I really struggled through W7D2 today. I completed it but did have to walk for about a minute in the middle along with a few water breaks. I think my probably was being in the right place mentally for the run today. My breathing wasn't horrible and I felt like physically I could have done it.. I'm gonna give it another shot tomorrow morning I think, as long as I can get outside to run. I'm dying to see how much easier/harder it is outside.

Zephyr, what do you mean the right place mentally? How do you get into the right place mentally? I think I know what you're saying. Today I really just didn't want to do my run. I came home from class and just wanted to sit around. But I went outside anyway and did it. And while it was easier than Wednesday's (ran in the sun), it wasn't as easy as Monday, when I was pumped for the new increase in running time.

For the first time, I'm a little scared of next week.

I just meant being mentally strong. I felt like I kept doubting myself today and because of that I wasn't able to complete as strong as I know that I can. I don't know if that makes any sense. What week are you moving onto next week? There were a few weeks that I was terrified of and I just look back amazed now that I did it! You can do it too!!

I started C25K last month and I really like it but am having trouble getting past week 3! I'm hoping after repeating week 3 I can move on to week 4.

I just finished W3D2 today and although I didn't get the rush I did on D1 I managed it with no real problems so I'm really pleased.
I don't know if everyone is the same, but I am always really nervous before each run, scared that I'm not going to be able to do it.

So I just tried W7D3 outside and didn't do nearly as well as I do inside BUT while I run on the treadmill I've been holding onto the side bars and stopping for drink breaks instead of walking during them. Today I ran for 1/2 mile then needed to walk for a little and then ran for almost 3/4 of a mile before stopping for my cool down. After seeing how I did today I think I'm going to try to run outside as much as possible and try to improve on what I did today. I'm still totally pleased with how I did today because this is something I've never been able to do before and I did better than the last time I ran outside! After all this is about me and not keeping up with all the other runners out there.

I totally know how you feel! I'm trying to gear myself up to start week 3 today, but I'm really scared of the 3 minute run!

You can do it! I was really scared of doing 3mins, thought there was no way I could double 90secs but I actually found it fairly easy when it came down to it. Now I'm panicking about going from 3 to 5mins on Thursday :(

Both of you girls can do it and you will!!!

Hi guys...

Just wanted to join in the conversation. I completed week 1 of C25K this week in preparation for a 5K in May. So far, so good. I'm excited about being able to do this, since running has never been my thing. At all!

My neighbor is my inspiration and the one I'll be running with. She completed a 1/2 marathon last year and I think she'd like me to do one with her eventually, but one step at a time ......let's get through the 5K first!

I look forward to chatting with you all as I get through this program!:D

Well, I did it! Week 3, day 1. I nearly died LOL, but I got through it! It was way harder than week 2. I am so unfit. Who knew running for 3 measly minutes could be so hard!?

I'm due to start Week5day1 today, and I'm really nervous about it. I FREAKED when I saw that I had to move to an 8 minute run!!! I found Week4 quite hard-- I made it, but I'm very willing to punish myself, and it felt like punishment.

I think I'm going to try it today, but if I can't do it, I may repeat Week 4.

Totally excited that I just did Week 5 Day One without too much trouble!

I had myself completely psyched out because somehow I got confused and thought Week 5 was 8 minutes straight! It was such a relief to start my run today and realize that it was only five minutes... it felt totally manageable-- though hard.

That's brilliant, well done you :carrot:
I've got one more day of Week 3 to do tomorrow then it's onto Week 4 and I'm terrified! lol I have NO idea how I will do 5 mins, but keep telling myself I didn't think I could do 3 and I did.

I just ran for 20 minutes around the block. haha... I just couldn't take another day on the treadmill and didn't have anywhere to take my kids right now so I locked them in the house and ran around the block. I figure I probaly ran for 20 minutes and walked about 3 or 4 and did a total of about 2 minutes. I lost track of how many laps around I did. I felt great to get outside though!!

