2014 - C25K - We're all runners!
 

Hey guys, I thought I would start a new thread. I figured we could forego the by the month thread and just have one!

A place to check in, stay accountable and share your C25K's success!

Here are some helpful threads from the past:

Jan C25K - Running Wild

Feb C25K - Running Wild

1st Day-Couch to 5K-I'm a runner! Sept 2013

1st Day-Couch to 5K-I'm a runner!

The Couch to 5k (C25K) Running Plan Thread #2

Starting C25K at a higher weight: C25k? and Couch to 5 K


There are lots of (Free!) C25K Apps out there both for IOS and Andriod!

Zen Labs - C25k

Couch To 5K - By The Active Netowrk

Non-app workout plan here

Some more info

Welcome to C25K! We are all runners now! :running::woops:
__________________

Wednesday I competed W4D2! Woo Today will be D3. I fully intend on repeating this week as I am fairly certain if I try to jogging for 5 minutes 3 times, I will in fact die! :lol:

Sounds like everyone is still chugging along!

Rated and AwShucks - Are you guys ready to dive into to week 5? And I didn't think about it as a combined jogging time before.. I've always just been super stoked to be able to jog for a minute AT ALL! 16 minutes is CRAZY :)

W3 down. I ran two days in a row and regretted it, so never again. Not so much because it hurt, but my legs were SO tired it made the run really unbearable. Then my shins hurt for the rest of the day. So start W4 on Monday, hopefully that will give me a couple of days to rest my legs a bit.

Good luck for your week's coming up everyone!

I am planning on starting W5 on Sunday. I thought I might repeat week 4 but the difference between W4D2 and W4D3 was huge for me. I was struggling on the 5 min sections but yesterday they were definitely doable. Silverfire you might be surprised by the difference as well. But I have repeated a lot of weeks so it could be a good idea.

What I am worried for is W5D2 and W5D3. 8 min running sections and day 3 a 20 min continuous run! I think I might repeat W5D1 for the entire week instead.

Hey Silverfire! I'll be moving on to the infamous week 5 on Monday. Finished wk4 day 3 after work today. I'm doing my best not to listen to my podcasts ahead of time so don't psych myself out and just do what they tell me to do. Week 5 is 3 different scenarios, and I think it might be better to be a surprise! I do know that day 3 is the 20 minute run. Not sure I can do it, but I'll try. I felt today that I might be able to do a little longer than 5 minutes... We'll see.

I'm awfully slow, though. Seriously, people who are speed walking pass me when I'm running! ha! Everything I've read says run as slow as you can -- if you can run slower, you're going too fast. And, I'm running in time with the music provided.... I don't know. I'm just moving and that's a good thing.

My podcasts told me that it added up to 16 minutes. I probably wouldn't have realized that either. It also said that this week we ran for more time than we walked. Now, that's progress! :running:

Hi Lilmiss. Keep up the good work! I'm finding that my legs tire out before the rest of me, too. Surprisingly, catching my breath is not as hard as I imagined, but I have to will my legs to keep moving when I'm nearing the end... I hope that gets easier.

I had lunch with a friend today that I hadn't seen in a while and told her I was "teaching myself to run" -- and she proceeded to tell me that after being a long-time runner herself, she decided that it was too much stress on the body and joints to run and that I could get the same effective workout without putting that much pressure on my body. Ugh! Why couldn't she just say "Way to go! So glad you're being active." I just sat and listened... She really just wanted to talk and didn't ask much about me. So much for "friends." It's so good to have folks like you guys on this forum to "talk to".:hug:

:coffee2:

Hi there; can I come and play? I usually hang out in the 40+ threads, but I've just started "running" so I've been checking out the threads here for warnings/advice.

:running: I downloaded the free version of 5krunner and ran the free bits (4 sessions) in a figure 8 in my living and dining rooms as preparation for running outdoors (because outdoors is NOT flat) and then started over with day one. It was hard, but I did it :)

I plan on repeating a lot, so I should be here for a while, :lol: but hope to be able to run 5k over any terrain (as I said, Switzerland is not flat) by the end of the summer. Just wanted to say 'hi' and thanks for all the helpfull posts and links so far! :carrot:

Hiya! I've been kind of stalking the February thread, and I'm so excited to be able to join you for this new one! I finished C25K after my first kid and was running 3-5 miles a few times a week before I got pregnant again. I had this baby in January and just got cleared by my midwife to start strenuous exercise again, so I can't wait to start running again.

