Thanks for the support ShrinkingMama and Softballmom! I haven't really advertised that I was doing this running program with people I know, so it's nice to share here with people that understand. Only one more week of walking/running intervals before moving on to the straight running. For those of you in week 7 through 9 - does the straight running get easier? Have you noticed any difference in your body - strength, shape, overall fitness?

Softballmom - Yes, I am signed up for the Irongirl 5k at the end of September. I signed up with my mother. She's never done anything like this (nor have I) and has asked me a few times if I would stay with her. After talking her into this in the first place, I don't want to leave her to take off running. I will walk with her on this race, but there are other races coming up in my area. Two in early September, one in October, and two in December. I have been thinking about running in one of these races.

Webweevil, After last night I'm not sure they get easier, but our heads are better equipped to remember that we have done long runs before and we can do it.

Did Day 1 of Week 7. Temperatures were cooler (upper 80s vs mid 90s) but humidity was a killer. I ended up breaking my run into two segments. 1 mile at 12 minutes, then walked about 3 minutes and drank some H20, then completed another mile again at 12 minutes. The program calls for 2.5 miles in 25 minutes, so I'm just a little behind on my speed. In order to get the program's mileage I would have to run 10 minute miles. It's possible eventually, but the humidity and thick air doesn't help.

Ok, so week 5 is completely messing with my head. I don't know what the heck happened but all of the sudden, all of my confidence and energy were gone about 15 minutes in (halfway through running segment number 2). I got off the treadmill and did 15 minutes of cycling just to make sure i get at least 30 min of cardio today, but i am going to try my run again later in the gym at my apartment complex, it is almost always empty. I started feeling so self concious today at the Y, i think that is a big part of my problem. It isnt as though i feel like i am the heaviest or the ugliest or whatever, but I feel so embarassed that someone as young as I am (22) is not in good shape and is overweight. I think I have a mental block about losing weight, ive been as low as 140, and that was as recently as last year. I just feel really shitty about getting myself back this heavy again (although not as heavy as my all time high)

Darn Softballmom! I was hoping you would tell me it gets easier. :^:

I am going to get through the 9 weeks using time completed and not worry about distance. After I am able to run the full 30 minutes without difficulty, then I will work on covering the 3.1 miles.

Week 6 day 1 with its 5,8,5 minute runs complete. I swear, today was harder than the 20 minute run. I was still feeling that run in my hips, so that may have made today's run harder. :?:

Susie Sunshine - are you out there? You were so gung-ho about running. I hope you haven't hurt yourself.

eadavenp - I wish I knew what to say to help, but...... I do understand. I am exercising inside and prefer to run when no one else is at home. I am still slower than I want to be and don't want to give others a chance to laugh at my running.

Everybody else - please check in soon. We worry.

eadavenp - It's true those mid weeks play a lot with your head. Which day are you on? My advice is do what you can do then try to push out an extra little bit whether that be distance or time UNLESS you are experiencing pain. Discomfort is okay and normal. Look back how far you've come, as well. You're doing great! I believe (and have read somewhere) that some days running is 90% mind. I think training our minds helps us in the long run when we "don't feel like it" but do it anyway.

webweevil - Sorry to burst your anticipation of easier runs. They're not easier, but they're not as hard either - remember the 90 sec runs we balked at. They're enough to push you and continue to train your mind (see above's response to eadavenp), and I feel much more accomplished when I finish - even when I had to split them up. I really never thought I would be here.

Hello runners!

I am so excited to share this with you. My husband has had the computer tied up for two hours so I've been bouncing off the walls to share. I did Week 9 Day 1 today and I ran 3.1 miles in 34:28 minutes! I ran 5k!! It was such an emotional moment. I feel so good! My kids got really excited.

Softballmom - You are really moving now! You're doing great! I am running a 5k on Oct. 29th. It's one of the side activities during the Detroit Free Press Marathon. I think it's going to be a lot of fun. After c25k graduation I plan to work on increasing my speed.

Webweevil - Does it get any easier? Somewhat. I'm interested to see how I feel about that in another month or so. Running has really changed my body. My overall fitness has really improved. I can walk a 14 minutes mile now and carry a conversation. There is no way I could do that before. The changes are exciting. You're doing great!

Eadavenp - Don't let the head games get to you. Just keep going. I think by only letting a day or two go between running it helps to keep the confindence levels up.

I'm off for a mini vacation. I'll check in Friday. Happy running!

:bravo: and Congratulations to Shrinking Mama! Out of the small group that started together weeks ago, I think you crossed the finish line first! How exciting for you. I totally agree that running has greatly improved my fitness level, too.
So by the end of the week we'll be humming Pomp and Circumstance as you graduate - good going!

I'm with you on working on the speed after I graduate. It looks like you run a little faster (11 minute/mile) to my 12 minutes. Are you planning on moving along and running every day with short and long runs as we see some of the more advanced runners doing? Or what?

Wow Shrinking Mama well done for achieving your goal! You give me confidence that someday I might get there too! Well done!

Any top tips for us newbies?

