Finished W4D2 yesterday afternoon! I took the advice of a friend, who runs long distances regularly, and focused almost entirely on my breathing. I think that keeping my mind off my tired legs helped to get me through those 5 min sections. I have got to say that running this fall has been such a nice way to enjoy the weather. Even when it's a bit chilly, having a run scheduled pushes me to get outside.
I agree with others that diet is the most impart of weight loss for me. I have been losing weight with C25k but I felt SOOO hungry the first few weeks that it was tough to stick to my calorie count. I took a look at my diet and have been trying to eat a more balanced dinner (also threw in some extra fruit/veg during the day).
I agree with ingridh. Just concentrate on your breathing, listen to some music or a podcast, and just pick up the feet and move. My sister-in-law is training for a half-marathon and that is the advice she gave to me and it is really working. I now need to concentrate on pushing myself a little harder and work on my speed. I feel I am still just a clydesdale out there shuffling my hooves.
Week 1 is done!! It's so much cooler outside at 7am than 9am!! So nice!!
And... about my previous post about the scale staying the same since starting C to 5k. This morning my weight was up 1.5lbs!!! Weird!! I am not freaking out though because this is the best I've looked and felt in 4 years. I know it's just water weight. My calories have been averaging 1200-1300, so I am good on diet.
I know it's only my 3rd day but I can tell my legs are leaning out more and I can really see the benefits so far of C to 5k!!
I just had no gas in the tank. I'm gonna take tomorrow off and try again Monday. Now that I'm getting into the longer runs, I'm going to give myself more rest days. At least until my body gets more used to these distances.
I guess this is how the program goes, one day you're over the moon about completing a 2.25 mile run. Then the next day you can barely run a mile. It's just a minor setback.
Scarlett - I know how you feel. W6D3 as a stumbling block for me too, it took me a few tries, but eventually I got it. I taught me a major lesson too... that taking a break during a run is no help at all. Continuous running is the way to get it. Good luck!
FunSize - I lost at the beginning of the program (4kg/8+ pounds, in the first four weeks, and then 2 weeks ago it slowed. It's a combination of water weight, your body adjusting to the movement and the calories it's consuming with it's limited intake, and muscle. I didn't lose weight for two weeks, but all of a sudden I had muscle on my thighs, and my knees were thinner (I know, knees! the weird places you lose weight). It'll pick up again. Sore muscles correlates to water retention. lemon tea might help.
Finished W7 yesterday, going for W8 today! I run outside, and actually ran out of track, so I'm increasing my distance... it's a nice humid day for it too
Morning everyone! Just started w3d1 today and wow. I can honestly say that was the first time I've ran 3 minutes consecutively since high school (ahem, 20 years ago)!
Legs are a little wobbly now but I feel great! I'm kinda intimidated by the 5 minutes coming up next week though.
Meeel4121 - that is EXACTLY what happened. I took a break and couldn't get my mojo back.
The past few days haven't been pretty diet wise. TOM is due, stress, uncertainty, some tough decisions and lots of candy around. Not a great combination.
I plan to get back on track tomorrow and have a great run.
I've been peaking at this thread over last month and found it very encouraging, and thought now would be a good time to post here since I followed the official C25K program for the first time today. For the past 3 weeks I've been doing my own version on an indoor track at school, where I walk a lap then jog a lap but I wasn't sure how to take it (slowly) to the next level. Well, long story short, I found a podcast that follows the C25K program and off I was
I was wondering, for those of you who jog outside, do you think jogging on wooded trails are okay? Since this was the weekend, I went to a nearby park instead of the track and did the program there and I really enjoyed it. I was just a little worried that the inclines and curves through the woods might not be the best place for me at the early stages. I mean, I didn't really notice any negative effects, and felt I got a little more out of my workout, but I thought I'd ask. (I would only be at the park once a week anyway, so the other 2 days would be on the standard track.) Thanks.
Flashfacts-It's all about what you are comfortable with. If you really enjoyed it, then do it! This should be fun, and I wouldn't worry about the inclines and curves unless you find they are causing injury.
And congratulations on deciding to do the program! You only have a bit of weight until goal, and this will most definitely help you on your way!
Week 6 Day 2 done! I struggled a bit on this one. I really didn't want to keep going on the last couple minutes of either 10 min run, but I did it anyway. I'm finally feeling the burn on my FRONT, chest area and stomach, rather than just my back fat. lol.
flashfacts - Welcome! Good luck with your first week! I too run outside and not on a treadmill, for a number of reasons. Last year I was running on a treadmill- ended up with a stress fracture. This time around, running outside, because I'm going up hills, inclines and declines, I've managed to avoid the same thing happening again. Apparently running outside is good for your balance and bone density. Treadmills eliminate the bodies need to balance itself, and absorbs some of the impact of running (impact is good for bone density which is good in preventing osteoporosis!). This is all according to my GP btw, so don't take this as gospel.
Besides, those inclines and declines work different muscles. Which should result in some pretty nice legs
But like aka8941 said, it's about whatever you're comfortable with! You'll be surprised at how fast your body is going to get used to those inclines and declines!
aka8941 - W6D2 gave me the worst chest pains. Not like heart attacks pains, but I felt like I had been working my upper body, not my lower. Yay for pushing through! Good luck W6D3!!
I'm supposed to be doing week 8 at the moment, but we've been having really hot weather. Our mild spring has turned into summer with humidity, blazing sun and hot winds! So I haven't run 28 minutes yet. I got close yesterday, around 25 minutes, but I only got 15 minutes into today before I had to stop. I was so hot!
What a bizarre realisation I had tho - the idea that I was stopping running not because my legs were hurting or I couldn't get breath, but because my insides were melting and my skin burning from the sun.
Did not quite finish this morning. Had to run back home for a bathroom emergency. With that last "sprint to the finish" I got 3 out of 4 of my runs in.
Do you think I need to repeat today? And should I do it tomorrow or skip a day and repeat it on Thursday? Or can I just move on to w3d2?
