Meeel4121 - Thanks for the well wishes. I'm not worried about my progress at all. My entire journey though the program has been like this. I started in May at 216.4 pounds and a 38 min 5k. Now I weigh 186 and ran my last 5k in 33 min and 25 seconds. There's been all sorts of breaks, periods of low motivation and steps backwards. My progress has been slow, but I'm still here putting the runs in and getting some good workouts. It's just about sticking with the program, not giving up and not letting a week or two off turn into months. Don't feel bad about stepping back down to week 6. Just stick with it and you'll get there.

Scarlett
Thanks so much for the welcome, and the tip!! For the first few hours I felt really good, like I normally do after a workout, and then I crashed!! I was laying on my lounge room floor trying not to fall asleep at one stage, lol.

Meeel4121
Thank you for the welcome and the well wishes for the rest of my week I hope your day of beer and rugby was fantastic -I'm originally from QLD and am now in Tassie, and for some reason everyone down here expects me to be a rugby expert...so far they've been sorely disappointed, lol.

Good morning everyone! Finally back on board since being sick. I managed w2d1 today and it felt great! Hopefully the rest of the week will feel good as well Have a great Sunday everyone!

Hello everyone *waves*

I just completed the first week of C25K last night and I am feeling so positive toward running in general (just like I hoped I would) BUT I'm not sure about starting week two tomorrow... Having read all your posts and how you just keep amazing yourselves with how far/long you can run for with the program is spurring me on to go for it. However, I feel like I'm really suffering during my runs. Not with pain, but with being tired and out of breath. I'm currently suffering form a cold, which obviously doesn't help, but maybe I'm just pushing myself too much and should slow down a bit..?

My bf is running with me and is totally ready for week 2, but I'm running alone tomorrow so I think I might repeat the week 1 schedule and see how I feel come wednesday.

I'm so happy to be on board and I'm SUPER excited to be able to call myself a runner now. Sadly 5k runs are few and far between where I live, but there are 5k, 10k, half and full marathons happening in Milan in April, so I've got months to prepare myself. I want to sign up for the 5k which is labelled as the "little milan" run for kids and older people, haha, maybe if I run with kids I'll look like a better runner than I am eh?

Enjoy your runs people

I love coming on here and being a part of the encouragement-fest that is this thread. I seriously eat this stuff up. I think of you guys when I’m trying to drag myself outside to run and it gets me moving. Yay for accountability!

I completed W6D1 Today for the 3rd time in a row

I felt Ok running, but my breathing was a bit shallow. It was probably from the remnants of this cold. I ran out of breath and my heart rate neared max but I barely sweat and didn’t feel that worn out. That almost never happens to me. I usually feel gassed and get nasty sweaty. Overall I’m encouraged by my progress though.


Geauxgirl – Back!!

I’m getting back on board after being sick too

Going2Bhealthy – glad you joined us. Do whatever you feel is right. I definitely took longer on some weeks and waited till I was ready to move on. It takes some time for your body to get used to running regularly so take it slow if you need to. Good Luck.

Week 5 Day 2 tomorrow! WOOT

thinsole: I've only run with them twice so I'm not sure. So far mine feel great. If you're looking to run long term, I would think about having a pair of dedicated running shoes that you were fit for. I went to a running shoe store that had me run on a treadmill to analyze my gait. They weren't too expensive but I'm hoping the cost will still help keep me motivated

I finished W3D2 this afternoon and it just flew by. I have been stressed this weekend because I had a flat tire yesterday and had to take it to get fixed this morning before a road trip tomorrow *sweats*. I'm giving myself a little pat on the back for not "stress eating" and for sticking with my running plan even though I felt frazzled. Tomorrow I'll be running in lovely Springfield, IL Weight wise this has been a good week. I'm soooooo close to being out of the 160s...can't wait!

I have a general question about cross-training. I came into C25k already working out about about an hour a day - 5 times a week (alternating cardio/strength). Do any of you have thoughts about workouts for C25k "off days" that won't be too hard on my lower body? I did a strength circuit yesterday morning and the lunges and squats felt like they zapped all my juice

Completed Week 5 Day 2 on Saturday. Plan on completing Week 5 tomorrow morning. I have to get psyched into this. Yesterday I signed up for my first 5k that will take place on Thanksgiving Day.

Is this the website you guys use?
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

I want to start whatever you guys are doing. Do you guys use a stop watch to know your time?

