Oh my gosh, yes! W5 completely freaked me out. I repeated D1 3 times. But it was so weird-- when the 20 minute run came, it was very manageable.

I TOTALLY AGREE!!! It was very manageable...and will make you very proud when you complete it!! :) I was freaked out also, Katy, but maybe like ubergirl did, repeat D1 & 2..that's what I did also and the 20min was totally do-able!! GOOD LUCK!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Well, I did my 2nd 30min run last night (after doing the 1st one the night before) and it was NOT as easy as the 1st night...I"m not sure if this is because of running 2nights in a row or if it was bc I knew I could do it and let myself think about the time too much! But unlike the 1st night, I started lookin at the time before 10min was up! but I pushed through (even tho I really wanted to stop at 20min) and got another 30min run...upped my speed just a teeny bit...4.6mph LoL It maybe added an extra 10th of a mile, but I was sooo glad to be over at the 30min, I forgot to check out the distance and then realized it after I was almost done w/my cool down...oh well! I've decided I think I need to wait atleast a day between runs...so I'll do my next (and final C25K) run tomorrow night...it's my final run in the program, but I hope to continue doing 30min runs until I can work up to 6mph! might take a while, but it will come one day (hopefully!)

Keep up the good work everyone!

KDM. Congratulations! You are almost done! That is SO EXCITING.

I think it's awesome that you ran 4.6 mph the whole way too!

I PROMISED myself I wouldn't run tonight because it would be my 4th straight night-- but then, I did anyway...

W6D2:carrot::carrot::carrot:It was a bit harder than last night, I think because I was tired too. But I did it.

Tomorrow I have my PT so I'm definitely taking a day off (OR TWO)

Off to the gym this morning and going to do W6D1, or try anyway.
I've felt so sore and achy all week I've really struggled, even in my step class yesterday. I'm hoping it's the result of the fall at the weekend and I know it's getting a little better, but still.
Last Thursday's run was my first 20min and I did 15mins non-stop on Tue but really struggled. Think I was getting carried away with myself and felt like the intervals was going backwards. But I should have listened really because I can't imagine being able to run 20mins solid again now :(
So I'm starting W6D1 with the intervals and making sure I take a day between runs as I think I'm tired and worn out right now. Haven't had a swim day in a few weeks so making sure I have one tomorrow which might give my body a bit of a rest, then will try W6D2 on Saturday.
The music thing is really getting to me, loved W3 and W5 music on the podcasts, but W6 isn't inspiring me, so I think today I'm going to try to run to my own music and just watch the time and see if that works any better.

I was thinking about letting the podcasts go when I got to the continuous runs as well (W5D3 on Saturday!), but after today, and not thinking I could run for 8 minutes straight, twice, and then not only doing it but feeling like I could keep going, I'm feeling a strange sense of loyalty to DJ Beatsmith. He's got me this far, the least I can do is stick with him until the end.

I know, I'm odd. I've never met the guy and am never likely to. But there you go.

Primm,I know what you mean on this. I felt like I was "betraying" Robert Ullrey when I did an Iphone app for running last week instead of his podcast. My dh just shakes his head and laughs when I tell him of my guilt over this. LOL!

Haven't posted as often as I was planning to here, but I just did W4D2 today and it went well. It's tough, but I am getting through it. I suspect that my runs are kinda slow, but my philosophy has been just to "run" when I'm supposed to run, even if I'm running slowly. I have some days where I'm going to be traveling in the near future, so I'm just going to have to run in the mornings wherever I am. I'm trying to stay committed to this regardless.

Last week there were times when I honestly wasn't sure I could complete the runs. But I kept pushing through it. There were thoughts in my head like "there is no way I'll be able to run a 5K without walking". But each week I surprise myself when I complete the runs. I'm just trusting that this really will prepare me for the upcoming longer runs. It's scary to think about running 20 minutes straight or longer!!!!!!

I just finished week 1 :) Loved it! Unfortunately I'm out of town all next week and likely won't be able to do any of week 2 :( Would it be better for me to repeat week 1 when I get back or go straight to week 2?

