I think I'm going to try to tomorrow. I TOTALLY feel like I can do it now!

KDM-- Congrats for sticking with it! What a great feeling. Zephyr-- WEEK NINE! That sounds TERRIFIC!

I'll join in here :) ...
I did the C25K about 3 years ago & it really worked for me.
In several months, I was up to 10 miles on Saturdays & logging 30 miles a week. I quickly fell off the wagon when I had 2 sudden deaths in the family & quit running completely. I just could not focus. Basically, I gained a bunch of weight & am now back on the treadmill at the gym. I'm currently at 3 miles - 4 days a week. The other 2 days I take spinning class. I hope to get back to where I was running soon ... I miss it.

was going to wait until Saturday to start Wk. 7 of C25K, but was feeling good and we were slow at work, so I went ahead and did D1, another 25min jog! And once again, only stopped once for not even 30seconds! I can't believe I'm able to do it! The DVD player really helps tho...I've been watching Twilight! LoL Even tho I've seen it atleast 4x, it helps pass the time as I jog along!

kelost---I was the same way...just keep with the program, and the longer runs will be OK...if you need to, repeat some of the days...I did that some in Wk 4 & 5...YOU CAN DO IT!!! (if i can, anyone can!!!!!)

Well done to everyone who is progressing so well and good luck to Uber for you 8min run.
I did W4D2 today and the 5min runs were still as hard as Day 1 unfortunately. There was no way I was going to let myself stop and have failed so I did it, but it was really hard. I can't imagine at the moment progressing to 8min runs so I'm going to do W4D3 and maybe W5D1 and then keep repeating until I feel it's getting a bit easier. After Day 1 this week I really ached like I haven't in a long time, and am expecting to feel the same later today, so I think I need to stick with the 5min runs for a few more times at least. Will just see how it goes, and as soon as it doesn't feel quite as bad I'll try an 8min.

Loving Me-- good for you for keeping going! The only day I actually walked part of was W4D2-- I walked a minute in the middle of the second 5 minute run.

You will be amazed at how quick it gets better... Don't hesitate to repeat a day or two to build confidence. I can never believe how something that feels impossible gets manageable so quickly! Our bodies are amazing.:carrot:

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to pop into the thread. I've tried C25K before and I didn't feel like it was working for me, so I just started making up my own running intervals and building on them. Right now, I can jog up to 10 minutes straight and I was thinking about jumping back into one of the C25K weeks. I wonder if that will work or if I should just keep going at it at my own pace?

I only jog at 4.5 and walk at 3.3. What pace are you ladies using?

Hey beaka!! Great job on getting to 10 minutes straight! Sounds like your doing great. I am a slow running and have pretty much the same pace that you do. What kind of intervals are you doing?

Hi Beaka!

WTG on running ten minutes straight. Sounds like you can hop on C25k no problem.

I'm so frustrated.:(

I did W5D2 today at the indoor track. I finished both runs. :) But I was SO tired after the second one that I had to stop and pant for a minute, and actually sat to drink water for a minute before finishing the cool down. I don't enjoy it when I'm THAT tired.

I did fine during the first run, felt like I recovered in the walk, and then made through about the first four and a half minutes feeling pretty good. But, the last two minutes, i kept making bargains-- you can stop after one lap, just one more, etc.

I thought after 3 days at W5D1 I could handle it.... The only thing I can think was that I was having an off day--I was slow to warm up during the first run... I think next time I'll try it on the treadmill-- my track is very small and it was crowded today-- even little toddlers running around, and I think dodging people made it harder too.

I just finished W1D1 and I found it quite hard :( My treadmill has preprogrammed speads for walking and running, 3k for walking and 5k for running. These seem a little fast to me though ultimately that seems like the goal pace... 5k in 30 minutes. I'm a little bummed and wondering if I really can do this... should I just stick it out or lighten up? What did you guys do?

Well I attempted W9D1 today but didn't really get close to making it. I only got to 20 minutes and even that far was a struggle. I just didn't feel it today. I had a bad day yesterday and think that was part of my problem...being slightly dehydrated. 20 minutes is better than nothing though and my speed was increased a little with it so it wasn't a total waste. I think I'm just going to go at my own pace now until I can get outside on a daily bases. I'm gonna aim for between 20-30 minutes on the TM.