Honestly, I'm kind of nervous this time. I'm about fifteen pounds heavier and in overall worse cardiovascular shape than I was when I did it last time, but hey, repeating the occasional week won't kill me. I'm planning to start W1D1 on Monday. I'm a little disappointed that I'll have to do it on a treadmill for a while, since my only way to get out there without my kids is to take advantage of my gym's free childcare. Treadmills are so much more boring than doing it outside. But still, running is running, and I'm excited to be here. :)

Welcome MagicSusan and BigChiefHoHo! So glad there are others joining us! I don't have anyone "in real life" to discuss running with, as everyone I approached about starting with me a month ago turned me down! And, the few people I've told about my progress aren't supportive or just aren't interested.

Running is so new to me that I'm dying to talk about it! :) One of my most vivid memories of elementary school is huffing and puffing when the coach told us all to "run around the big tree" - maybe half a mile. I was always the last one to make it back to the playground, and I can distinctly remember how my lungs burned as I tried to catch my breath. With that memory, I've NEVER considered running as an adult. It continues to amaze me that I can do it and that it's not killing me! ha!

Best of luck to you both and keep us posted! And, Susan, I'm 48, so we have that in common!

AwShucks Yes! Legs..feel..soooo...heavy!!! I can control my breathing but I can't control my legs. I am also very slow. I'm just concentrating on making it through the running, once I feel more accomplished then I will worry about speeding up. I'm hoping it will get easier both as I get more used to the running + continue to lose weight so I don't have to drag so many excess kgs/lbs around!!!

You Week 5 guys are scaring me!!!! Eek! It is inspirational having people ahead of me... Reminds me that it's doable!

:running: Hi BigChiefHoho & Magicsusan

AwShucks - I don't remember much about running except avoiding it as much as possible. In gym class, whenever we had to run the mile, I would just walk and be the last one to finish because I didn't want to be embarrassed about huffing and puffing after running (and probably being the last one to finish anyway). I was surprised last time to find how much I really liked it.

lilmisschattabox - I'm totally the opposite. My lungs are killing me before my legs feel a thing. And I'm super slow too, but we can always speed up later after we can run for more than a minute or two, right?

Anyway, I just finished w1d1! It was hard, but not as bad as I was expecting. I mean, I finished it! I was kind of expecting to have to work up to it. I'm almost tempted to go a bit harder on the walking portions (I just did 3.0mph) to burn a few more calories, but I think I'm going to wait. It'll get harder on its own soon enough.

May I ask what C25K is. I'm new around here lol

Welcome, ChicaCoy! Couch to 5K is a running (actually more like walk/jog) plan that gradually gets you from sitting on the couch to running 5K in 9 weeks. You can see the outline of the program, here.

Here's another site with an explanation, and the podcasts that I downloaded to guide me through it.

Give it a look. I knew about it for a couple of years before I finally determined I'd give it a try. I'm really amazed that it's doable at my size. I thought runners had to be super light!

W4D1 (can't believe I'm up to W4 already!!)... and it was okay! I just kept my pace slow and steady and I made it through. So I was pretty happy with that :)

BigChiefHoho I really concentrate on my breathing when I'm running (in through nose, out through mouth) and continue to breathe like that when I get to the walking parts, which helps me catch my breath and set me up for the next running portion. It's starting to come automatically now and I haven't had probs with my breathing like I did in the beginning. But yes, I'm definitely waiting until I'm a bit more proficient at the running for a period of time thing before I start speeding up. I figure if I'm moving, it can only be a good thing!!!

Thanks for the links. I will definitely check it out

Well, crud! I went to the gym after work and my ipod was dead! :eek: So, I couldn't start week 5 tonight. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm going to get up early and run before work in the morning. I'm just excited to see if I can do it and also to keep on schedule. I have a strength training class tomorrow after work, so I know I can't do it afterward.

I walked and read on the treadmill tonight, and it's been a while since I've done that. I do a hills program and keep it around 3mph. I did notice that I didn't sweat as much as before. I wanted to run so I could see just how fast my running is, but there were too many people around. It's different when I'm on the track - people don't bother me as much. On the treadmill, I feel like the sound of my feet echoes!

Hope everyone else is doing well! Keep on running!