Probably depends on your over all fitness. I never "officially" did week one, because I had been doing my own haphazard running intervals for a while....

If week one was no sweat, you can probably move to week two. Also, I did week three on a hotel treadmill, so depending on where you're going, maybe you can get some running in.

LOVING ME-- being really sore last week really threw me for a loop-- I got over hungry, my weight bumped up... be patient with yourself!

I'm pleased to say I did my full gym workout today, including W6D1.
I used my own music this time instead of the C25K podcast and I do think it helped. I also couldn't feel my bruises from my fall today when I was running so they must be getting better.
One thing that is bothering me is that I always seem to get cramp in my left calf when I run, sometimes it goes away, other times it's there through my full run. I'm making sure to stretch before and after my run, and it doesn't bother me after, but can get quite painful at times during. Any ideas anyone? I'm panicking that I'm going to end up with an injury which will stop me running, so willing to try anything to help.

How hydrated are you, Loving Me? I find that if I do my run in the evening and it's been one of those days at work where I haven't got all my water in, that's when I get crampy pains.

Aunty Jam, I'd give week 2 a go and see how you go. If you struggle for the first day, and I mean really struggle, not just think it's a bit hard, I'd go back and do week 1 again. But if you found W1 fairly easy the first time I'd just go to week 2.

I finished week 5 today, and can I just say the 20 minute run was not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. I actually could have kept going! I had to tell myself to keep going for the first 5 minutes or so, but once I got going properly and into my groove, I actually could have run further than I did. But I'm going to do this properly.

So frustrated! I pulled my quad muscle yesterday while doing lunges with my personal trainer. I'm going to rest for a couple of days and hope it heals quick.

Ouch! Take it easy, RICE, and if it takes more than a couple of days, so be it. Don't try and get back into it before your body is healed, you'll only prolong the agony.

So sorry to hear you've injured yourself Uber, it's a big fear I have after doing so well for so long. Take it easy and I hope you heal really quickly.


I went to the gym this morning and had a great workout. I did W6D2 but used my own music and have only just realised that I thought it was a 5min walk in the middle not 3min, so technically I took too long a walk, but the main thing is I did the two 10min runs so I'm claiming it :carrot:
I really don't think I can do a 25min run yet, the two 10min runs are hard enough, so I've decided to do another couple of W6D2 at least to see if it starts to feel any easier hopefully, before I move on to Day 3.

Yay, Loving me! That's awesome! the last run I did was W6D2 so we're in the same spot. I didn't think the two ten minutes were too bad, but I did them on a treadmill.

I'm really pissed about hurting my quad-- it wasn't running, it was this hard exercise I was doing on the bosu ball. But even though I was completely freaked out by the ripping sound, it doesn't seem bad. I feel a LOT better already today. YAY.:carrot::carrot:

Ok, ladies, wish me luck. I'm off for my first try since pulling my muscle last Thurs. I'm going to start with walking-- probably won't do w6d3 tonight.

Good luck Uber, take it easy though :hug:, better to go slow and build up again that try to do too much and end up taking longer to recover.

Officially I should be doing W6D3 today and a 25min run, but I really don't feel like I've any chance of doing it so not sure what to do. Don't know whether to repeat Day 2 or just start running and see how long I can go. I always feel so great after I've done my run, but I'm always scared before and really feel like I can't do it. I hope it gets easier.

How'd you do Uber on your run?

Lovingme~Do whatever you feel like your body can do!! I think you'd suprise yourselt and be able to do it.

I haven't really run much last week. Only two days actually and not at all yet this week. I've just been so busy! I am planning on getting out there this evening and getting a good run in. I'm really going to try for 2 or 3 miles.