Aunty Jam~ great job on getting through the first day. Just pick a pace that is comfortable to you and keep going. Not all of us are going at the same pace and that's perfectly fine!

I would slow your pace down to where you're comfortable. I walk around 3 and run between 4-4.5 three weeks in. I started out slower than that and doubt I'll be going much faster anytime soon.

Definitely slow your speed. Sometimes I run as slow as 4.2 which is barely faster than a walk. 5.5 feels like sprinting to me, LOL.

Zephyr- I like your attitude! I have noticed that some days are just torture (see my post up thread) but then another day, the same thing will seem doable. Go figure. Am very jealous of you running outside. I'm looking forward to that.

Ubergirl~ sounds like you did have a rough day too! I must have missed a few post yesterday.. Did you try to slow your pace a little? At least you finished it...great job!! Running outside is great! I've only done it a few times since I've started running but I enjoy it and don't struggle quite so much outside as I do on the treadmill. What state do you live in? I'm guessing the weather hasn't cooperated with you getting outside. Just think...spring is only 20 days away!! The count down is on now!

I'm gonna stick with you guys until I work my way up to 5k. At this rate it may be April before I get there. As long as I do get there that's all I care about. I've got 6 weeks until my 5k race and my goal was to be able to run in in a 12 minute mile..I think if i really stick with it I could probably still do that.

Have any of you signed up for any 5k's? I'm actually dreading it now..I hate the thought of running it by myself. The satisfaction I'll have when I'm done though will make up for it. Behinds, I know I won't be totally by myself.

Thanks everyone... You've made me feel worlds better. I was wrong in my first post, the setting on the treadmill for jogging is 5k, I've never tried the running setting but I imagine it would throw me right off the end, yikes!

I guess I was feeling bad because my ultimate goal is to run a 5k in 30 minutes. That's looking like it may be an insane goal but I thought something really tough would keep me motivated. I'm going to have to re-think it.

Some friends and I have signed up for a 5k in August, at least I hope they've signed up! I would hate to run it alone also!

I'm thinking of signing up for a 5k at the beginning of July, but at the moment am scared of how long it would take me as right now I can't imagine even being able to jog more than 5mins, let alone at least 30.
I am going to see how I am going with this plan by the end of the month and then decide. By then I should know how I'm getting on and whether jogging all the way (which is what I really want to do) is going to be possible.

Hey ladies! I haven't posted here in a while, but I have not been slacking. I am doing W9D3 tonight! I cannot believe I am almost finished with the program. I thought this day would never come! I guess I will try the one hour runner program after this...running for 1 hour seems like a long shot, but then again so did running for 30 minutes when I started C25k.

Cabinwife. Wow! Good for you! I'm impressed that you are almost finished the program. Did you repeat any days or weeks?

Zephyr, I'm in PA too, and we still have tons of snow on the ground.

I am so discouraged after yesterday's run, but I think I'm going to try it again-- but if I'm that tired I'm going to allow myself to walk a little and then continue. I don't mind feeling worn out, but I was mad that I was so tired I had to sit down! That's crazy!

I was thinking of signing up for a local 5k in May, but I'm not sure.... I feel like I'll NEVER get to the 20 minute run, and I run so slow that it would take forever!

uber - Thanks! I repeated a few of the weeks at the beginning. Once I got to week 5 I just made myself move to the next week even if I didn't think I could. I would just push myself to move forward. Even now, I have to push myself to run for 30 minutes straight. I'm hoping that will get easier with time! Keep it up! It sounds like you're doing awesome! You will be at week 9 before you know it.

I finished W9D3 tonight, so I guess I'm officially a graduate! Yay!

Congratulations, cabinwife! That is AWESOME!

I'm interested that you were able to push on at week 5 because that's where I seem to be hitting the wall. I repeated W5D1 three times in prep for W5D2-- and then the eight minute runs almost killed me. GOSH!