Hi Awshucks! I often post in the 40s threads, but I try not to join too many cause I can't keep up, lol, but if you ever come over I'm generally there too.
I'm enjoying it so far, but to be honest, that's not very far. I did the first week and a half of c25k in my house, then started over outside- it's a lot harder on "real" ground. I've done two runs up in the forest and I'm reasonably proud of myself. The weather turned, yesterday, and it was cold and gross and drippy, but then I thought, "if I can get through it today, I'll have no excuses in the future (unless they are legitimate, lol)." I also have fairly traumatic memories of running, but that was kind of why I wanted to do it- to try it at my own pace and give myself a chance to suceed, because normally, I wouldn't even try for the bus!

Aaaaand- I had to run a block to get the bus last night and I caught it! Mwa ha ha ha ha, I own that bus now! The bus it MINE ha ha ha ha...

Hello Big Chief and Chattabox and everybody... I hope to see you often over the next several months :D

Ugh - I tried to repeat W4D3 yesterday and just couldn't do it. It was a new treadmill, it was really different than the other ones I had been using. The speeds seem totally different, what felt like decent walking pace on the other one was 2.8-3.4 while the new one I was walking at 4.5-5.5 and jogging at 7. I should have a closer look at the settings today maybe. So many buttons to push!

Hope everyone else is keeping on keeping on!!! :D :D

W1D2 down! I'm feeling good about completing this week on schedule and moving on to the next one. I was afraid I'd have to repeat the first few weeks, but I'm thinking that won't be an issue (until things get harder around week 5, anyway...).

lilmisschattabox - Good call on the breathing. I tried to focus on that today, and it helped quite a bit.

AwShucks - How'd your early morning workout go? I always hate getting up in the morning to exercise, but it makes me feel AWESOME for the rest of the day.

Magicsusan - I did mine outside today instead of on the treadmill, and you're totally right. MUCH harder! But it was also a lot easier for me to stay motivated and felt like it went by a bit faster because of the changing scenery. All in all, I'd say outside is better, I think.

Well, I lied. I did not run early this morning. We had freezing rain overnight and it was just too cold to get out of bed! But, I did the first run of week 5 tonight. I missed the beginning of my strength training class (most of the leg work) so I just went right on to the track afterward. My podcasts repeatedly say this is a mind game, and they're right -- you just gotta get through each step.

Rated How are you doing with week 5?

Magicsusan, Yay for catching that bus! Isn't it great that running can be put to good use!? I'm going to imagine your Swiss forest while I'm going round and round on the track at my gym. :)

Silverfire When my gym got new treadmills, I asked to see one of the manuals so I could figure things out. No one was there to explain things... how are we supposed to know how to use a new machine?!

lilmisschattabox Yay for Week 4! 9 weeks sounded like LONG time in the beginning, didn't it? We're about half way finished!

BigChiefHoho You're movin' on... week one will be over before you know it!

Magicsusan – That must be so nice running in the forest you must have some awesome scenery for your run; even if it is cold and drippy. Sometimes I feel so bored stuck on my treadmill.

Silverfire – That is tough not knowing the correct pace on a new treadmill. I have noticed even walking/jogging at a slightly faster pace than what I am used to really makes a difference near the end of the workout. At least now you know if you use that treadmill again to slow it down a bit.

BigChiefHoho – Congrats on finishing W1D2. Nothing wrong with repeating weeks (I have done it a few times), but it is so cool to see your body complete tasks you didn’t think were possible. I am sure you will continue to surprise yourself as you continue through the program.

AwShucks – I do not blame you for skipping the early run, especially a morning after freezing rain.. Good for you though not skipping it entirely and getting it done! What did you think of week 5 day 1?

I planned to reapeat W5D1 a few times but I didn’t find the three 5 min runs too bad so today I moved on to W5D2. It was HARD! The first 8 min section was okay but about 5 mins into the second 8 min section I thought I was going to die. I completed W5D2 but I don’t think I am ready for day 3 yet. I am going to repeat day 2 at least two more times so that I am better prepared for the 20 min run.

Silverfire, I'm sorry about the dead i-pod; music and a little voice saying "run, now!" are a fantastic motivator. I always say "yes sir, drill sergeant" when the voice tells me to run. Don't worry, mostly I say it inside my head. I've never been on a treadmill- I find buttons really intimidating :D and am taking advantage of our lack of winter. Good luck figuring it out- I don't envy you!

