Couch to 5K Challenge - Week 3!
 

Yayyy Week 3 is here!

to everyone who stuck with it during week 1 and week 2!

Week three is a little tougher but just hang in there you will be glad you did!!

So for week 3 the plan is this:

Brisk 5 minute warm up walk
Alternate 90 seconds of running/jogging (1 1/2 minutes) with 90 seconds of walking (1 1/2 minutes) followed by 3 minutes of running/jogging and 3 mintues of walking alternate these (90 sec jog, 90 sec walk, 3 min jog, 3 min walk) for 20 minutes (total workout 25 minutes)

Again...you can add a 5 minute cool down walk to make your workout total 30 minutes!

This looks like it is going to be much tougher! If you just feel like you absolutely can't do it try some of the following tips:

1. Do the current weeks schedule as much as you can until you just can't anymore....finish up that workout with a walk until you reach 30 minutes. Try to get a little further during each workou that you do.

or

2. Stay on week 2 and maybe just try to do 1 or 2 days at week two. If you can get your 3rd day on week 3 then you have accomplished something!

Good luck I know this is gonna be hard but if it were easy everyone would be doing it!!! LOL! We are the tough ones who actually signed up though!

Hi, I have been at week 3 for about a month now. I need to jump back in! I'll be working with you guys this week!

:welcome: vixjean!!!!

technically i'm still on week 2 but here i am with you girls!!!

i will do w2, d1 in the morning! maybe i can eventually catch up with you guys!

don't even worry about it bjeweled!

If at the end of the 9 weeks your only on week 5 that is still a great accomplishment because if you hadn't started at all you couldn't even do that much...or if you quit or give up cause you are not at the current week then you'll never progress.

The idea is to get out of your comfort zone and push yourself. We are creatures of comfort and habit...so our bodies plateau! Just do what you can but as soon as your comfortable push it to the next level as much as you can!!!

I did week 3 day 1 today...it was kinda hard to get those 3 min of jogging in. I only did 1 day of week 2. I decided to just skip onto week 3. I did it and it felt good...tomorrow I will probably do week 2 day 2 then on wed I will do week 3 day 2...mix it up a little so I can get it all in.

Stick with it everyone!

Good idea, Jessicaca!! I did week 3 day 1 today. Not quite as draggy as last time I went running, but it's still not easy. I'm at a plateau. 153 for 2 weeks now. Sigh. But, I feel good, and I enjoy healthy food, so I'm just going to keep on keeping on.

Eeeek! I didn't do day 1 yesterday but my daughter is at the baby sitter's today so I hope to get to the gym after lunch today and get it over with. I am thinking about doing a good arm workout after my walk/jog routine!

Kori - I bet you get out from under that plateau soon. Since week 3 has been a little harder for you your really pushing your body and when you push it you are forcing your body to go beyond its capabilities and burn some butter! LOL! So I bet you see some results soon! Stick with girl! Your gonna have to have that dress taken in before long!!! :o


Jessicaca - you rock girl! That is the best idea I have heard! I have been doing 3 days and walking in between on the other days...I think what I will start doing is 3 days current week and on the other days do the week prior....so say Mon, Wed, Fri do week 3 and Tues, Thurs, Sat do week 2 or something like that. Thanks for the idea...you rock! :D

I'm totally slacking ladies, I'm proud of you for all your committment, but I'm just going to end up struggling through this at whatever pace I can hit. :) I'm somewhere in a mix between week 1 and week 2, but I'll keep going. You guys are my inspiration.

Mind if I join you, Sprklemajik? I'm kinda in the middle of week 1 and 2 also.

Week 1 made me feel strong and pro-active, like I was really doing something. :D

Week 2 made me feel fat, slow and depressed.:( Yep, week 2 was more than I can do right now.

Yeah, me too. I have no idea what the intended place is for posting if, for any number of reasons, you're not on the same week. I don't feel bad for being where I am, but it is a little depressing to post in the thread a week or two or more ahead of where you are. But the old threads for the week you are on get slow and hard to find. I wonder do we really need a new thread each week?

Got a week behind the first week due to a knee problem, and will get another week behind next week (vacation at 7800 feet elevation, will walk but obviously won't keep up with an advancing program). I'll probably need to repeat week 2 when I get back to re-accustom my legs to the impact and work.

Anyway, I did week 2, day 1 yesterday. It was hard work but went better than expected. Tomorrow is day 2!

I will probably be with the rest of you by next week...LOL

Week 3 is kicking my butt. The first three minutes is not that bad but the second three minutes kicked by butt!!!

I will continue to post new threads each week....That will be about the only way I can keep up with how many weeks I have been doing this and everyone else as well.