YAY shrinking mama - well done :carrot: :carrot: :carrot:

And well done everyone else as well.

Eadavenp - don't let yourself get down over the running. I had a pretty hard week at week 4, something was just making it more difficult, but you will get through this and move forward to some easier running - although not easy for quite some while yet I suspect!

Finn - we've all been there when 3 minutes was so tough that our bodies just wanted to stop so just keep at it

Softballmom - Way to go on 12 minute miles :cool:

Well I'm still off running, and still in pain from my heels. I think they are getting a bit better, but not good yet. I've been cycling to compensate which I really enjoy, but I'm not sure it is such good preparation for this race on 3rd Sept! I'm wondering whether to just go back to running despite the pain and see what happens. I don't want to make it worse, as I'm going off for the trip of a lifetime in October, 7-8 months of travelling round South America and I REALLY want to walk the Inca Trail. If the pain isn't too bad on Sunday I'll attempt a run, and only continue on beyond that if it is no worse afterwards.

Anyway, despite no running, I am so much fitter than I was a couple of months ago. On Tuesday I cycled up a long hill I've always had to walk before. I felt like I might die - I think my heart rate would have been WAY over the maximum I should push it to and I was literally gasping for breath for some time afterwards - but I did it. It is great that we are all getting fitter. Soon we'll be passing all those skinny ladies as we race in 5Ks!

Keep on running everyone!

Last night was my off night from the program, but in order to get some cardio in, I tried running my neighborhood. To set you up visually, my block is a little less than 1 mile all the way around and very hilly with the final hill just before my house a steep incline! Before I started the C25K program I tried to jog to see how far I could go, which wasn't very far at the time. However, last night I surpassed my earlier achievements and even climbed THE hill by jogging. It actually felt like I was jogging in place for most of it, but I made it up the hill! My total family was impressed - my kids walk and (try to) ride their bikes up this hill, so they know the challenge.

Ladies, this makes those 90sec, 3 minute, and eventual 25 minute runs worth it! When my 12yo athletic dd smiles and all she has to say is "wow" - I'm my own hero.

I hope you established runners don't mind a newbie joining in. I am going on Wk2D1. Week one went really well, I was not nearly as winded as I expected to be so that can only mean that I am in some kind of shape. A lot better shape than I was in at the first of the year. Anyway, I do have a question. When you started, did you adhere to the 20 minute schedule on C25K? I went way farther than that last night, and my legs were just like jello. No real pain, just real sore. I can't even imagine being able to run 3 miles, but I guess that will come. If you have any other advice to give, it would be appreciated!

Hi Cheryl.
Firstly, welcome! Secondly, congratulations on getting to wonderland and thirdly, rest assured that this thread will welcome you with open arms!

I'm on w3 d3 and going strong so far. I'm not really in the position to offer running advice yet so I'll leave that to the more advanced program members...I know that I have been adhering to the program recommendations even if I feel fit enough to do more, I've no desire to do myself an injury by advancing too fast! I do also take a rest day in between and don't do any running/jogging on that day...but may swim or yoga etc...

keep in touch!

:welcome3: HadEnough! Glad you joined us over here.

Regarding your question, I had the same question early on as well and I went over to the CoolRunner's forum and posed the question. I was advised by a C25K runner that I should only do what the program calls for because the runs do get harder. Now I understand what she meant.

Up until this week, I only ran every other day. My routine has changed somewhat due to my wanting to get more cardio days in each week and setting goals for when I've outrun the C25K program. So on my off days I'm going to walk/run once around my neighborhood which is less than a mile but with a different terrain (asphalt, hills) from what I usually run on program days (flat, softer tracks). If you would like to do more, may I suggest what was advised me: do cross-training on your off days such as swimming, biking, and/or walking. As I started repeating weeks I would push a little more out of myself and modify the repeat runs for a little more distance or a few more minutes just to build up for the next week. This seemed to work for me.

I would say pay attention to your body. There is a definite difference between good discomfort and pain, signaling danger. Also, remember to have a good warm up (5 minute brisk walk) and I throw in some light stretches after the walk which, for me, seem to help before I start the running. Afterwards, always stretch out good and gentle (don't bounce). And I am an advocate for a good pair of running shoes. At the beginning of the C25K program I was using an older pair of walking shoes with many miles on them. Once I made the investment of new running shoes, my runs and endurance improved.

First off, way to go Shrinking Mama!:carrot:

Softballmom, about cross training on the days not running - you mentioned walking. Up until last week, I was walking on the days I was not running. I stopped because I started thinking - doesn't walking use the same muscles as running? If so, walking on the off days isn't giving your leg muscles a rest. Does anybody know for sure if walking and running are using the same muscles?

Good question webweevil. I'm not sure that I can answer it because I thought the same thing through that you did regarding using the same leg muscles when you walk. The only thing that I can think is that while it does use the same muscles, it is gentler on them. As does bicycling and even swimming to a degree. I'm up for someone with more knowledge instead of my guesswork to answer.

(Maybe a more advanced runner is lurking here, or you can pose the question over on Cool Runners forum, too)