BigChiefHoHo and AwwShucks, like I just told Silverfire, I've never even been on a treadmill. Running through the forest is the ultimate goal, anyway- but I want to be in good enough shape to enjoy it, lol. And you're right about motivation- I love looking at the moss and trees and stuff. I can totally see why a treadmill works for some people (convenience if you have small kids who are napping, no weather worries- because, as I said, we haven't had much of a winter. If I even *think* there might be ice on the ground, I am not going running) but at the moment, the forest is really working for me :) If I had had freezing rain, I would have been doing some exercises in the living room or waiting for it to clear up too!

And, Rated- I don't know how to post pictures here (other than my avatar) but it's really nice. Fresh air when you're struggling to inhale enough is goooood! Will you be able to run outside when the weather starts to behave? Meanwhile, I'm trying not to let your reports of week five scare me, lol

So, I just did week1, day3 today. I thought I was going to die, because I was so knackered and I hadn't even heard the voice that says "you're half was through" yet, so I pulled out my iphone and lo and behold, I just hadn't heard it! I only had one more one minute run to do and I did it!

WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!
:carrot:

About breathing, though; it's not too much of a problem, but my left nostril slams shut if I inhale too hard, which doesn't help. I went to and ENT who said the surgery needed to correct it is pretty invasive, so I'm taking it easy and trying to improve my cardio capacity to the point where I'm not snorting air so much.:(

My other option is to wear one of those charming plastic thingies that keeps one's nostrils open. No.

Magicsusan - If your avatar is a picture of where you run I am very jealous it is so green! My favourite thing during the running sections is to look at my ipod and see that there is less time than I anticipated left makes me feel hopeful :)

I have thought about running outside once it warms up (-30 to -10 right now) but it is all dirt roads which get very muddy in the spring. I have signed up for a 5k so I want to have some practice running outside before since I know I will find that more difficult.

And don't let my reports of week 5 scare you. Honestly I have a love hate relationship with this program but seeing what I have been able to accomplish in such a short time amazes me! I can't believe the difference between now and week 1.

On week 7 now. I have been taking my time, should have finished by now but happy to enjoy a week or bi weekly run as I love to walk and ride too.
Never thought I could run 25 minutes.

Haven't been able to get in a run yet this week. Met again with a trainer yesterday and by the time she was done with me, there was no way in h3ll I was going to run! I'm going to attempt a W4 repeat today.

It totally agree, Rated! W5D1's 5-minute runs were a piece of cake compared to the next day's 8-minute runs. I felt the same as you on W5D2. I actually had people say I looked tired when I was leaving the gym. I was beat! It was the first time I actually thought I might not be able to move in the morning. But, surprisingly, I felt really well today and had lots of energy.

I'm going to attempt the 20 minutes tomorrow night. Not sure I can do it, but then... I have felt that way before every new routine presented so far. We'll see. You guys are the first ones I'll tell if I make it! Or, I might shout it from the rooftops!:carrot:

:welcome2: noshoes Way to go on running 25 minutes! Keep us posted on your progress. It will be nice to have advice from someone ahead of the pack.

Bah! I was all ready to do another repeat of W4, started the app and was on my way. About halfway through I realized I was on W5D2!!! OMG!! It was about 4 minutes into the 8 minute run that I just couldn't handle it anymore! I Might as well dive right in to W5D1 next week! I'm going to have to switch up my running days to offset training days I think. There is no way I will be able to both!

:kickcan:

Had a rather discouraging run today; various app misfunctions that resulted in my not hearing the voice prompts, so I was just sort of randomly walking and running, then, when I got that sorted, I didn't realize the app had re-selected the day! I was just thinking that the 90 seconds of week two didn't seem any longerthan the 60 on week one... I had done w1 d3 again instead of w2 d1 :(

I ran a little extra and even uphill some, but I was already miserable because all I have to run in are capris, and it was freezing this morning, literally. I never managed to properly warm up and my calves felt tight and crampy. Pooh. :mad:

Rated, yes, that's my forest. I embrace the mud! :dizzy:

No shoes, lol on 25 minutes; I wouldn't survive 3 at this point, I don't think!

wow, Awwshucks. You're scaring me! I am going to be sooo thrashed when I get past week three!

