I did w3d1 today! I was apprehensive at the 3-min run intervals because I found the 1:30s challenging sometimes, but I did it! My calves did feel a little crampy, so I think I will stop and stretch midway through my warmup walk (I have been doing 10 min) next time.

Also, I am a slooooow-poke. I run at 3.6-3.7 and walk at 2.7-3.0

I run slooooooooooow too. Way slow, hardly faster than I walk. I am not worrying about speed for now, just worried about getting in the proper amount of running. Maybe, if I feel compelled, when I am done, I will do the C25K again, but will jog the "recovery" period, and jog faster on the "run" periods, to slowly build up speed, but keep the running up. Not sure, I'll have to see how I feel about it at the time.

If you need to jog slow, that is ok! Last fall when I did a 5k, 2 speedwalkers passed me!!! I did w2d3 last night...not sure if I am repeating or going on to try w3d1 next.

Do w3d1. If you can't finish the 3 min, you can just repeat that day until you can. But I think you may be surprised!

Just did w2d2. Felt better than day one of this week, but I was disappointed to see that my distance fell a bit. Maybe that was due to the slight headwind I was battling for half of it? My average run speed was good, though, just about 10 min/mile. I was worried about running today as my stomach has not been happy all morning, but it didn't seem to bother me during the run, thankfully.

Hope everyone else is having a good weekend.

I just did W2D2 and am struggling with it a bit. Part of the problem is that my throat gets horribly parched, and feels like it's sticking together. I am thinking of buying a small small water bottle (one of those one's that's the size of a juice box) so I can take a sip here and there when my throat gets "sticky". What do you all think? Or do you have a better idea?? This for me is a big issue. Along with breathing and tired muscles LOL.

Honestly, right now I am not enjoying the C25K right now, but I will keep going. I am hoping that I will enjoy it more when I am not struggling so much.

I think the small water bottle sounds like a good idea -- I've been thinking about getting one myself. And I know what you mean about not enjoying c25k that much. Today while running a semi-seriously contemplated quitting it. But I'm going to try to stick it out for at least the month of June and see how I feel. The first week I felt good, so maybe it's just week 2 that's terrible, eh?

Maybe!! We seem to be running the same W and D on the same days (Friday, Sunday, Tuesday here). We should check in with each other after each run, because I too kind of contemplated quitting. This way we're accountable to each other? What do you think?

OhMyDogs: Sounds like a great idea to me!!

Ferumras: Excellent, I think it will be easier with a "running buddy".

OhMyDogs: I sent you a PM about it.

@Envelope- Glad to know its not just me. What stretches do you do and do they seem to help?

I finished week 1 today and found it odd that day 1 was the easiest and day 3 the hardest. I'm going to take off at least two days before I do the next one since I think I'm asking a lot of my body and I'm sore all over today. I'm debating redoing week but since I did make it through I think I'm just going to go on. If I'm not able to finish a day I'll redo that one until I can. I also go pretty slow (3.0-3.2 for walking and 4.0-4.2 for running) so do you guys think it would be better to repeat weeks trying to increase speed or finish the program and then work on speed then?

This is a link to cool running and their suggested stretches.

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_1/126.shtml

I do 1, 2, 3, 6, 11, and 12

I drink a bottle (500ml) of water every time I do a C25k run. My throat gets parched quickly. I don't think anything wrong with drinking!

So, after a week with no workout, running or anything my legs feels like new. I am glad I did take a break, although strangely enough I MISSED running. Huh? I can't believe it myself!
Anyways, I did W4D1 today and I barely finished it. It was sooooo hard. I blame the week without workout and especially the 30C in the room. It was just hot, hot, hot. However, I made it!!! I am so proud of myself. That kind of determination is totally new to me. I am not competitive at all and usually have zero determination with physical tasks like workouts.
Now I am sitting on the couch grinning like an idiot because I did it again :-)

Have a great run everybody!

I did W1D3 today and ended my set with a run of 2.5 minutes. I'm thinking of doubling up my weeks (2 weeks of week 1 training, 2 weeks of week 2, etc). I'm aiming to run a 5k on Thanksgiving - more than 18 weeks away- so it'll give me plenty of prep time. I didn't struggle with week 1, but I don't want to move forward too quickly and put myself at risk of feeling defeated if I can't get through a certain week.

I'm doing the program with my oldest son, age 13, who already can run, but is doing it together with me to encourage me along.

I wouldn't repeat weeks to increase speed. When I began the C25K program, I had a race in mind that was 8 weeks away. So, I knew I had no time for repeats. I finished the program running a 12 minute mile. That first race I ran 11 minute miles, then two months later I raced and averaged 9.28 minute miles. I NEVER worked on or worried about my speed. Getting faster just comes naturally as your heart and lungs get more efficient. Speed has never been important to me. My pace is slow, but I don't care as long as I get it done!

Hello all!!! Starting tonight. Eek!

Nice work sticking with it! For what it's worth, the jump from W3 to W4 was HARD for me. I tried W4D1 and then went back and redid W3. Felt a lot better starting W4 the second time.

Definitely taking a few days off can renew your legs if you've been cranking out jogs every other day. It really does help.

Definitely finish the program before worrying about speed. Speed will come. This is on advice from both the program and from my marathoning best friend. C25K is set up for either achieving distance or time goals. Speed follows.

