LOL. The 5.0 was exactly ONE MINUTE out of a 25 minute run! The rest I ran at 4.1 which is a FIFTEEN MINUTE MILE.... I'm concentrating on building stamina, but I really would like to boost my speed. It actually hurts my joints more to run that slow.... but whenever I pace myself too fast I get to that horrible point of cardiovascular exhaustion when I feel like I'm going keel over....

I'm really impressed with what you do, and if it's working-- just keep doing it. But, if you're really curious then take a day off from anything leg-related.. (I swim) or an actual rest day... and THEN go out and try your run. I think you'll be SHOCKED at how much easier it is. On the other hand, you are a workout GODDESS!!!

That's really interesting that your trainer says it's 1.5 x harder to run outside. I definitely get much less fatigued on the treadmill than when I run on the track-- and I think outside is even harder because of the uneven surfaces, hills, etc....

But I noticed something recently-- I read somewhere that running is easier when you're less in shape if you warm up more slowly-- something about lactic acid... so I've been actually making my 5 minute warm-up more vigorous, and I noticed how hard it is for me to get my heart rate up when I walk now. When I first started, walking at 3.7 on an incline was enough to max out my HR. Now, when I walk, nothing happens....

So, I'm thinking it must be the same with running. Even if I'm using the treadmill, which is "easier" I'm still putting in the cardio time which HAS to build up over time no matter what.

Hey I just found this thread (and I'm new to this board) but I like the motivation in here already I just finished W7D3 yesterday and I'm still amazed that my *** can run for 30 minutes (yeah I don't follow it exactly) or so straight without dying... when I started I could go for about 2 minutes on a treadmill.

I know everyone says running on a treadmill is easier - but I actually find running outside easier - I have a harder time breathing on a treadmill, which I think is due to the air inside my gym. Plus I had asthma when I was a kid and I wonder if that's affecting my ability to breathe. Plus when I'm outside, I'm not watching the big red clock and trying to figure out how many seconds I have left before I can get off the thing. Outside with music on, I'm too preoccupied making sure I don't fall or run into someone/something.

Loving Me - I would sign up for that 5k - even knowing that you may have to walk part of it, it will be motivation to work through the C25k program.

I wasn't taking running seriously until I signed up for one (April 17th) and I may not be in the top 100 people across the finish line... but the point is that I will get across it.

Jane, my first 5K is April 17th too!!! I know we'll both do fabulously

I'm really pleased to say that I forced myself to go to the gym this morning.
I wasn't sure even when I got there how I would get on, but I plonked my butt on the first machine, the bike, and made a start. My legs REALLY hurt at first but it got easier thankfully.
I knew when I got on the treadmill there was no way I would be able to manage a 25min run so I decided instead to have a play and do some incline walks for a while. Those went really well so when it got to the last 8mins I decided just to have a go at running. The first few seconds were painful but after that it was actually nice to be running again. I THINK I did 5mins at 7.3kph, but it could have been 7.5, I can't remember, BUT I did the last 3 mins at 8kph and felt fabulous! I really felt like I was actually running those 3mins lol.
I did some other cardio after that and a few toning exercises, but not as much as normal, and although I'm still really sore I'm very proud of what I managed and ecstatic I was still able to do an 8min run with some at a faster pace than normal.
Tomorrow is my swim day so that should give my legs a bit more rest, and then Saturday I may try to do W7D3.

Well I took the plunge and started W1D1 today. I always have trouble sticking with things, but now that I have an mp3 player I might be able to talk myself into following it all the way through.

Question for those of you who run on the treadmill...how fast do you normally run ? I know you should be able to have a conversation while running but I'm just curious to know what everyone's speed is

My legs are aching.

I actually find it easier running outside. It is much more motivating - I think the fact that I am distracted and not concentrating so much on how I'm feeling that I just keep going.

Or I may just be strange...

Primm - I agree with you. I prefer to run outside. Even if it's still cold out... grr.