I ended up doing W6D2 properly today, with only a 3min walk in between the two 10min runs, not the 5min walk I had at the weekend.
The second 10min run was really hard again and I had to will myself through it.
I'm feeling really frustrated to be honest, no endorphin rush again for a while, and I seem to be struggling. I feel like the 20min run I did was a fluke.
I'm not sure what I should do now really, keep repeating for a while or maybe just start running and see how long I can go, and if I need to walk, get my breath back then try to run some more.
I've thought of dropping out of the C25K and maybe just trying to increase my running by a minute a week or similar, but I want to succeed at this and graduate, I just don't know how I can.

Hi Ladies...

I'm happy to report that DRUM ROLL PLEASE... I completed W6D3 and I did it on the track, not the treadmill, which is usually harder for me.

My leg did not bother me at ALL. YAY.

LOVING ME-- I'm wondering if you can run slower? To accomplish the longer runs I really have to run SLOW, barely above a walk. By the end of my 25 min run I was barely moving faster than the walkers, and the walkers weren't walking that fast. When I got really hung up on week 5 I repeated days. I've found that if I find something impossible and repeat it twice, by the third time it seems okay. I was a little discouraged yesterday, wondering if I'll ever be able to run like a normal person-- you know, like at a reasonable speed and without turning completely red and sweating like a pig... but then I reminded myself that I couldn't run at all 3 months ago, so I guess it's progress.

Zephyr-- we're finally getting some good weather here too. I think I'm going to try my first attempt outside today. It must be hard when you graduate from C25K to figure out what to do next. I LOVE the structure of it.

Well done on your amazing run Uber :carrot: I'm in awe of your success.

I have slowed down my run from when I first started. I was running at 8kph but now run at 7.5kph. I really don't think I can slow down much further than that. I know it's not a race but I see all the other runners at the gym and they're doing at least 9kph and I just feel so slow already. You're right though about not being able to run at all only 2 months ago, I started doing three 1min runs and thought I was going to die, whereas now I can do two 10min runs before I feel like I'm going to ;)
I think I'm just going to keep trying and hope it gets easier.

pick your chin up and give yourself a pat on the back!! You're doing great!! Do whatever you feel like you can do. The only way you'll fail at this is if you stop all together! Nobody says you have to stick to C25K the way it was written. I agree with Uber about maybe running slower. When I was running on the treadmill I was barely doing over 4mph. Just look at all you've accomplished in the last 6 weeks and do what you can and be proud of that!

LOL LM... you can run slower! I just converted mph to kph and realized that most of the time, I'm running at the not-so-brisk speed of 6.6-6.8 kph...

I mean, I get what you're saying about the speed-- my speed is so slow that frankly I think I can walk just as fast-- but running is much more tiring for me. ... I like the feeling of accomplishing the C25k goals so I don't mind going super slow. But it's equally reasonable to run faster and just take a slower route through the program.

Right now though, I'm totally depressed. I just tried running outside for the first time. I had a short 1.5 mile route planned I I told myself I'd take it easy and walk on hills as needed. Well, I did not do well AT ALL. I was so tired that I ended up walking after less than five minutes. I did the whole plan, but not more than 10 minutes running, total, and I was exhausted at the end-- I felt like I weighed 10,000 lbs. That's what I get for not resting after the 25 min run. UGH.:(

Awww ubergirl I'm sorry to hear that. Here are a few thoughts about your run not going how you wanted. Did you drink lots of water in the day? Did you run on a fairly empty stomach, or at least wait a few hours before running? Was it hot outside, or at least sunny?

Those factors seem to affect my runs outside, I'm not sure about you though. Rest well, and tackle it again next time. I know, and you know you can do this!! And don't forget that you're STILL doing a great job.

So I ended up skipping W6D3, sort of. My best friend had a MASSIVE crisis, and I had to spend the weekend with her. I went off plan a little bit, and decided instead of starting W6 over again, just start with W7 today. I did it! I ran for 25 minutes! Granted, I didn't run it straight. I did 22 minutes, walked a bit, then did the last 3. The only reason I couldn't finish it is what I think is a combination of my VERY long rest, my stomach is moderately full, I drank a lot of diet soda rather than water today, I need to poo, AND it's actually hot as all heck here today, and I ran at 4 PM!