Loving Me and Ubergirl how are you girls doing?

Yay to Uber, MakingSkinny and Loving Me! Keep up the awesome progress!!

W2 is completed for me and I start W3D1 today!

I have a question about running on the treadmill: is there a way to program the C25K program instead of having to adjust the RPM every time you start running and then start walking? It's such a pain in the butt to manually change it.

Well, I'm a little disappointed in myself! Last week was Wk6 for me and I did well until D3. I did D2 on Tuesday and then waited until Sunday for D3 and I wasn't able to do it!!! Since I started, I never had a problem with a workout...some weeks I just did double of every day...but all still in the same week period...well, yesterday I warmed up for 5min, then jogged for 10 and had to stop & walk for 1.5min, then ran for another 10min...SO I guess I technically did D2 again, but it's just SOOO boring running for such an extended amount of time!!! I let my mind get the best of me and I gave up!
:( Since Wk7 is 25min runs only, I'll attempt the 25min run again tonight...I didn't have any music playing last night, so maybe I'll get some tonight and try to distract my mind from the time!!! LoL

To Everyone Else: Keep up the good work !!!

Aw zephyr that's too bad.... I really think you need music to run. It gives you something to focus on other than the task at hand I think. I believe in yoooou!

So I did W4D1 today, and I know I'm not supposed to, but at the end of the first 3 min run I didn't feel like stopping... so I didn't. I went through the walk, and then the 5 min run, and finally started walking at my next cue. And I finished the rest of the run like I was supposed to. IT FELT AMAZING! I have NEVER done that before. Not even in grade, middle, or high school when we ran all the time. Wowww. I'm in shock. I don't doubt that I can run finish this program now. I can't believe it, I never thought I would say that. =D

Hope everyone's week is gooood.

zephyr, running outside sounds heavenly! I haven't tried it yet (snow...) but I think it will be wonderful! Although I can not in no way no how imagine running up a hill.

I'm due to do W5d2 tomorrow.

Ooodles, what an amazingly awesome feeling!!! I'm in awe of you because I thought week 4 was awful. But I did have that same experience in week 3-- I thought there was one additional run, so I started running when it was supposed to be cool down. I was so surprised....!

I can't run without music either-- I'm using the C25k app that signals the runs and walks with tones but lets me play my music in the background. On the runs I pump it really loud and will probably go deaf, LOL. it's like it drowns out my pain.

well, not sure if I should do this or not....buuuutt, I think I'm gonna take a break from C25K...I've read a little about HIIT on 3FC and I tried it tonight...it was pretty cool...I did 30sec at 7-8mph followed by 60sec at 3.5mph for a total of 15min (10intervals)...I think this will still keep helping me raise my stamina so maybe after a few weeks of doing this, I can go back to C25K where I left off (WK7) and do a 25min run...and eventually build my way to 30min...what do you guys think???

I tried that too. Decided that HIIT was the way to go. About 6 months ago. I overdid it, and spent 3 months not able to walk/run because of sore achilles.

If I'd had a better base it may have worked, but I hadn't run for quite a while and got 4 weeks into C25K and thought I was indestructable. I learned.

So now I'm doing it easier, to get my body used to running before I hit it with the training side of things. So far so good - finished week 2 today. I've been getting up at 4am and running before work - I catch a 6am train. It's so stinking and humid here at the moment (low 30s with >80% humidity by 7am) that I don't think I'd still be doing it if I was trying to run in the afternoons. Even this morning I was literally pouring when I got home - had to strip in the laundry under the house and go upstairs in a towel...

I use the ipod while I run outside and put the TV on while I'm on the treadmill. The treadmill has gotten easier but honestly, it's probably because I hold onto the side bars the whole time. I have a really hard time finding just the right speed. I'm either going way to fast or way to slow..at least if feels that way. I'm not sure what to do to make it easier on the treadmill but I'd love to find out because there are days that running outside just won't work.