W6D1 done again.

I'm going to try W6D2 tomorrow in order to keep pace with my training schedule. I did D1 by time but plan to do D2 by distance. Hopefully I'll get it done. This one gave me fits last time I tried it.


FunSize - Yes that is the website/program. I personally use a small electronic timer. Therefore I run carrying my I-pod and timer.

You can also download the workouts to your I-pod/I-phone and use that. I just do it one my own. Good Luck

Thanks everyone!

Funsize - I have an app on my android that I use. It's called C25K pro and it will integrate your music on your phone with the workout. Plus it tells you when to run, when to walk, and cooldown times. It's perfect for me!

Alright guys!! I am starting today!! There were no decent apps for my palm pixi so I went ahead and downloaded a couch to 5k podcast mp3. I put weeks 1 & 2 on my phone. Very excited Will post how I did!

EDIT!!
PHEW!! Done with Week 1 Day 1!! My lungs are killin' me! I took my 2 puffs of albuterol but it still hurts to breath. Also half way through my left side of my chest started hurting. Why does running make everything hurt?
I ran along a desert path by my house in full sun. I learned a few things for next time:

1.) HAT & SUNSCREEN!
2.) Shoes are TOO small (for my weight, anyway-- When I lose my weight I think the shoes will fit fine again) my left foot has a big fat blister on the back now. I grimaced my way through my run.

Over all? I feel great. When cars passed me by I thought "Yeah! I am finally one of those chicks out running in the full sun while your probably in your car scarfing down fast food!! HAHA!"
(No seriously, whenever I see people running I am so inspired! And now I am excited I can be one of those people if I keep it up!!)

Super pumped for Thursday Hopefully my lungs will start getting stronger... Need to go out and buy new running shoes but not sure what kind.. I don't have a ton of money to spend..

Week 5 is done! You know it wasn't that bad. After jogging for 10 mins I just got into a rhythm and I zoned out and just kept moving on.

I agree with the sunscreen. I just came back from an appt with my dermatologist and it looks like I was stun by a hive of bees. She froze off so much pre-cancerous spots and took two biopsies. As a fair skinned, red head I do use sunscreen on a regular basis. I told my office that I was celebrating Halloween early and came in as a zombie. Oh well, there goes my modeling career...

I finished W6D2 for the first time ever!

I ran the last 5 days in a row. I did it by distance but my times were pretty good too. Today was the best I've felt running in awhile. I just felt light and powerful. I got into some stupid argument earlier in the day and it just felt great to get all my frustration out. Dragging myself out to run on a bad day lets me know I can keep this going when times get tough. Usually when I get stressed I panic and feel like I can't afford myself the time to exercise. I feel like the good habits I'm creating are here to stay.

Toonses - you crack me up Congrats on finishing week 5!!!

Cheece - I'm from Sydney! My dad and brother are pretty into the world cup, so it's been a if you can't beat them, join them situation (lol). Sunday was more of a commiseration than a celebration, ha.

going2Bhealthy - welcome!!!

FunSize- I use the c25k iPhone app. I find that it's brilliant because you can listen to your own music and they tell you when to run/walk, AND it tracks your progress. I find it handy because I would spend the entire run watching the time tick, this way I don't have that. It makes me focus and push through those hard parts.
I always run with a hat on, not just because sun safety has been drilled into my head since I was a little kid (lol), but it keeps me cool in the heat. I feel your pain with the blister! I have a huge one of the pad of my foot. It appears to be a tiered on two... blister upon blister upon blister. I just those blister band aids and extra tape on top for extra protection. Good fitting shoes make a world of distance. The beginning of this year I got a bad fitting for new runners. OMG, the pain! I have fat feet, and these we too narrow. I have permanently scarred heels and toes because of it. Good luck for the rest of the week!

Toonses - I am the daughter of a fair skinned red head, so sun screen is bible in my house. Congrats on W5 and good luck for W6!!!

Scarlett - Yay! Congrats for W6D2!!! Running is great for frustration! I find it's the perfect fuel for pushing through the rough bits.

I finished W7D2 today. I think I did W7D1 nearly 4 times, and I finally got through it two days ago, and have so far kept up the pace despite dealing with a horrible blister and cramps. I had to trick myself into doing a really steep incline first, and then telling myself for the rest of the run that if I made it through that, I can make it through the rest of it. So far it's been working.