Sooo, I think I did well given the conditions I put myself through!

OH! And I got an A on my psych exam, and my psych paper. Weee!

Keep it up ladies and (and dudes?). I believe in you!

Yay! Oodles! It really doesn't matter if you skip W6D3-- it's the same as W7D1.. now it's all continuous runs. YUCK. I'm going to miss the intervals.

It wasn't hot here-- just lovely, but I was a little dehydrated I think, and my legs were sore from yesterday. I'm going to swim tomorrow.

It's weird how some days are good and some days just suck. I guess that's running.

And if you're anything like me there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to why some days are good and some aren't. You can write some of it down to less/more hydrated, hotter/cooler weather, better/worse nutrition, but sometimes you just run like crap and there's nothing you can do about it!

Just keep going is my thought. No matter how slow, 90% of the people in this world aren't doing anywhere near as much as we are. We all rock!

I did my first run (and only so far) outside a couple of weeks ago and it was totally different to the treadmill. I really struggled and for a while I was so annoyed with myself, then I figured at least I was outside doing something and any running was better than none. So I ran for as long as I could, walked til I got my breath back, then ran again and so on. We're running which is the main thing, so give yourself the credit you're due.

I'm feeling a little better today about the C25K, although still can't imagine ever being able to run for 30mins, let alone do a 5k. Have decided that tomorrow I will try to run as long as I can, hopefully for at least 20mins, and will see if slowing down a little more helps. If I can get so I'm not doing intervals and just build up my long run by a minute or two each week I'll be satisfied. I really hope I can complete the C25k but it just seems impossible right now. I feel like I've hit a wall and it's frustrating me.

I was like that last week, LM. Absolutely convinced there was no way in the world I could run for 20 minutes straight.

But I did. Give yourself credit, you're stronger than you think. Just try it, and if you don't quite get there, keep trying until you do. One day you will!

Yeah, me too LM. Remember, I couldn't get past W5D1..? I'm wondering if you should go back and repeat the W6 intervals one more time? I am kind of depressed about doing 25min every day now. I prefer the run when it's pleasant and not just exhausting. 25 min was doable, but not pleasant. I think I may go back and repeat all of W6. I really don't feel ready to graduate to 25 min runs every day.

running outside was so humbling-- I'm not sure if being outside is fundamentally different, or if it was just my sore legs.... I definitely find running on the track harder than the treadmill-- but I don't know why outside would be harder than track... unless it's the uneven ground and very slight hilliness... The street I picked is pretty flat, but no shoulders and you have to run in the street with a lot of scary traffic whizzing by.... I think I'm going to try somewhere different next time. It did make me realize that if I factor in outside and hills I am absolutely not 2 weeks away from being able to run a 5 k. Maybe two months...

Hi ladies! I heard somewhere once (so take it as you will) that treadmill runs are easier because the treadmill pulls your foot back. You have to bring it forward to make contact, but then it finishes the stride. You need more power to run outside. I am not sure that's true, but it makes sense to me.

I have found that I like outside better because it's easier for my ADD brain to not get bored and start thinking negative things. I can look at each house I pass and think about thier yard or notice the cat is out or whatever. I also love the feeling of the wind on my face. I like the podcasts, too because I feel like someone is talking to me. Maybe after I "graduate" I will start listening to books on tape rather than just music.

You're doing great ladies!! I am so inspired by your progress!! (Thanks uber for reminding me to look here. :) )

I've updated my ipod again tonight with some really good music, and I'm off to the gym in the morning to see how I get on.
I've decided to just start running and see how long I can keep going for, but I'm really going to push myself. I think a lot of my problem is mental right now and I don't believe I can do it, so I'm going to try to prove to myself that I can.
If I can make the 25mins then I will be ecstatic, but we'll see. If I end up having to take a break then my main aim is to do more than 20mins in total so I'll have beaten my longest run yet.

Good luck LM!!!