Don't sweat ladies! Keep doing what you are doing and don't give up! If your on week 2 just keep trucking....but don't let yourself stay there...keep trying to go to the next week. I truely believe that everyone here can do this...you can push yourself...JUST DO IT! Don't keep saying I can't I can't I can't....if you never push yourself you'll never be able to improve.....

ONE GOOD TIP --> if you are on a treadmill...don't watch the clock!!! Focus on an object in front of you like the ceiling fan or television and focus on your breathing....controlling your breathing that is....I usually start 4 steps breathing in....4 steps breathing out.......after a while of jogging its more like 2 steps breathing in and 2 steps breathing out...but trust me focus on your breathing and not the clock it really helps the time go by and get it over with.....

90 seconds isn't that long....just tell yourself your gonna do it and that it isn't an option and focus on the breathing.

If you are confortable in week one definately get out and make yourself stay in week 2 if you are comfortable then it is too easy and not challenging....stay in week two till it is comfortable etc!

Hope this helps...I may need you guys to :kickbutt: kick my butt next week
LOL

Finished W2D2 this morning, going better than expected. Hard but feels like I can do it. Still get twinges in my knee, crossing my fingers (and treating it as good as I can) on that one.

Julie - :bravo: I'm glad your sticking with it! Keep it up!

I did day 2 of week 3. It was much easier than day 1 by far! AND I finally got batteries for my MP3 player. I think that helped it be easier to accomplish cause I was feeling the beat to some Madonna and other songs!

Hey guys, kinda dropped out of the loop for a few days, but I got W3D1 done on Tuesday. And, of course, the last 3 min run nearly had me turning off the treadmill. No lie, I literally had my hand hovering over the stop button. But I did it! I'm going to shoot for doing D2 later this afternoon and D3 on Saturday.

UPDATE: Caught up to you momma, did W3D2 just a bit ago. It went a bit better, but I won't lie, it still hurt!!!

I hope I'll be able to push on to week 4 next week, but I'm scared I'll have to repeat week 3. I'll just have to see what my body can handle.

I'm with you Wendi. I haven't done day 3 yet but planned on it tonight. Day 2 was a lot better but my shins hurt some....my breathing I can tell a world of difference already. I'm with you on the week 4 thing.....what I may have to do is Mon and/or Tues week 3 and try to do week 4 on Wed....

So my plan is to start week 4 by Wed...if in the middle of day 1 week 4 I just can't do it I will finish the work out with week 3 but will try every day for the rest of the week to do week 4.....I will continue starting the work out to do week 4 (finishing doing week 3 if I can't do 4) until I can do week 4 for at least 3-4 days.

You know...I keep doubting myself each week but each week it really isn't as bad as I think it is.....you just have to push your self....and don't quit when you only have those last 90 seconds to go.....just keep telling yourself...it is only 90 stupid seconds and I'm better than that!

Originally Posted by McKenziesmomma:
You know...I keep doubting myself each week but each week it really isn't as bad as I think it is.....you just have to push your self....and don't quit when you only have those last 90 seconds to go.....just keep telling yourself...it is only 90 stupid seconds and I'm better than that!

I hear you there. I may b*tch a lot, but in the end, when I'm on the last minute of that 3 minute run, I just tell myself what a bum I'll feel like all night if I can't stick out... 1 minute < all night.

Your plan sounds like a good one, throwing in an extra day, or maybe 2 of week 3. I'm just waiting to see how I do on my last day of w3.

Yay! Just finished Week 2, Day 3. Definitely improving :D. It's still hard, but I didn't have any of those "Oh God, please tell me this interval is over in the next 2 seconds" moments ;). Not that I feel light on my feet, but I don't feel so elephant-ish either. I *sooo* wish vacation wasn't interrupting my progress here :o, not that I would actually give up vacation :).

So, I'm off on vacation tonight until next weekend. I'll be at high elevation, so I don't know that I'll be able to do any running, but we'll be in a campground, so I plan to do *lots* of walks every day. Catch you when I get back, don't get hurt! :D.

hey guys!

i have been doing this like once a week because i work with a trainer who trains for free in a local park near my house... well the jogging things she has me do are very similar to what the couch to 5k program has me doing. i know i am progressing and will try to pick this back up on my morning walk/jog but i am having to rest my shins because they had gotten unbearably sore :(

i am at about w2d3 so i am catching up slowly but surely

congrats to all of us who are sticking with it!!! we are so strong!:D

I just did week 3 day 2....kicked my butt..nuff said!

Hey guys! Im finally back n the world of internet connections. I did 2 days of week 3 so far.. and as expected.. it's kicking my butt. I did it... but it wears me OUT. That second thre eminutes is WHIPPING mybehind!! I decided to give my knee a couple days to chill out and i will no doubt do day three tomorrow.

