Since I did Week 9 last week, today I just went out (without the podcast, thank you very much, I'm done with *that* music) and ran the appropriate approximate distance. I went a little further than usual, as I am working up to the full 5K distance now. I was going to make up some of my own music, and probably still will, but it was also nice just to run in the dark & silence.

Gosh...congrats Julie - I can't wait to be there and actually be able to run some distance without feeling like I'm going to die! You're an inspiration!

Thanks! It feels as good as you think it will

It's still hard, but it's a different kind of hard.

Maybe I should try to improve distance after i am done. Afterall, I can only do about 2.5 miles in 30 minutes and it would be nice to be able to do a 5K in that time.

asparagus4sale - I usually run in the mornings at town lake and honestly, it's pretty awesome. The weather is cooler and there aren't as many people on the trails so you don't have to worry about hitting someone like I do on my weekend run. Also, im a little self conscious about running pretty slow so it's nice that it's dark and I feel a little bit hidden from the world.. if that makes sense.

Tonight I start my 30-day Shred with Jillian (after doing my laundry at the laundro-fun-mat), so I'll start doing this tomorrow night!

Ranger chic - good luck with the 30 day shred. I am doing C25K (W3D2) tomorrow and the 30 day shred on the off days. The shred is getting easier and the C25k is going good. I was afraid of over doing it but I am taking off certain days. Let us know how it goes.

Ooh - just found the Shred on the On Demand channel! I'm going to give that a try tomorrow.

Did w1d3 this evening before dinner. DH cooked and I took DD out in the stroller. As expected, pushing a 35lb kiddo and her stroller makes it a bit harder! But I powered through - yay me!

Now on to week 2...*biting nails*

Just found out about C25K on another website and I really want to do this. I downloaded the podcasts tonight and I'm ready to go for tomorrow. The only problem is that I live in Minnesota and the snow will be coming. Well, the snow doesn't bother me it's the cold and ice. But I really want to do this so I'm going for it.

Hey there Barbara! I'm right near LaCrosse! Maybe we could set a date in the spring if, I mean WHEN, we complete the C25K and actually do a 5K together! Woo hoo! I love just knowing that people are close to where I'm at location wise! I went to collage in Winona for my first year! Also - Do you have a blog? I tried clicking on your link, but it didn't work. ;(

So I have a question for the people doing the 30 day shread along with the C25K. My legs are usually pretty sore the day after running. Do you think I could still take the 30 day shead workout? I know I need to do something more then play Wii on my off run days, just haven't really found anything that motivates me. I was doing Barry's Bootcamp but I've kind of fallen off the wagon with that.

Also, for those of you who are this far, last night I completed week 5 day 1. It was dificult for me...I see that day 3 of week 5 is 20 mins of running without stopping...I don't think I'm ready for that yet! When those of you who are past week 5 did week 5, how was your day 3?

I have a question - did anyone else have shin splints starting out that improved after a few weeks of running? The muscles on the fronts of my calves are sore to the touch, but they feel fine when I'm walking around. When I start a running interval, they're a bit sore, but they're fine by the second interval.

I'm pretty sure this is just overuse, because I'm just starting this program and because, well, I'm heavy.

This will get better, right?

Hey there sillybutt...yes, it should get better. Are you doing some shin stretching before and after you run? That should help. bodybuilding.com has links for different stretches if you need some help and more information on shin splints. Unfortunatly, mine still bother me some but I just take an advil about 20 mins before running. Just be careful because you don't want to cause a stress fracture.

When you describe shin splints do you mean it hurts right on that bone or just the muscles on the front of your calves? If it is not right on that bone, I don't think it is shin splints...its just your muscles getting used to this new activity. Mine are usually sore to the touch the day after if I didn't stretch properly. With you describing that they are fine by the second interval, I think it's just your muscles getting used to what you are doing. That WILL get better!

Thanks JamieJo - yeah, it's the muscles. So it's not shin splints, just muscle soreness? I'm trying to massage it a bit today. I'll have a look at the stretches, thanks!

I did my first day and it went well. I hope I can say that in a few weeks. I hope everyone is doing good.

JamieJo- That's great that you live close by. I go to LaCrosse quite a bit. I do have a blog. I just noticed I had the wrong address I would love to get together in the Spring. I'm already looking into a few 5K's in the Spring. There are quite a few in LaCresent and LaCrosse area.

*peers back in*

I haven't read all the posts since I was last here, but I see that Julie got to Week 9 - WTG!!

My heel is mostly better now, it took longer than I thought but it seems to have settled.

However I am going to Paris next week so I'm going to start again at W1D1 when we get back. And I'm going to invest in some decent running shoes - I think my cheapie trainers probably contributed to my injury.

So keep my seat warm for me!

Week 5 Day 1 today, and it kicked my butt!

I've decided to start running distance instead of time. I run at my local track, so that's easy to do. Except I miscalculated.

I was working on a lap being 400m (pretty standard, I thought). I couldn't do the last lap today - my lungs wouldn't work, my legs wouldn't work, my head was in the wrong space. They were line-marking the track (it's grass and they'd just mown it) and I started chatting to the workmen. Apparently the track is actually 440 m in the outside lane (where I was running), so my 800 m runs were more like 880 m!

I'm going to do Day 2 on Friday as per plan though - but now I'll run on the INSIDE lane which is actually 400m. Then there's a 5K locally on Sunday that I've entered into - I plan on running what I am supposed to (3.2 km) and then doing walk/jogs until the end. Or if I feel good I might just keep going!