Thanks! I did W2D1 yesterday and I couldn't believe how "easy" (haha!) it was! I guess I was ready for it after all. Did take a day off today (rainy cold weather) but ready to get back on it tomorrow!

I have a few more days before I try running again. I have been so sick the past week, and I still have some chest congestion.

@ SDChickie - yeah, I've quit smoking now, but I started back on C25K before I quit. But I was in reasonable shape (relatively) despite the smoking so the earlier walk/runs weren't really a problem for me physically - just mentally as I felt guilty about smoking and gaining weight and not exercising as regularly. And I'd already done the programme before so knew what it would be asking of me.

I've been off the cigs for ALMOST four weeks and I'm just about to go into week 7. It's taking me about a week for each week, but I'm not running all three runs. I'm typically doing one day Personal Training, one day rugby training, and one day yoga, another day of circuit training and/or a gym class, a day of rest - so that leaves pretty much just two days for running. Saturday I'll do the first run of week 7.

1.3 miles done today. After 1 week of being off from the flu.

Gutted my 12km on sunday has been cancelled due to the weather guess i'll have to do some ddp yoga and pushups instead!.

So glad I found this thread! Tomorrow I will be on W3D1. I have NEVER been a runner and actually have HATED it! I love to do fast walking but for some reason just cannot get myself to keep jogging! My best friend swears by this app so I tought I would give it a try Currently doing in on my treadmill, but can't wait till Spring to go outside. Hoping to get some good tips from this thread.

New 5k PB today 33.36. Started C25K in March 2012 finished in May 2012.

Someone was asking about buying an iphone app? You can download the whole C25K programme from the NHS as a series of podcasts. It's not an app but it is free. Search NHS c25k on google or in iTunes.

I must've been pushing myself too hard last week... ran W2D2 last Thursday and it hurt. After a really REALLY good W2D1, I couldn't believe it. It was about 25 degrees colder here then it usually is (45 vs 70) and the next day I thought my stiff, sore legs was due to the abnormally cold weather. The next day I ignored it though and I ended up doing the first couple runs then walking the remainder of the 30 minutes. I took Saturday off, thinking a day of rest would help, but trying again yesterday, my knees felt like they were going to give out the whole time. I knew it was a bad sign when I set out and my knees were wobbling on the stairs down. So today I made myself do nothing-- if I set out just to take a walk I usually feel like I have to at least try running, and I don't think walking is even going to help. I feel so mad-- I finally got going on this C25K program and now this awful knee pain is holding me back.
Do I try to walk tomorrow? Just to get moving at least a little? Or do I stop all walking/running until my knees feel 100% better? So frustrated I feel like I've let myself down somehow.

I finished W9D1, but it was AWFUL!! All my week 8 runs were great, but yesterday I felt crampy and bad the whole time. But I did do it. I don't think it was the extra two minutes, I think it was just one of those days. So I imagine the next two will be better. Can't believe I'm so close to graduating.

WAHMto5 - Welcome!
slimmingsi - nice work on the 5K!
kcase - that SUCKS about your knees -- I would definitely take a little time off (although if walking isn't painful you should definitely still do that). Have you been warming up (with dynamic stretching) beforehand and cooling down afterwards?? I was trying to do C25K last spring and I ended up knocking myself out of it in Week 7 with an IT band injury, my doctor suggested it happened because I wasn't warming up enough. Be careful!

@Ado Annie-
Thanks for the response! I would stretch and do the 5 minute warm up walking and cool down walking at the end, but maybe even more stretching? I tried taking a verrrrry slow walk on the beach today, about 30 minutes, hoping that walking on soft sand, slowly and seeing how I feel later/tomorrow would be a good indicator. Just ready to get back on the road haha!

Hi ladies! I'm doing Couch to 10k, which is very similar to C25k but has slightly different intervals. But since the programs are so similar I figured this is a good place to commiserate

Today I did W3D1 (3 minutes jog, 2 minutes walk, 7 times) and it was really hard for me. It was the first day of running 3 minutes straight and I just couldn't get my mind around it. I almost quit during every intervaland was so incredibly frustrated about my pace that I was nearly in tears, and I'm not the crying type.

I know I could've run faster, but I just couldn't force myself to do it and as a result I'm not exactly tired after this workout. I could probably do a couple more intervals, except my mind definitely isn't willing.

Any suggestions to get over the hatred of running? Does it get any easier mentally? For some reason I just can't push myself when I run and I know I need to get over that so I can become faster and fitter.

To end on a positive note, I'm really proud of myself for continuing on even though every step was a struggle. I never stopped mid-run and somehow pushed through the workout. I guess after two weeks of good runs (and by good, I mean that I didn't hate myself) I was bound to have an off day. I'm still glad I went, so at least something good came out of this.

I'm debating if I should redo this day because it was so incredibly unsuccessful (I was "running" a 13:00 minute/mile pace for a bit) but part of me thinks it should count because I did run the whole thing after-all. We'll see what I decide. I have a few days before my next run is scheduled.

I knew this thread was around here somewhere. I have started the C25k program on my treadmill. I have been wanting to do this for two years and I finally go the courage to start. Since I have been exercising, I was able to start on week 2 and today I finished W3D1. I take one day off from running in between so on Wednesday I will do W3D2. I am a little afraid of the 5 minute interval running but not going to physic myself out. I am excited to try and see how long I can go.
I am so far behind each of you but your posts really keep me motivated.

Hi! I'm new here, and I'm starting the C25K program tomorrow morning! I was actually supposed to start tonight, but then discovered that the treadmill in my apartment's gym is broken, so I'm just gonna start tomorrow outside. Anyway, I'm really excited, but nervous at the same time. I don't think I can run for even a minute. lol.

Woo-hoo! I finished. Now I'm going onto a 'fat burner' programme through run-keeper. It has some intervals and gradually increases the times from 30 minutes to 60 minutes of running. However, I plan to 'abandon' the plan for a 10K training plan which ends with a 10K race in July - but that won't kick off til sometime in March.