You will be amazed at what your body can do. When I started training for the marathon, the most I had ever run was 6 miles.

I was terrified of the 10 mile - I managed it.

I was terrified of the 12 mile - I managed it.

I was terrified of the 14, the 16, the 18 and the 21 mile runs - guess what - I managed all of them!!

I am also terrified of running 26.2 miles. But I sure as **** AM going to do it.

You CAN do this!

Just take your time and don't push yourself to go too fast. Take it at a nice gentle little trot, listen to some good music and you will be congratulating yourself before you know it.

It is amazing what the body can do... it's just a matter of taking it slow and being brave!

Hi,

I am on week one of the C25K, it stinks or rather I stink at running. Looking foward building my endurance because its a necessary evil.

I found they have a FB page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/C25Kplan

Hi all, long time no post! I wanted to give a quick update since I had some good news... I finished my first 5K on the treadmill yesterday!

When I started this program at the beginning of February, the week 1 runs were tough for me. I'm not sure I honestly believed I'd get to the point where I could run for 36 minutes (that's how long my 5K took... I'm not super fast!), but I did it!

Now that it's warmer out, I've tried to move my runs outside and have found it's more difficult for me. Less boring than running on a treadmill, for sure, but a lot harder on my body! I'm up to about 1.75 miles outside, so I'm going to spend the next few weeks until my first official 5K race on the 30th trying to work up to the 5K distance outside.

Thanks for all the support along the way!

Congratulations!! I am on week 5 (just started today) and a bit afterwards I tried to run my first mile. If you think 36 min 5k is slow.. it took me 15:55 to run a mile :) BUt it was outside in the 1. heat 2. humidity 3. wind and 4. up hills. It is definitely much, much harder to run outside. I wish I had a treadmill, I'd like something to keep the ground even and my pace up!!! I do enjoy running outside because it makes the time go much faster.

It is amazing I think, here when you're mentioning week 1 being hard, cause I remember being pretty winded at week 1 but week 2 was killing me. Now I can "run" (If we want to call it running) a 16 minute mile, which isn't great, but guarantee before I started this program I would have never been able to even finish a mile.

I have a question....Either my treadmill mph's are off or I have super short legs!!! But I brisk walk at 4mph and I can jog at 4.2 but my pace is 4.4 (it's a 13min mile it says). I'm trying to work on time now and then speed after but what's up with the different running paces? I definately cannot walk at 4.4...OH, I'm 5' 4.5" ....any thoughts?

Thank You
 

I've been trying to make myself do the c25k and just come up with excuses everyday, i even have the app on my phone. Reading all of your stories has me motivated to try again. I'll check in and tomorrow and let you all know how it went ;)

I completed week 5 last Thursday and ran my first 5k on Saturday. Finished in 31:26. Then started week 6 yesterday. The program works. I like many of you barely got through weeks 1 and 2, but the body adjusts pretty quickly. Although I should have paced myself better, I am proud that I ran the first mile of the 5K in 8:55!

should I really wait???
 

I started c25k Tuesday, I did it Tuesday and Wednesday and didn't put a day of "rest" in between. I'm trying to lose weight so you would think more excersise=more weight loss. Is it REALLY important to wait a day in between "training", am i just hurting my progress instead of helping? Thoughts anyone???

Yes, more exercise=more weight loss, but also more unaccustomed exercise=more chance of hurting yourself.

You should do the day of rest unless you are already of a decent standard of fitness. Running is a high-intensity exercise - you need to treat it with respect.

What you can do is do a more sedate exercise on your resting days, eg. a bike ride or a walk or a swim, something that still burns calories but doesn't put so much strain on your muscles.

Yeah..definately rest. I went into c25k to finish a 5k not for weight loss (though that benefit would be nice). It's funny how when you change your perception and focus your motivation increases. I can't control the numbers on the scale (don't I wish I could) but I can control my actions to training! Definately rest. I run Tues, Thurs, and Sat. Weight lift on Wed, Friday and Sunday and take Monday OFF!!! I may go for a walk later in the day on any one of those days or rake or house work , whatever but it's not running!!!