Silverfire- I guess I'm not the only one with app problems. Mine seems to refuse to play nicely with my map my run :(

Next week, I'll try week 2 properly, but later in the day. I went running first thing and it was really cold! In the afternoons, it's supposed to be 10c or more and sunny. Have a good weekend, everyone!

Yay, C25K thread! I like the ongoing threads better than monthly. There is such a wealth of information. Thank you for posting all the links in the first post! So helpful.

[Background... I did a lot of lot of LOT of research when I first did the program in 2009. I completed it, then fell off the running wagon. I only ran sporadically after that, mostly as High Intensity Interval Training (60-90 second sprints). I decided I needed a regular, sustained, form of exercise - then I realized how OUT OF SHAPE I was on a hike with friends - so I went through the program again in mid-December.]

I finished a couple of weeks ago (did two 30-min runs on a treadmill, all previously were outside).

:carrot::jig::cb::dance::dancer::broc::yay: :woohoo:

Then..................

I fell off the wagon again. I didn't run for nearly 2 weeks. BOOOOOOO What is UP with that? :?:

I "ran" to the gym last night, thinking I could get close to 30 min in before my class ... NOOOOOOOPE. I ran around 8 minutes and was pooped. That's what 2 weeks off got me.

SO - I think I am going to have to repeat some weeks to build back up to 30 minutes. I'm thinking the 10' + 10' combo is a good place to start. But yeah, even 8 minutes was exhausting so maybe I should go back to the 5'+5'+5' (W5D1?).

Then, once I get through the program again, I have to inspire myself to want to run 30 minutes at a time. C25K is fun, like a game, or at least a challenge to overcome. Somehow I have to find this appeal in everyday running. My plan was to just run 30 minutes at a time, working on speed but clearly I didn't follow through.

I don't want to run further than 5K (and I never got close to 5K [3.1 miles], I ran maybe 2.25 miles in 30 minutes) ... So a 10K training is not of interest to me. One idea is to go through the entire program again, running "faster" but that is hard to judge if I don't do it on a treadmill. I suppose I could figure out how to use a tracking app to determine my speed.

Anyway, not sure of my exact plan yet, but I am getting back on the C25K wagon! I'm pretty sure I won't have time to run today because of work :( but I will get out there ASAP and check in here regularly. Y'all lovely C25Kers are very inspirational!

oh and sorry to hear about the app malfunctions! I have had my share for sure and I am so dependent on 1) my music and 2) my lady's voice prompts (even for the 30-minute runs) that I have just given up when one or the other doesn't cooperate. Sad but true. Someday I hope to be a "real" (ish) runner again, like I used to be, able to just run without tunes :p

Hi everybody! Guess what? I DID IT!! I ran for 20 minutes! :woohoo:
Really, minutes 3-8 were the hardest. I thought, "What the heck made me think I could do this?! It seems endless, and my legs are already SO tired." And, then, I don't really know what happened. Maybe I got into "my stride" and it was just predictable - methodical - know what I mean? "Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and you'll get through this.." My podcasts are so inspirational -- the lady kept saying I could do it, and I believed her!

I measured my distance by counting the laps around the track, and I ran just over 1 mile in 20 minutes (11 1/2 laps, and 11 is a mile). That tells you how slowly I run! ha! But, dog gone it, I RUN!!! I still can't believe it...

Y'all, don't let the coming weeks intimidate you. YOU CAN DO IT! The program is proven, and if all the people who have completed it can do it, we can, too. Every week I'm not sure I can do it, but somehow I do.

Sorry you guys are having technical difficulties. The one day my ipod cratered, I couldn't run. I didn't even attempt it. I NEED my inspiration!

Silverfire It definitely helps to schedule what you'll do and when. I run Mon, Wed & Fri and do strength training on Tue & Thu, and a barre class (i guess it's light weights & resistance training) on Wed before I run. Weekends, I rest. This week, because of the ipod problem, I ran Tue & Wed, following my workout, and by late Wed, I was toast! But, on Thursday, I just did strength training and recovered enough to run today.

:welcome: Emma I agree. The program is like a game to me, too, and a huge personal challenge. I've wondered what I will do upon graduation, when I don't have a plan. I don't think I want to run more distance, either, but I do want to have a reason to keep on running. I definitely need to work on speed, but I haven't read a lot about how to do that. Guess I'll have to do more research. Once we're all through, maybe we can hold each other accountable for running 3x/week no matter how long, far or fast we do it. We could be our own little runners club!