Uber~ I've only run outside a few times and do love it! The time just flies by and I love the little hills and the scenery that passes. Hopefully the snow will clear up soon for you and you can try it outside. You'll love it! Where do you live?

oodles~ AWESOME! I'm amazed also because I had a horrible time with week 4! Sounds like you just flew to week 5.. Keep it up!

KDM~ Good luck with HIIT. Just don't push yourself to much, we don't want you to get hurt! :)

Primm~ You get up at 4am? How does that work for you? Do you eat before you run or do you want for awhile after? What time do you go to bed? I'd been getting up early for amost a month and then stopped because I just couldn't pull myself out of bed anymore. I'd love to get back into that.

I just finished W3D3 today and the first 3min interval I can honestly say I think I could have kept going. I was amazed at myself!
I wear a heart rate monitor and my heart rate was lower today as well which is a great sign I think.
Will be doing W4D1 on Thurday and although I'm really scared of trying a new week again I'm excited to see if I can do it.

Honestly, I have no idea. I don't think there is any problem with trying different things, and maybe shaking it up will feel less boring to you.

I'm REALLY worried because I feel like C25K is accelerating too fast for me. I was so relieved when I realized I didn't have to do 8 mins last time. I felt very accomplished when I completed the three 5 minute runs. I thought I had all week to get used to it but now I realize that the 8 minute runs start tonight.

Should the running intervals feel fairly easy before I move on? Because nothing has felt easy to me since week 3.

Hi guys.......I did C25K, Week 2, Day 1 today. I'm doing okay so far. I'm getting a little scared about the future weeks based on some of your posts, but I'm going to give it my best. I had to run on the treadmill, because it's just way too cold here. I really want to run outside soon if I can. Maybe this weekend when the temps go up a little.

I am using Robert Ullery's podcasts for my training.

Thanks everyone for the comments. =D I think part of the reason I went for so long was because I did the last 2 runs of last week outside, and yesterday I did it on the treadmill. It's MEGA hilly here so I think that increased my stamina a lot, so I was running faster than usual on the treadmill. But nonetheless, jogging is jogging. Woohoooo.

And why don't you finish C25K zephyr before doing HIIT? It seems to me that would be good for like increasing speed. But I dunno, I'm actually going to read up on that a bit right now because I don't know much about it. Good luck with whatever you do!

How difficult was the 5 minute runs for you? It won't hurt anything if you just do another day or more of W5D1 before moving on. You run the treadmill right? How fast are you going? It may help if you lower the speed alittle. Just listen to your body and you'll do just fine!!


kellost~ Don't worry to much about the weeks ahead. Everyone has certain weeks that they struggle with but the important thing to remember is we all got past them and so will you!!

oodles~ I wasn't the one considering doing the HIIT but I may have to read up on that too. I'll be finishing C25k next week and that could be something I could work on after I've worked up to the 3 miles. Wow...I can't believe I've come this far! It feels so good!

I run on an indoor track most of the time. When I do treadmill, if I can't make it to the gym, it usually seems a bit easier.... If I ran any slower, I think I'd be moving backwards.

When I did the three five minute runs, I had to go really slow, and I was winded at the end of each one, but able to recover during the walks. It was DEFINITELY NOT a situation where I felt like I could have done more, but I was pretty sure I'd be able to finish. I'm thinking I'll probably do okay with the first 8 minute run, but am having a hard time imagining completing the second one. Half of me wants to try/the other half doesn't.

Well, back from my run. I decided to repeat W5D1 again. I can make it through the program, but it's SO HARD. I've decided not to move on to W5D2 until I can get through the three five minute runs without feeling like I'm going to die. I was reading something by the guy who invented C25K about how he designed the program to minimize pain. So I'm thinking that I'm not ready to move on until three five minute runs seems not just completeable, but actually manageable.