I'm starting W8 tonight (ACK!). I "wog" at about 4.5 to 4.7 at this point and walk at 3.3 to 3.5. In two weeks when I'm done (hopefully), I hope to start to work on speed a little. Right now, I'm just trying to get through each jog without having to take a break.

Good luck!

Did day 1 of week 1 today. So hard.

Thanks! I was wondering what transition of weeks was the hardest. So far it was a breeze until W3 to W4. Ugh! I will try W4D2 tomorrow and see how that one goes. In my experience D2 is the hardest of the week.

Well, I did the most important part today :) I did w1d1 this evening. Felt really good. Tiring for sure but did feel good.

I'm taking a day off from c25k today. My knees are hurting me and my aunt's house is on a huge hill. I don't think my knees are up for that kind of challenge. Tomorrow, I hope to find a flat road to run along.

I wanted to say that I think this thread is pure gold. I carefully went though it post by post and made myself a "running inspiration cheat sheet" based on some of the replies here. I put it into a pretty font and color, and then printed it out. It is posted on my wall right next to my 6/18 5K countdown workout schedule. I now look at it all the time. This is what it says. The cheat sheet is so inspiring. Thank you all so much.




_____________________________________________

*~* Running Inspiration *~*

*Distance running is 99% mental, much, much more than physical.

*It's about constantly talking to yourself and saying things that will push you to keep going.

* "Are you bleeding?" "Have you passed out?" "Are you puking?".....NO....So KEEP going.

*Concentrate on breathing, your body can run on its own!

*At times it feels hard to push through and finish the run, but you can do it!!!

*Relax your legs

*Follow the program, trust the progression, don't let your mind say you can't do it and you'll be successful!

*While you are running, tell yourself positive words and phrases.

"I can keep going"
"I am an athlete"
"I am a runner"
"I am strong and capable"
"I can run like the wind"
"I love to run"
"I am going to do great"
"I can finish strong"
"I believe in myself"

I am on week 4 of the program. I will second the sentiment that the transition from week 3 to 4 is super hard. I had to jump back down to week 3 for a week. After this it took me three tries to actually finish the week 4 workout completely. I've now done it completely twice, also once where I pooped out with 1 min 20 left on the last interval. I think I've got it it pretty down. I'm going to do it 2 more times then move on to week 5. I'm really starting to feel like a runner and don't think the transition to week 5 will be as bad.

Between injuring my hip muscle (see post last week) and working my son's cub scout day camp (and coming home a sweating mess after being in the 100 degree heat all day so not up for much more than walking the dog when I get home), my running program is on a break.
After camp yesterday I took the kids to our local pool which has indoor/outdoor facilities and envied the runners on the track as they lapped around - someday that will be ME up there doing a 1/10 a mile in 45 seconds (yeah, one guy did three miles that fast!).
Great job everyone - keep going! I'll catch up :)

Oh boy. Signed up for a 5k run at the end of July today, so it's official. A lot of work to do between now and then!

Did W8D1. Had to take a break in the middle, probably more of a mental thing than physical one. I lost track of what I was doing, so just jogged as much as I could at 4.3 to 4.7 and walked some till I got to 5k total. Not exactly the program, but felt like I at least finished something.

I find that I kinda peter out at like 22 minutes, need to take a break. Get mad and then finish strong. How exactly do you get mentally tough enough to not quit in the middle? That's my problem.

I started Week1Day1 of C25K today.... I'm so pumped.. I made it through, barely lol!

ohhh, i'm so glad i happened upon this thread. i'd never heard of c25k and i've been wanting to improve my running endurance. i can only run a 12 minute mile -- or at least that's how i did the last time i attempted, which was a little over 10 lbs ago. i'm going to test this out asap!

It's awesome, I got the app on my phone.. it's so amazing!!!!

So today I did W2D3, and it was a lot easier to get through than W2D2! I did bring just a little bit of water with me today, and just had a mouthful when my throat got really dry, and it helped a TON!

Shin splints. :no:

I've just acquired a shiny new pair of running shoes - guess my old ones were too old - and I'm going to drop my walk speed back to four. Sigh.

Did W1D2 today. Still shocking to me the concept of me actually jogging. I think my last jog before I started this programme was 2 years ago...

I did w4d1 today. My shins are still giving me a hard time. The good thing is that the more I do this, the longer I go before the muscles tighten into cement blocks.

Holy smokes! W4 is killing me!!!! I just finished D2 and I guess it survived. I was waiting for a real challenging week and I guess there I have it.

@envelope cement blocks? Ha! Mine too!

Guys, I just found this old thread: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/exer...eady-move.html
I read through the first page and it is quite inspiring.

Anybody still around to tell us how it all went?

I finished w4d2 yesterday and actually found it easier on me. My shin muscles did not cramp into the cement blocks!!! They did get a little tight, but not until the last run.
I am getting ready to go out and do w4d3...I'll let you know how it goes.

I am going through this faster than recomended, I feel like I am ready to keep moving.

c25k
 

I think I am ready to start the C25K. Is anyone thinking about starting I think it would be fun to do it with others.

" D "

I love seeing all the activity on this thread. I wish the C25K thread was this busy when I completed it this winter. My new favorite running blog is called Ben Does Life. He started running when he was somewhere around 350 lbs I believe and has lost 120ish pounds. When I watch the video on his blog, it makes me tear up every time. It is so inspirational. He is doing a tour this summer complete with free 5K runs, or walks, or skipping, whatever, not races. It sounds fun and I hope I can go.