Congrats AwShucks!!!! I am so excited to hear that the 20 min run went well for you. I still think I will repeat W5D2 but I at least now I know someone who survived W5D3!

So I just finished Week 1! Not much to report. It went fine, and I'm really excited to start week 2 on Monday. :)

EmmaD - I had a similar problem last time I finished C25K. I always do SO much better when I've got a plan to follow. Maybe you could try something like this and focus on setting new PRs for the 5k?

AwShucks - Congrats! 20 minutes is AWESOME, no matter how fast you do it!

BigChiefHoho - Congrats on finishing week 1. Keep us posted on how week 2 goes.

So I got on the treadmill tonight with the intention of repeated W5D2 since I had found the second 8 min run so difficult. Then I thought that instead of repeating day 2 I would jog for as much of the 20 mins as I could then walk for 3 mins and then finish the rest of the 20 mins.

I wanted to assess myself to see how long I would be able to go for so I knew how many more times I would have to repeat day 2 before I was ready to attempt the 20 min jog.

Well I completed the 20 min jog! and it wasn't that bad. I actually found it easier than the 8 min runs because I wasn't waiting for my break (I knew it wasn't coming).

Thank you AwShucks for posting about completing the 20 min run. It was actually your post that made me think that I might as well give it a try and see how far I could go for.

Okay, getting frustrated with my app now. I'm wondering if MapMyRun and 5krunner are just fundamentally incompatible, because today I think it ate a couple of run sequences. I think it ate the first one completely, and the second one literally told me to stop running about 15 seconds after it told me to start.
Poop.
OTOH:
I ran for ninety seconds. It was so much harder than 60! I was like, "hey, who poured the cement in my lungs?!"
BUT:
I did it. :carrot:

EmmaD, those voice prompts are like Forrest Gump's drill sergeant aren't they? I'm like, "I will do it for YOU, disembodied voice!" lol. but it really helps, doesn't it?

Oh, Wow! Awwshucks, that's fantastic! You're an inspiration to me, that's for sure. The idea of failing scares the heck out of me, but then I remember that the only run I need to worry about is the next one, and if for some reason I conk out, I'll just repeat it, no problem. That keeps me going, and I'm sure I'll get to 20min someday!

Bigchiefhoho, just make sure next week when you do week two it's actually week two, and not w1d3 again like I did, lol! I've got to get my bloody aps sorted!

Rated, I guess it's possible that the 8 minutes you did primed you for the 20 minutes, right?
Also, I just have good days and bad days, days when I'm feeling weaker and days when I've got more energy, so perhaps everything just came together on your 20min day! congrats!

See you all on Wednesday. I'm just ploddin' along, here....

Well, I was moving through this program. I've lost my weight, and was taking about a month for each week on the program. (So, three months to reach week 3 of the program). That's because despite being active, my knees, glutes, and hips were very weak.

I just took a 25th wedding anniversary trip, and have been actively doing my physical therapy to improve knees and hips. But, the walking in Greece, combined with my overzealous dedication to the gym, has HURT my hips pretty bad.

I will be resuming low load exercises, laying off the squats and single leg deadlifts, clamshells, lunges etc... for a couple more weeks, and try to get my hips to not be angry any more. I'll reintroduce the lighter resistance exercises first.

If you haven't been a runner, and are over 50, even if you're fit and active, the C25K program can be hard, or even impossible, until you build up your hips, glutes, and quads.

I pass this discouraging story on, because sometimes its 2 steps forward, one step back.

I need to do PT much longer, before I restart this program. The good thing, is it let me know that the treadmill - unlike the elliptical - can give me much better feedback on how my glutes and hips are doing. The downside, is overuse of can QUICKLY - really quickly - lead to hip bursitis.

This sucks, frankly. Healing is slow.

Just finished w2d1! A lot harder than week one, even though it's not actually that much more running in total. I wish I had a nice little disembodied voice to pump me up. Staring at the second hand on my husband's watch is way less fun.

So, I've been looking at 5k races that happen around the end of my 9 weeks (optimistic, ain't I?), and the choices are a leeeetle bit overwhelming. Do I want to support the women's shelter? Lupus research? Kids with blood-clotting disorders? Tough choice! Leaning toward the kids, though, because their race has a t-shirt and is close to home. And scenic. I like scenic.