I'm going to the gym soon to do W4D3 soon.
I've been thinking, do you all do your run as part of a longer workout or is your run your only workout that day? I do my run as part of a 1hr 30mins workout at the gym and my run comes after a 10min hard cycle on the stationary bike. I'm wondering if that's part of my problem, that I'm already using so much energy on the bike that it makes my run harder.
I've been thinking of trying to do my run as the first part of my workout and see how that goes. What does everyone think? I may try it today and see if it makes it feel any easier, but maybe I'm just clutching at straws and it's just always going to be hard.

I've tried this program off and on several times. Hoping to make this the last time! At the moment I'm warming up by just alternating 30 seconds of running with 75 seconds of walking for about two weeks, since I've been out of the habit of exercising for a while. I'm prone to shin splints if I jump into an exercise program too fast.

uber~our snow if finally starting to melt. Thankfully before this last storm we got most of our snow was melted so it wasn't so bad. I'm ready for spring though! I'm ready to really get outside and run. I really want to be able to run my 5k in April without being at the back of the pack.

Morgan~You'll be ready for Week 1 soon!! Keep it up and go at a slow steady pace and you'll get there.

Lovinme~ When I run that's all I do for my exercise that day. I have a hard enough time now that they are longer runs and I don't think I'd have the energy in me to do more than that. If you are going to use it as part of a routine that day I'd consider trying it first before anything else.

Cabinwife~Yay for graduating!! How do the runs feel to you? I'm in week 9 and really struggling to even make it to 25 minutes. Are you making it the 3 miles?

uber - The 20 min run was a lot easier for me than the 8 min runs. It was just harder on me to start and stop I think. I know there were a couple more people here that had that same problem.

zephyr - I still struggle to make it 30 min. I'm fine until I hit the 10 min. mark and I start struggling a bit. Once I make it to the 20 min. mark, I feel a little better. I haven't tracked my miles yet, but I doubt I'm making it 3 miles at this point. I'm still running pretty slow. My speed is one thing I hope to work on before I start this one hour runner program. And Yay for you for getting to week 9! You're almost done!

Interesting! Maybe I should just move on to the 20 minute run and see what happens. My last run was such a disaster that I've been dreading the next one, whereas before I was dreading it. But now that I think about it, I had a few other bad days and the next was always fine-- fatigue, maybe dehydration, dodging toddlers on the track, a bad play list, who knows?

cabinwife-- so awesome that you graduated! It's interesting that you feel better at the 20 minute mark. Usually when I exercise, I start to feel really terrific about 15 minutes in, but lately with the running I haven't noticed that.

Loving me-- early on, I used to lift first, but now, I only do the run.

Well I did W4D3 today and I did it first in the rest of my workout. It still felt a real struggle and doing the bike after it was much harder than usual, but I made it again so have completed week 4.
I did think though in the second 5min run that although it was really hard I didn't have quite as many aches and pains as usual and my heart rate wasn't quite as high, and I wondered if I'd have been able to keep going past the 5min mark, so maybe that's a positive sign.
I am going to move onto W5D1 on Thursday and see how I do with three 5min runs, and take it from there.

Boy, I've really been slacking on my runs. Here I am almost 2 months in and I'm still on week three, bot because I've had to repeat but because I've not been doing it! :woops:

All that HAS to change though because I just registered for my first 5k in four weeks! I think this will really motivate me. It is a run/walk but I'd like to be able to run at least most of it :)

Congrats to those of you who have finished or are soooo close! I'll just have to trust you that running for 30 minutes is possible :running::running::running:

I was so excited to find this thread! I am running a 5K in June and starting the C25K program this coming monday. W1D1 here I come!! It's been about 4 years since I was an active runner so I hope I can get back into the swing of it within the 3 months I have before the race. I am also joining a 10 week running program before the race which starts in a few weeks. Woo Hoo!!

I completed W4D1 today and it was really, really hard for me but I got through it! I thought about giving up several times during the last 5 min run but I didn't. Something in me just wouldn't let me. I'm not looking forward to D2 other than getting it over with!!

When I will start to enjoy running? I want to be that person that wants to run. We'll see.

W5D1 for me today. It was hard! I had a loooong break (last run was thursday) so I think that's why it was so hard. Plus I hate running on the treadmill, I get soooo hot cos there's no air blowing at me lol.

The third 5 min run was hard. I had to push myself a lot. But I feel prepared for the rest of the week, I just can't take such a massive effing break lol.

