mine........I should be exhausted if I ran everywhere after her!
But she does keep me (relatively) fit!