Thanks for the advice ladies, I will do that. Maybe i'll do pilates or something today. My problem is if i don't do some sort of excersise i'm just to tired to make it through the day. I get up for work at 3:30am and I have a 2yr and 12yr old so i'm busy to say the least. The only day's I can really excersise is Tues-Friday (because of the kids) so i guess i'm trying to cram it all in..lol
Maybe i will just have to excersise after hubby gets home on other days....if I can make it that long without wanting to just go to bed. Anyone one have problems with breathing when you started the c25k, i used to be a smoker so i'm sure that doesn't help. I don't mind the burning in my legs or anything, actually kinda enjoy the feeling (strange I know) but the feeling of not being able to breath is what i'm having problems with!

kmac1196 - Forgot to ask, how long ago did you start the c25k?

jenn have you thought about yoga for your off days? It provides no impact on the joints, giving them a rest from the intensity of running, and delivers cardio and strength training benefits. PLUS if you do a flow or power class it can really help with lung capacity by teaching proper breathing techniques during high intensity cardio. I used to competitively rock climb and it was a regular part of our workout for this very reason- it really does help with learning to breath properly :)

I tie in my breathing with my steps, so I breathe in for two steps and out for two steps. But that burning feeling in your throat goes about halfway through the course - maybe week 4 or 5 - at least it did for me. I think the lungs need time to accustom themselves as do your muscles so as your lungs become 'fitter' your breathing gets easier.

Ok...I started this once...and didn't make it through.
You've inspired me to try again!

Do any of you use pod casts for your run? If you do...is there one that you prefer to another??

Thanks

Had not thought about Yoga, might try that on "off days". I'll try the breathing technique and see if that helps. Friday when i was jogging/walking it felt like there was a tight band above both knees, anyone know what this could be? Was not enjoyable feeling..lol

Completed W7D1 yesterday. Even ran through the 5 minute cool down walk. Ran 3.1 miles in 29 minutes and 21 seconds.

crainjo- what a great accomplishment!!!! you must feel amazing. You know they have a bridge to 5k program that you should do.

I'm finishing up my degree so totally slacked off the program (14 hour days on campus = Courtney no want to run when get home), but got back on where I left off today (w5d2) and was shocked that I could still make those two 8 minute runs. I REALLY wanted to quit during the second one but I kept going and ended up catching a second wind. It felt great to know I could hop right back on. I could almost be done with the program by now if I didn't slack off so many times, but oh well, keep on trucking! I could hardly run for the 60-90 second runs in the beginning without DYING. Now I'm doing the 8 minute runs with minimal discomfort and it feels good.

Oh and as far as frequency goes... I run WAY more than I should be, probably. I run day 1 on Sun Mon, Day 2 on Wed Thurs and Day 3 on Saturday for a total of 5 days a week. I am going to enjoy being young and my body can take it, really it's not that much running when you think about it, what 15-20 minutes total, though I do listen to my body. I also cross train, about an hour at a moderate intensity on the bike every day except Friday. I'm going to start incorporating pilates 3-4 days a week. I'd love to do strength training but don't want to pay for a gym membership and don't have room in my home for any equipment. I think pilates will suffice in that area though.

It's a time sink for sure, but I do what I gotta do, I don't have kids (just classes :P) so I probably have a lot more time than some people.

I used GoNicoleYourself.com and KissMyBlackAss.org podcasts for the shorter interval runs then as the runs got longer, I found songs the appropriate length in my itunes and created my own play list. Just finished W8 today - one more week!!!!

I started the C25K training program last week. My goal is to run the Gobble Wobble in November. I am not sticking to the program per time but listening to what my body is telling me. I can tell my endurance is building but now I am have the worse knee pain. Will this go away? I think I am becoming an ibuprofen junky now. Any suggestions to help with the knees? :?:

HALLOWEEN GOAL: 220

Knee pain is not typical to new runners. Are you wearing proper running shoes?

By "not sticking to the program per time" do you mean you are trying to increase time faster than the program, or slower? Hint: c25K progresses really, really quickly-- a lot more quickly than many reputable programs. Many people's musculoskeletal systems, and particularly many people who are overweight and were not previously taking part in high-impact activity on the regular, are better served by slower progress than c25K suggests.