I am ECSTATIC tonight!!!!

I was SO DISCOURAGED after W5D2. I finished the two eight minute runs but literally felt like I was going to keel over after the second one-- so tired I had to SIT during the cool down.

So, tonight, I thought about doing it on the treadmill, which is easier for me, and I thought about plunging ahead and just trying Day 3, but I decided to repeat W5D2 on the track.

This time is was AWESOME. I got the total endorphin thing kicking in and I had no trouble completing the second run!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm going to move on to the 20 minute run next time. Hope it's another good day!

Wow, congratulations on a great run Uber :carrot:
I'm struggling at the moment with the running. I haven't had the endorphin rush from it since W3D1 and I'm worried that running just isn't for me. Each time I run now I keep waiting for it but it's not happening. I really want to love running but right now it's just plain hard work.
I'm going to try W5D1 tomorrow because I'm determined to finish the program one way or another.

Patience Loving Me. I hadn't felt the endorphin rush in a while either-- I am so weirdly hit or miss. I've noticed this more with running than with other types of exercise. The good days are awesome but the bad days are ridiculously painful....

I think you are doing great!!!

I share your pain, Loving Me...I used to love running. I still like to run but it is a struggle because I get tired really fast.
Today was my second day of W5D1 (I don't dare moving ahead while I'm not comfortable) and what really helps me is music. Not just any kind of music. Music you feel like singing along and dancing to. It is a completely different run! Today I actually forgot about time during the third run.

Yes, I think I agree with you about the music. I loved the music for the Week 3 podcast but the Week 4 music didn't do it for me at all.
I like using the podcasts because it tells me when to do each interval, but I do prefer to choose my own music.
Going to be trying W5D1 tomorrow so will see what the music is like for that one. I think maybe once I eventually get to the 20min plus runs I will go back to my own music and see if that helps.

So my area was hit with bad weather last week, which kept me home, and then I got hit with a bad cold afterward, so what do you think I decided to do today? Even though I haven't run in a week, and I'm still getting over said cold, I think it's a great idea to just go ahead with W2D2 of C25K. And, since I haven't got my car today and therefore can't go to the gym, I decide I'll just do my run outside today. Sounds good, right?

Well, it didn't turn out so great. Getting over being sick + running on hilly terrain that I'm unused to + cold air that makes it more difficult to breathe = only being able to push myself through half of today's runs. I kept myself walking so I was still out there for the full half hour, so at least I wouldn't feel like a total failure.

In all, not a good day for me. :(

I have a C25k app for my iphone that tells me when to run and walk but plays my own playlist in the background. I agree about the music thing too. What I'm listening to makes a huge difference.

I know everyone is into different types of music, but I searched around until I found a podcast where I enjoyed the music and knew I could keep listening to. If I don't have good music, it seems to show. I personally use Carli's podcasts at www.runningintoshape.com, but I would definitely recommend searching around until you find one that you enjoy!

I managed to get through 25 minutes tonight. It's supposed to be nice here this weekend and I've got Saturday off so I'm gonna try to get an extra run in this week and really aim for 30 minutes on Saturday. I'm pretty excited that I was able to run for as long as I did tonight.

zephyr - Way to go! You're almost there! To be honest, I skipped the last 2 28 min runs because I felt like I could go ahead and push myself to do 30. I didn't think there was much difference between the two. I mean, really, what's 2 more minutes when you're already running 28? I say go for the 30 min. You can do it!

Hey everyone - I haven't posted in awhile, but I am still running. I made it successfully through week 5 and did do that 20 minute run, but week 6 has kicked my butt - several times over now! I have tried running faster, but run out of gas fast, running slower but that almost seems worse - my legs feel so heavy....so I've not gotten up to the 25 minute runs. I'm still trying to run at least 3x a week and am doing a warmup and then running as long as I can - generally 15-17 minutes and just feel like I can't do anymore and do a cooldown. Any advice for me? Is there hope for a 5K in April?? LOL.

I'm also starting to do some more leg exercises - lunges, squats, etc. to see if I can build up some strength.

And CONGRATS to all of you for keeping at it (especially you Cabinwife - for a time I was right behind you!)!