Thanks Sapphire. I think I might try that next time I go! Do you put any incline on yours when you're doing it?

Takingcontrol- week 5 is daunting but believe me you'll feel SO good when you get to the end of run 3 week 5. You can do it :D. It's so worth it.

Paintedbutterfly, I hope so! I'm already mentally planning a route that involves the absolute minimum of inclines to give me the greatest chance of completing it, and have decided to ditch the podcast for that run and make my very own playlist of favourite tunes with a timer in the background to get me through!

W1D2 Complete!!! YAY and it was actually a GOOD workout!!! W1D3 see you Thursday!!!

Ok, so I just downloaded the iphone app C25K free. I see it will alert me to do what i need to do - but where do I put my iphone so I can hear the alerts? What do you all do? I'm afraid to hold it in my hand as I don't want to drop it. I have a waist thing - but will it be audible through that? (if volume is up)...

And can I run this at the same time as a GPS app? Sorry if this all sounds stupid - it's all new to me.

OK, just did Week 1 Day 1 of c25k. I used MapMyFitness to track my distance 2.21 miles. and My time was 13:53 minute miles (counting warm-up and cool-down). And I used c25k free to give me alerts every time. I have a spibelt where I put my phone and I heard the alerts fine, but I also bought a armband for future as I also had to put my keys in the spibelt.

I have so many gizmos though! I have my iphone with two apps running, my bodymediafit, and I could also wear my heartrate monitor. I just didn't wear it this time (I will next time).

But I started!!!! I'll run again on Thursday.

I completed W8D1 last night and was able to jog 2.75 miles. Yay! I'm so glad that I went ahead and decided to focus on distance.

PaintedButterfly, I always have the incline set to 1.5 on the treadmill.

SAPPHIREGIRL...Wow, 2.75 miles. Congrats, I can't even imagine it.

W2D3 in the bag. I'm done. I didn't do the 2 day rest break between W1 and W2. I think I definitely will before starting W3. 3 minute run....really?

OK, I have a question for those of you that have made it to the longer runs :)

I did week 5 day 1 today, ditched the podcast, got in my rhythm with my favourite tunes playing in the background, zoned out and jogged until my stop watch beeped that 8 minutes was up. I'm still working on my route, but the first section is slightly downhill and onto flat before slightly going back up again at the end. This 8 minutes was surprisingly manageable. The next section was flat at the start then up hill all of the way for the last 6 minutes or so, not a steep hill by any means, but a definite incline. Now, I managed just over 5 minutes of this section, and all I could see ahead of me was hill and I was very tired and I thought out of breath so I slowed to walk, but very quickly got my breath back and was ready for another 8 minute jog. This one going flat, slightly down and flat. And once again was pretty easy.

I've got home and looked up how far I went first 8 minutes 0.9 miles and last 8 minutes 0.8 miles. For both of these I had gradient on my side, but I was going at what was a comfortable pace for me, and wasn't overly out of breath or tired by the end of them. In both cases I feel I could have definitely have kept going to ten minutes and who knows, maybe beyond.

However, on the middle stretch that I was unable to finish, because I was aware of the hill, I made myself take it much slower, but then I just feel more laboured and awkward, and even though in my mind I felt too tired to continue, pretty much as soon as I dropped to walk I had 'recovered'.

So, my question is this, is it possible to be better off jogging faster than slower?

But, my main thing I'd like advice on is how best to move forward from here. Do I train myself to go slower as this is the only way I'll complete the longer/hillier runs? Or do I keep my natural pace but do shorter bursts on hills until I get the stamina to keep going?

Thanks for reading, all advice is much appreciated!

takingcontrol, I had to slow my pace down for the longer runs because I didn't want to injure myself or have to stop during a run. Now that I have become more comfortable with my pace on the longer runs, I have upped the speed and it's worked out really well.

Good luck to you with whatever you decide.

Exactly this. This is exactly what I did.

Personally I think it's important to take it steady and not do bursts. I think it's important learning how to get into a steady pace and then each time try upping the pace a bit.

There's probably different approaches to it but personally I think finding your own natural running rhythm then sticking to it and gradually increasing the pace (which I think also comes naturally as you get fitter) each time is the way that works for me.


The particular podcast I use keeps saying "Running is about endurance and getting miles under you belt, not about speed." and I think I agree with that.

hellloooo ladies! so this is my 4th time with C25k and i'm determined to actually finish it this time. one time i made it to week 7 but gave up because it was the end october and i despise running in cold. i just finished W1D2 and feel good, surprisingly.
usually when i "run" it's more of a walk with a bounce. my feet barely leave the ground and it's actually slower than my walking pace. today, though, my goal was to get through the runs with actually moving my legs like a normal human being:) i felt like one of those girls from the nike ads hahaha. by the time i got to the last run, though, my legs didn't want to move very much, but that's ok. it's a good goal for next time.
i've got quite a bit of reading to do on this thread to catch up to all of you :) best of luck with your runs!!!

Just completed Week 3, Day 3 today. Day 1 was rough, but today was awesome! I run on a treadmill (which I don't like), but I feel better because I exercise so early. Also, I use my iPhone app. It's great. I can use my iPod music or Pandora with it.

Hi my fellow C25Kers!!!

Just completed W1D3!!! YAYAYAYA On to Week 2 in two days!

Have to say, it's was a bit hard today, not my cardio but my muscles... My legs...mostly my chins started to hurt really bad :(

SaphireGirl & PaintedButterfly Thanks very much for the input. I did week 5 day 2 today and found it so much easier than day 1. Mainly I believe down to not really thinking about my pace, just keeping it steady and getting on with it. In my mind though, I was going slower than on day 1 (which I accidentally did as 8 minute intervals not 5) but, I finished up the first 8 minute jog at almost the exact same spot as the other day. Sooooo, I'm guessing that proves I have a natural speed already?

For the first time ever I'm actually really looking forward to, and beginning to believe that W5D3 might just be possible, something I've never really taken on board the other times I tried the programme. BRING IT ON!!!!!!!

Amyliegh Good luck with the programme this time round! I'm on take 3, and so far, sooooo good. I have everything crossed for both of us that this is the time we make it :)

Foodie08 - congrats on completing week 3 :) It's great when it gets easier as the week goes on hey? I also do my runs earlier. I hate the alarm, but love it once I'm up and have got them out of the way!

HappyRunner - Great work on getting through the first week. I hope the 2 rest days will help you with muscle fatigue and you'll be all ready for week two :)

Who did W3D1, yeah....ME!!!!! It's been raining cats and dogs here so I decided to go to my gym to run on the track. Of course, it's flat and today's run felt almost...easy! I was scared of the 3 minutes but it is amazing how much of a difference the flat course made. My outdoor track has two hills that I thought were fairly small (but killed me). What a difference the flat track made. Felt good....

I have to travel this week so I may "break the rules" and try W3D2 tomorrow. If I don't get it done tomorrow, I may have to take a 3 day "break" in the middle of the week. Wish me well....:)