Hey there ladies! I did my 1st 25 minute run yesterday and I have to say it went pretty well. I really didn't think I could do it, but I made it. The bad thing now is that when I finished I had only gone 2.1 miles. The paperwork says 25 minutes or approx 2.5 miles. I guess the way they have us with time and distance we should actually be running (the whole time) at 6.0 mph. That's way too fast for me. I'm able to pace myself in the high 4s, but no way could I do 6.0 for the full 3 miles. UGH! I'm going to try and up the pace a bit on Monday and see how I feel.

Keep it up everyone! Where's all the Friday check-ins??

Kim..Did you do the 25 minutes?? Next week is 3-25 minute runs I think and then 28 minutes and then 30 minutes! Let's go! :)

Originally Posted by Rocki:
Hey there ladies! I did my 1st 25 minute run yesterday and I have to say it went pretty well. I really didn't think I could do it, but I made it. The bad thing now is that when I finished I had only gone 2.1 miles. The paperwork says 25 minutes or approx 2.5 miles. I guess the way they have us with time and distance we should actually be running (the whole time) at 6.0 mph. That's way too fast for me. I'm able to pace myself in the high 4s, but no way could I do 6.0 for the full 3 miles. UGH! I'm going to try and up the pace a bit on Monday and see how I feel.

Keep it up everyone! Where's all the Friday check-ins??

Kim..Did you do the 25 minutes?? Next week is 3-25 minute runs I think and then 28 minutes and then 30 minutes! Let's go! :)

Rocki--way to go!!!! I am so proud of you for finishing the 25 minute run, and for saying it wasn't too bad--that gives me hope! I wouldn't worry a bit about the distance, just run for time. Use distance as a new challenge once the time gets easier.

I haven't done the 25 minutes :( My gym schedule got kind of screwed up last week b/c I tried a bunch of classes. On Wednesday I did the two 10 minute runs (almost :o) so on Thursday I wasn't ready to do a 25 minute run. I only had 15 minutes of treadmill time before a class and I ran for about 6 of that.

About my classes--it was really fun to add more variety to the gym routine! On Wednesday I did pilates--one class member called it turbo pilates--and it was pretty hard core. I also did a Zumba class that morning, which is a latin-style dance aerobics. I'm glad I tried it, but I'm not coordinated or cool enough to do this class again :D On Thursday, I did a toning class that rocked--lots of lunges, plus arms and abs work. After toning, I did Turbo Kick which was a lot like the old taebo videos. It was really fun and a heck of a workout. I am more sore today than I was on Friday! Still on my list to try: a different pilates class and yoga classes. I'll definitely be back to toning and turbo kick.

I'm going to the gym tomorrow and will attempt the 25 minute run then. I know I can do it....right? I'll also do a full weights routine since I didn't do much of that last week w/ all the classes.

Ok, I attemped the 25 minute run today but didn't make it. I made myself run a full mile, so I ended up doing about a 13 min. jog, followed by 3 min walk, then another 8 minute jog. I KNOW I'm capable of it, but I think I have a mental problem right now where I can't force myself to get there. I remember how all powerful I felt after the 20 minute run, and I'd love to feel that way again.

Not sure where to go from here...I may just keep repeating week 6 until I finally complete the 3rd day (w/ the 25 min. run), OR I'm considering working backwards and picking up the pace on the runs. The shorter runs would be sprints--so it would be more like the high intensity interval training that is supposed to be so great.

I don't know--I still want to feel like I've completed the challenge of the program. If I could just get that runner's high I'd probably never stop! Maybe it was just an off day.

Everyone seems to being doing great! Congrats to all who keep moving! I did week 3 day 1 today and for the first time my run at 4.0 seemed more like a power walk. I felt pretty good after I was finished. I felt like I could have kept going, but I have always been obsessive in my past weightloss attempts where I push everything to extremes until I get burned out and quit. I promised myself I wasn't going to do that....although I also did 30 minutes of wii fit this morning...so I guess my rule will be "no more than an hour of intentional exercise a day!" In my past, when weightloss would start to slow down (or if I just wanted to push myself harder) I would workout 2-3 hours a day. I can't live a normal life like that!!!

Kim..I know what you mean. I'm not sure if I can keep up the pace in the program. I really want to, but I'm not serious with the 5K b/c I just don't like running outside. I want to be able to do it inside, on a treadmill. Do they have those kinds of races? They should:). I didn't run Saturday or Sunday and should go today but am fighting an awful stomach ache. Each moment I feel like I can get up and go (I need to go to the store) my stomach starts to hurt again. This came on all of a sudden at lunch time. Therefore, I probably won't go today and that means I need to get my butt in there tomorrow.