Good for you Ubergirl, it's your body and you have to decide what is going to work for it the best. :hug: You will be onto the 8min runs in no time I'm sure.
I'm onto W4D1 tomorrow and already scared about the 5min runs. Feeling pretty down this week with lots on my mind other than this journey and struggling to focus I think.

Well, I just nailed W8D2 on the treadmill! I used my ipod instead of the TV and it really seemed to help to keep my mind occupied and I cover the screen with the time on it so I couldn't keep looking. I'm so excited!! Now that I've done it there is no excuse for me not to continue doing the full runs without walk or drink breaks!

Uber~ sounds like a good plan! That's what is great about this plan...you can adjust it to meet your own needs. You doing great!!

LOVING ME-- don't worry! You'll do great with the five minute runs! I can't wait to hear about your success.

Zephyr-- WOOT WOOT!!! Nice work! Week 8 must be an amazing feeling! You are going to be a C25K graduate soon!

Thanks for the encouragement guys! I'm pretty sure I can do the first 8 minute run-- but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't make it through the second one. I'm going to repeat W5D1 a couple more times. I want it to feel like a breeze before I move on.

Well, I went to the gym this morning and did W4D1! Whooo, it was HARD!!!
This is the first week I can say I've really thought I wouldn't be able to do it. Even in the first 3mins I thought, oh no, I'm exhausted already, there is no way I can do 5mins. The music for the Week 4 podcast didn't motivate me as much as Week 3 either which was a letdown, but for the first time I started talking to myself in my head and saying "you can do this, you are NOT a failure, you can do this" and I made it! The last 5mins was a real struggle, I tried not to look at the clock on the TM but couldn't help it, so I just looked and kept saying, "1min down, 2mins down" etc. I think this may be the first week that I'm going to have to repeat, I cannot imagine being able to run for more than 5mins at the moment. But I'm VERY proud of myself that I managed this today, going from 9mins total running to 16mins is a big achievement.
Ubergirl, I SO know where you're coming from with the 8min run terror at the moment.

YAY! LovingMe. I'm so proud of you!!! I thought week 4 was a BIG step up from week 3-- so if you made it you are in good shape, and you get to redo it 3x before you have to move on, so don't worry....!

I think I'm going to do week 5 day one one more time and then try to move on to the 8 minute runs.

YAY! I did Week5day1 for the 3rd time, and today it seemed EASY! I did treadmill tonight, which might be part of it, but on each of the five minute runs I pumped up the speed-- at the very end of the third run I was up to 5.5 mph which is pretty fast for me!

I'm SO HAPPY and no I feel confident to move on to W5D2. I'm glad I repeated. It was great to really feel the progress today.

WOW!!! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PUSHED ME!!! I stated on Monday that I was going to take a break from C25K and try HIIT...well, I didn't stick to that....I figured (after hearing advice for several ppl here) that I should just finish the C25K program since I pretty much only had 3 more wks....so I did my first 25min run today!!!! I guess since I never did D3 of W6, it counts as me officially finishing W6!!! And I plan to do 3 more 25min runs before moving to the 28min runs of W8!! You guys are the greatest!!! Such inspirations!!! I also figured out that to keep my mind off of the "minute count-down" I hooked up my portable DVD player in the room at work where the treadmill is!! It worked like a charm!!! I only stopped once to go tinkle! LoL I plan to do my next 25min run on Saturday!!! THANKS AGAIN!!!

Hi everyone......I am just completing week 2 and just wanted to say, it feels so great after a run! I don't know if it's adrenaline, endorphines or what, but I feel really great for at least a few hours afterward. Like a "runners high". I'm fearful about running for longer periods of time in the upcoming weeks, but I'm going to give it my all.

YAY!!!! Great job!!

WTG!! I think you'll do great on the 8 minute runs now that you've had some time to adjust to the 5 minute ones! Great job and keep it up!





I'm skipping my run for today. My legs are pretty sore still from my workout yesterday. I think I'm going to just finish this week out with the elliptical this evening and then I'm on to week 9 next week.