Good ideas on extending the weeks.. haha I dont know why it never even crossed my mind to do that. Im trying to decided to if i shoudl stick to week 3 for an extra week or so to become more comfortable with it. I dont wanna puch myself past my limits andfeel defeated.

Hey Ladies I would love to join ya! I am actually on week 5 day 3 tomorrow! That means I have to run for 20 minutes straight. I just seems daunting, but I think it will be okay. I actually did fine with w5d2. I will let you know...everyone keep up the great work! We can do it!

dolly - OMG I'm dreading week 5... :welcome3: just jump on in here...you can let us know what you are feeling/going through being ahead of us and all.....so we know what to expect!

Fauxtini - I missed ya girl! Glad your back and hope you had fun....no more passing out! You probably should go to the dr. and make sure it was nothing serious!!!

Jessicaca- So glad to finally put a face to a name!!! Your soooo pretty! I think we are all BEAUTIFUL / STRONG ladies!

Julie - Congrats on finishing week 2....maybe you can get 1-2 days of week 3 in before the end of this week.....or at least try them out....keep up the good work!

Wendi - HOLY POOP!!! Not next week but the week after that during week 5 day 3 we have to jog for 20 freakin' minutes! Well....I can see now its all gonna go to poop from here...LOL!!!

Thank you for the compliment Melissa!!!

Jess: I agree with Melissa.. what a cute picture you've got posted! I think we should put out a 3fc hotties calender to raise money for a charity or something!! hehe

Melissa: Im feeling a million times better today. Gonna save my day 3 C25K jog for tomorrow and just hard core walk it tonite. Don't wanna push myself too too hard right away. If i start feeling weak again.. I will be first in line at outpatients. No worries :)

Is anyone else thinking of re-doing week 3 again next week?

I just got done with week 3 day 3....I ended up doing 3 sets...that last 3 minute jog would have liked to have killed me! I don't remember what week 4 is like but I hope I can do it!

Thats a GREAT idea Faux!!!!

I did W3D2 today, I'm a little behind since the Man came home, always something to do 'instead' which is bad for me, I know! Tonight he picked up huge piles of wings, chips, and gravy. I thought he got it, but I guess not. I feel queasy, and I'm going to tell him so.

Oh I think in week 4 we have to jog 3 min, walk 90 sec, jog 5 min, walk 3 min....I don't know but I hope I can jog 5 minutes....I just don't know but I'm still gonna try....week 5 day 3 we are supposed to jog 20 minutes straight....I just don't know about that either but we will see!

I did day 3 of week 3 today...I think I 'm gonna try to do day 1 of week 4 tomorrow and if I can't get though it maybe I will be able to by Monday or Tuesday and still get my 3 days in for next week....

Good luck everyone....

I did my week 3 day 3 today too. I'm gonna try my best to do week four.. good idea Melissa.. to start practicing right away.

3minutes sounds so short but well.. it's not when im tryng to jog! I'm going at a snails pace by the second 3 minute interval.. but hey.. slow is better than not at all! I can do it.. i can do it! Come on over five minutes.. i'm gonna kick your butt! (slowly.. but I will kick it! hehe)

I haven't gotten my W3D3 in yet, I'm going to try to squeeze it in today, but I'm seriously thinking of staying at week 3 one more week Faux. I just don't feel like I'm "comfortable" doing it yet, and like you said I don't want to push too hard too quick, and end up quitting the whole thing. So, we'll see how it goes...

okay, cool, Wendi. Well, we can give it a try tomorrow and see if we make it and decide from there! have a good day tomorrow everyone!! and good luck with week 4!!!!

Question for you guys: I didn't manage to get my W3D3 in... should I go ahead and try W4D1, and see how it goes, or hit W3D3 and try to do W4 later this week?

I'm tempted just to see what happens in W4...

Try week four and see how it goes!!
You could even do your day three week three today and start in on week 4 tomorrow. Your choice!! :)

Yeah, I think I'm going to go for it. I run on a treadmill, so there's always the stop button =) Are you onto W4 today too?

Well i'm gonna give it a go. I'm still pretty wore out when I do week 3.. but i'm gonna give it a try. I know I will be moving at slower than a snail's pace... but no harm in giving it a go!! I will let you know if i plan on staying at 3 or sticking with 4!

=D I'll cross my fingers for both of us! Either way, W3 or W4, it's still further than we were going three weeks ago!

Most definitly!!!

Crazy busy! Won't be on much, will check in later, lots of people in house, will probably get a little behind, but will catch up and get back to burnin my butter!!:flame:

Hey everyone...mind if i join in?? I'm done my first two weeks..finished w2d3 today...I did day 2 wed past so had a few good days rest in between....wondering if i should just go ahead and start Week 3 tomorrow...the thought of running for 3 minutes is a little scary but I am willing to give it a try..I also have a little chest cold which makes it a bit harder for breathing but I'm not going to let it stop me!