But anyway, my problem is that one of the races that I'm looking at is at the end of April, though, which'll be in week 8 of c25k. On the one hand, I love the park it's in (wetlands preserve, very pretty) and it's supposed to be a really great race. On the other hand, I won't have actually run 5k yet by that time. What would you do? Risk having to walk, or wait for a later race to be sure I can run it all?

Way to go on the 20-minute run, Rated! Always nice to find yourself capable of something you never expected.

Magicsusan - Did w2d1 today, and holy crap you're right. 90 seconds feels ten times as long as 60 seconds. But hey, we did it, yeah?

delmarva - So sorry you're injured! That really sucks. Sounds like you've got a decent plan for moving forward, though. And Greece sounds like it'd be amaaaazing.

Hi y'all! Looks like everyone is moving on! Rated, you must feel great. Doesn't 20 minutes feel like you finished a marathon?! Way to go!

Yes, MagicSusan, I think I definitely have good days and bad days, too, as each week gets harder, but that lets us know we're progressing, right? Hang in there everybody.

Delmarva brought up some points that really needed to be made. Everyone will not have the same experience on this program. If you try it, keep an eye on your body's reaction to the stress of running. I never dreamed I could run. I was sure it would be too strenuous for my joints. But, so far, it's not. Please keep in mind that "your mileage may vary."

Tonight I moved on to W6D1 -- 5 min walk, 5 run, 3 walk, 8 run, 3 walk, 5 run, 5 walk. Honestly, I was expecting this to be a piece of cake, but it wasn't. I have no way of knowing for sure, but I think I upped my speed a bit, and it was definitely warm in the gym today (no AC on), and I felt a little more winded as I continued. I completed it, but found myself having to catch my breath a little more during the walk segments. No one said it would be easy, right? :)

:hug: Delmarva, I'm so sorry you're being plagued! It's really demoralizing when you've made the decision to get a healthier lifestyle and you have to fight with all these unhealthy setbacks! I did do a *lot* of research (since I'm still 235lbs/106k) because I didn't want to knacker my joints. It still seems to be a bit of a crap shoot, though, doesn't it? There always seems to be someone who took no precautions and started running in their Chucks at 300lbs who has no problems, and someone else who does everything right and still does damage :?: I hope you get it all sorted out quickly, and can stay active while you heal!

Big Chief Hoho, I live with the hope that w2d2 will be survivable since we have done w2d1 and lived to tell the tale! :lol: As for the races, why wait? I would go for the pretty one, it sounds like an amazing experience and who gives a turkey if you have to walk some of it? You can run it again next year, and compare your times!

Tomorrow is my next run. I weighed in this morning; lost the 300g I had gained before last weigh-in. :( I feel like my muscle/fat composition is changing, but all the same, I'm dragging around about 100 extra pounds and I'd really love to see some of it go! :cry:

See you all tomorrow after w2d2 :yikes::faint:

I appreciate all the concern expressed here.
I shared my story, because actually I have gotten quite fit over the last year. After losing the weight, I swim twice a week, play water polo another night, and use the rowing machine, elliptical and free weights on other days. Even got my resting heart rate down from 74 to 59! I do interval training twice a week - so I didn't have problems with huffing and puffing on the C25K program.

But, that made no difference to my poor hips.

I should have known I'd have these problems when I first tried using a treadmill. Elliptical machine - no problem. Treadmill - it made my hips hurt.

My physical therapist, after totally rehabbing my 2 shoulders (multiple cuff tears), had just started working on my knees and hips with me.... one problem at a time. So it was my OVER-EXUBERANCE to undertake C25K, before building up muscle strength in those joints.

So, if you feel an ache in your hips, even if you're otherwise fit, you may want to sidestep, and build up your glutes, hamstrings, knees and hips first. Runner's magazines focus on this a lot, so it's no surprise.

Don't do like me, and decide to push it too much. The ache is a good warning sign. I should not have been fooled that being fit in other ways meant I could ignore the hip pain.

I'll be back!!!!! The exercises were working; I was just pretending I was 20 years old again, I guess.

Hey everyone, checking in.

I'm still hung up on day 1 of W5. Now that I am working with a trainer, I don't seem to have it in me to go for a run after that! Imagine that ;) I'm planning on trying to get running in on alternate days now. I will get past day 1 of W5!!!

I'm glad to see everyone else still trucking along :)