PlatinumGi - I run at 5.5mph generally on a treadmill - I can go up to 6.0mph but I can't stay there for more than 3-5 minutes - and I walk at 3.5 to 4.0 mph. I tend to average 5.5mph running outside as well although running outside, I know for sure that my speed isn't even throughout my whole run.

Week 1 is complete. I feel great and am proud of myself for doing it. On to week 2 on Monday!

Husband and I completed W5D3 and are amazed that we actually ran 20 minutes non-stop! What is even more amazing is that I still had energy and could have run a bit longer. With that said, I'm looking forward to next week's runs (can't believe I just wrote that . . lol). I may not be speedy (we run outside so I have no idea about how fast I run). Like the tortoise, I move forward slow and steady. Who knew I had this in me?

I'm so happy that I managed to finish Week 7 of the C25K today! Now that the runs are so long without a break I never feel like I'm going to be able to do it until I get well over halfway.
Today however I did my first 8mins at 8kph instead of 7.3, did some at 7.5, a couple of mins at 7.3 and then the last couple of mins again at back up to 8! It felt great to run faster but I just couldn't maintain it any longer than I did, and my heart rate was the highest it's been in a while. I also have to say that I'm paying for it tonight, my legs are REALLY tired and achey, but then again been out shopping and walked for another couple of hours on top of my 90min total workout, so that could be partly to blame.
W8D1 for me on Tuesday, my first 28min run and as always I'm scared lol. Don't think I'll be trying for any speed records, just want to be able to get through it.
Oh, and I signed up for my first 5K race today!!!!! It's on the 3rd July so worked out I have 14 weeks to get some more weight off, finish the C25K and then get used to running outside and upping my speed.

Well, that was ugly.

I decided to do the hill route today. 5 killer hills increasing in size as you go, and then a long uphill at the end. For context, I went out last night and had a couple of glasses of wine (I rarely drink). I was slack with my water yesterday, probably no more than 750ml. I got up late today and it was already 25 deg C, and because it rained last night the humidity was somewhere in the 80s. I normally grab a banana before I go but we didn't have any, so I ran on an empty stomach.

So, I killed the hills! First time I've run up every single one without stopping. But once I got to the flat bit it was all downhill from there. I started feeling a bit ill, and just got more and more nauseated until at about the 25 minute mark I threw up on the side of the road.

I think it was a combination of environmental factors, as well as pushing it a bit harder. I've had a heap of water and feel much better now. But I won't be trying that sequence of events again, that's for sure!

Technically I'm still week 7 and doing 25 minute runs, so I did that. Think I'll stick with the plan from now on...

You guys are all doing so great! HILLS?!?!?!?!? I'm still intimidated doing 0.5% on the treadmill....

I've been sort of erratic lately-- first I was sick, and then I took a few days off due to being over busy. So today, I did a 25 minute run on the treadmill. Technically, I think I should be on W7D3 but i decided to back up and so I'm counting that was W7D1....

The thing that really amazes me is that I've now done two 25 minute runs that weren't bad at all... granted, I'm going slow, but I kind of hit a groove and I don't have any doubt that I'll be able to finish. It just amazes me because earlier, during some of the intervals, I used to feel like I was going to KEEL OVER.

I really want to try running outsdie again... I did it once, and it was a disaster, but I have a feeling it was a fluke. so far, I've only done track and treadmill.

Haven't gotten the guts to sign up for a 5k yet.

Hi guys.....

I did W6D3 today, which was a 25 minute run. It was challenging, but I did it. I have this mean little voice in my head that says "There's no way you can do this" or "Just walk a little bit" but I try to ignore it and just push on. I miss the walking, but I keep telling myself that if I am really going to run an entire 5K, I have to phase out the walking. So, based on the program there are no more walking breaks for me. I'm having trouble coming to this realization, but I have to get over it, LOL. My 5K is in May, so I'm on target to finish the training program a few weeks early. I'll continue running, but not sure yet what my program should be after I graduate from Couch to 5K.