I did it! :carrot::carrot::carrot:
I went to the gym and I ran 25mins without a break :D
I slowed down to 7.3kph for most of the run, and 7.2kph for a short while, but I made it and am SO proud of myself.
I've learned more about myself this past few days and I love that I'm constantly changing with the weight loss and exercise. Like I thought before my run, a lot of my problem is mental barriers that I've put up. I have been so used to failure that I don't believe I can do anything. But when I push myself I'm finding that most of the time I actually CAN do it. Today I really didn't know if I could do it, but once I got to halfway I knew I wasn't going to give up.
I really feel now that I might actually be able to finish the C25K program :carrot:
The other thing I've learned relates to when I exercise as well. I've noticed when exercising that when I start to get tired I can feel myself tense up and my muscles seem to hurt more and I start to get cramps. Yesterday in my step class I realised this and just told myself to relax, and tried to relax my muscles, and it worked! I did it again today when I felt myself tiring in my run, told myself to relax and tried to relax my muscles and it definitely made a difference. So I need to remember that for future workouts.

:carrot::carrot::carrot::carrot::carrot:

I am so happy! I KNEW you could do it!!! You rock!!!! And you didn't even slow to an UBER speed.

Interesting insights about perservering. There's a technique that I learned here on the boards, that when I feel like I can't keep going a do a little inventory... can I still breathe? Check. Do my legs feel okay? Check. Okay, then I CAN keep going... that helps me.

You are doing JUST AMAZING! I'm nor surprised at all! And it looks like you're about to break through to onderland too!

Oh god. So today I did W7D2... or rather failed at it.

I did 19 minutes before I had to walk. I was so tired, I thought I was going to puke, I had a cramp, and I couldn't breathe. I wasn't running any faster than usual, and today I even made sure I drank ONLY water, and I waited 3 hours after eating to run. I ran another 4.5 minutes, so I guess my total was 23:30, but I'm so ashamed of myself. This is the first run I haven't completed in the entire C25K. I feel like I wasn't pushing myself hard enough.

I was nervous for today's run, because tuesdays was so hard, but I listened to my body. My legs were fine.... but I couldn't breathe!

*sigh* I had a rough weekend... I drank, which I've been trying to abstain from while losing weight unless it's MGD 64 and I work it into my cals. I took a few puffs off my friend's cigarette (I quit in November.) I'm ashamed to admit that too, but I think that's why my runs have been going to crappy this week.

I'm sorry for rambling. I just feel like I failed. Will this get easier? I'm starting to doubt myself for the first time ever. If anyone has any tips, any at all, I would be very thankful.

I hope everyone else's running week goes better than mine!

Oh and great job LM. You are totally kicking butt!

I was just introduced to this program but haven't had a chance to look at it yet. Hubby and I are doing a 1/2 marathon in Dec. (in Jamaica) and I am brand new to running (I'll be doing run/walk). I am on week 6 of running although I did have 3 weeks off w/pneumonia and I'm still doing the 1 min. walk, 3 min. run intervals on the treadmill for approx. 30-40 min. I can only do about 5 of those and even then my shins are killing me.

I do wear shin sleeves, have brand new running shoes from the running store where they fitted me, etc. I'm struggling but I am going to do it. The crazy thing is I'm not new to exercise. I do everything from rebounding to Elliptical to spin classes 3x a week and more. I am heavy and I know that has a lot to do with it but boy I could use some inspiration.

Haven't had a chance to read all the way through this thread but I'm going to because it looks like you all have been very successful. Very excited to hear your stories. Oh and I think I will like running outside MUCH better. Can't wait to try that!

So much to read, so little time!

Angie

Oh Oodles, don't be hard on yourself-- it sounds like it's kind of par for the course-- I feel like i'm going to puke about every third run or so. I haven't noticed it so much with other types of exercise, but it does seem like very little thing can throw us off--

probably the ciggy puffs weren't too smart, but besides that you were probably just having a bad day.

:hug::hug::hug::hug:

Thank you. =] That helped a lot.

I was actually running in noon sunlight too, it was hot and there was no shade. That might have had something to do with it also.