It will be here before I know it....most likely by the end of the week...when I will have to run for 20minutes straight. How did you C25K graduates do it? Did you just ease into it or did you struggle?

I just pushed it and then BAM...I was in the "zone"...

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

I did the C25K when I started running years ago and I was in terror most of the time. You can do it though, just trust that if you've followed the program, you are conditioned to do it. You will struggle and if you must, slow down to a shuffle but don't stop. You will do it!

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Like the previous poster said - it's all about just pushing through - whether you're struggling with w1d1 or w6d3. If it's too bad, just repeat it til you get it.

Trust the training! Each training run you complete sets you up for the next one.

Also, don't be afraid to slow down if you have to. Your next 5K you can work on speed -- this time around, be open to slowing down as much as necessary, as long as you just keep going.

(sometimes I chant in my head, "Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!" like Dori in Finding Nemo. Yep, even though I'm running.)

ETA: YOU CAN DO IT!!!

A lot of it is mental. Just believe you can do it and go for it. I notice I get tired faster when I tell myself "I can't" but yeah as said above more important than that SLOW DOWN!!!! The W5D2 long runs are like 8 minutes if I remember right so don't feel like you have to go as fast as you did then. Even if you're only shuffling, even if if you're jogging/running slower than you can WALK, keep going. Finishing that first long run is such a high! Look forward to it and know you can do it!!!

I ran on the treadmill and threw a towel over the numbers. I also made sure I had some motivating music. And yes, go slow. Speed can come later. I "graduated" the 5K program running 4.6 and now routinely run at 5.3 for four straight miles without stopping and run intervals at 6.0.

The thing is I hardly run on the treadmill. I have been trying to do this program outdoors.......

Good, motivating music is key to keeping me going. There have been times where my ipod has died mid-run and I didn't last much longer, lol!

I remember the transition from running intervals to going 20 minutes straight - very intimidating! You can definitely do it though and if you find yourself struggling, just do the week over. I had to do that week more than once, for sure. Another thing that helps me is that if I'm starting to feel like I really can't go anymore, I just slow down....as much as possible as long as I'm still running and that can help me recover without really stopping.

Good luck!

Training is like putting money in the bank for when you need it. Every run/walk minute that you did in the past several weeks has gotten you to the point where you have built up your bank enough to be able to run those 20 minutes. I am not saying that it will not be hard, but all of the base that you have established will get you there.

You can do it. Reread all of these comments and believe in yourself. It is totally possible. Hopefully, this might help you. Only a very short time ago, I was thinking that I would never be able to run 20 minutes straight. Seriously. Figured there was no way, EVER. I am heading near 50, had a stroke last year, have Parkinson's and have had 2 brain surgeries for that. What the heck am I thinking? Well, I made it thru C25k. I have now run 3 5ks, without stopping running, and each of them a little faster, with 33:18 being the first and slowest. I am now training to run a half marathon at the end of March.

I would never have believed that I could do any of this if you told me a year ago that I would be. If you challenge yourself and don't give up, you can absolutely amaze yourself. I watch The Biggest Loser and one time Jillian said something to one of the contestants along the line of "if you aren't bleeding, broken, passed out or puking, don't stop running". I think of that every time I am running and it pushes me to go further.

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!

You can absolutely do this.

You can do it. I did it I really had to buckle down and struggle through the last few minutes but when I finished it was the best high I had ever had. I was totally freaked about it too but I just kept going. Just keep going. Sometimes I like to break down runs in my head into smaller increments, I like to think, I'll just run until this song is over or until 15 minutes is up. Then when I get there I think what a waste it would be to get this close and not finish it!

And yes, running slower is better then going fast and not finishing. I had to slow down and I still run slow. But at least I run!

I did it!!!!!!!!!!!! This morning I ran for 21 minutes without stopping! I could not believe that I did it! You guys were right - its all a mental game. I feel like I could do anything now!

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Congrats...I knew YOU COULD! It only gets easier from here