Bonnie..What do you do with the Wii? I have a FIT that I got MONTHS ago and still haven't taken out of the package. I hear it's great, but I'm lazy and I know once I open it my kids will want it all the time and dh is NOT a big video game fan, so even though it will be exercise, I think he'll get mad if we're using it all the time:). Do you have yours on tile, carpet, what? Mine is set up in our playroom which is upstairs and carpeted. I'm not sure how it will work on the carpet as oppossed to a hard floor that's more stable.

Originally Posted by Rocki:
Kim..I know what you mean. I'm not sure if I can keep up the pace in the program. I really want to, but I'm not serious with the 5K b/c I just don't like running outside. I want to be able to do it inside, on a treadmill. Do they have those kinds of races? They should:). I didn't run Saturday or Sunday and should go today but am fighting an awful stomach ache. Each moment I feel like I can get up and go (I need to go to the store) my stomach starts to hurt again. This came on all of a sudden at lunch time. Therefore, I probably won't go today and that means I need to get my butt in there tomorrow.

Bonnie..What do you do with the Wii? I have a FIT that I got MONTHS ago and still haven't taken out of the package. I hear it's great, but I'm lazy and I know once I open it my kids will want it all the time and dh is NOT a big video game fan, so even though it will be exercise, I think he'll get mad if we're using it all the time:). Do you have yours on tile, carpet, what? Mine is set up in our playroom which is upstairs and carpeted. I'm not sure how it will work on the carpet as oppossed to a hard floor that's more stable.

since I started MRC, the only activity I have done on the wii fit is called Free Step (you have to work to unlock it by doing step aerobics game) It will then allow you to do free step. I just wear my ipod and the game counts my steps. For ever 100 steps I change how I step. At first I step up and down from behind the Fit platform, then the next 100 steps I "stradle step" the platform and the next 100 I step on an off from in front of the step and step backwards onto it. I hope that makes since. I usually get over 3000 (yes three thousand) steps in 30 minutes. The game counts every time each foot steps on or off of the platform. I use mine on carpet but you can use it on any type floor (although I think if I was using hardwood or tile I would put a mat down) The nice thing is that the platform is the size of a bathroom scales so you wouldn't have to leave it out all the time. I think once you tried the Wii Fit you won't want to stop! I used to do it all the time last summer...I was obsessed and before I knew it I was spending 2 hours a day on that thing (plus I was doing the c25k back then too)

I finished Week 5 Day 1 yesterday. It went great and I'm surprised that I haven't felt any problems with my knees or feet yet! The true test will be Friday's run of 20 minutes without stopping. Not sure I can do it but I'm going to try. If it's too much I'll just repeat week 5 next week since I kind of jumped ahead in the beginning. Good luck to everyone on their runs this week!

Woo hoo....I can start exercising again today! I have decided to make it easier on myself that I will restart week 1 day 1 on Sunday. I can't wait!!

I spoke too soon about Mondays run being more like a speedwalk at 4.0 because today it was killing me. Mondays are always the easiest for some reason (must be the two day rest).

A friend of mine of Facebook mentioned that she is training for her first 5k. I unfortunately mentioned that I was doing this program and now she wants me to do the race with her...its April 19th. If it were any other friend I would concider it (even tho I would be in dead last place) but this friend is MAYBE 100lbs soak and wet. I haven't seen her in years and she has no idea I put on 100lbs (I gained one of her!). Although I have already lost 31, and I know by April I will have lost more, but dont know if I should say yes or no...or just wait until closer to the deadline to give her an answer. He husband will also be running and from what she says, he will be way ahead of her.

Originally Posted by dla:
Gina...I know that with hiking shoes if your toenails are bruising they would say that your shoes are too short. Is that a possibility?

No, I actually have good wiggle room and slide a little bit when running at 6mph. I went and cut my toenails really short - and hoped this wouldn't worsen the problem. Well, now they're not sandle ready, but it didn't hurt today!!

I completed day 2 of week 3 this morning. The first day of week 3 with the 3 minute run was really a challenge. Today in the second 3 minute run, I dropped back to 5.8mph and that was more comfortable. I was hoping to keep up the 6mph pace, but I still feel like I'm doing great. My body is starting to tone too!!! I've also been doing 3 sets of 10 crunches after stretching and a partner medicine ball to work the sides. I'm starting to see the defination in my stomache now (under the stretch marks and slightly loose skin - :lol:) It feels really good.

Our base has a sweetheart 5k run right before Valentine's day. I know I won't be far along enough in the program but it's a run/walk so I'm going for it. Who knows, I may suprise myself!! Plus, it will give me a feel for how a 5k feels and try my new skills out off of the treadmill - which, btw, I totally love!!

Bonnie - I would say "just go for it" on the 5k!!! Don't ever let your weight stop you from enjoying the gift of daily life. If she is a true friend, she will love you no matter what size you are.

Originally Posted by BonnieMcC:
A friend of mine of Facebook mentioned that she is training for her first 5k. I unfortunately mentioned that I was doing this program and now she wants me to do the race with her...its April 19th. If it were any other friend I would concider it (even tho I would be in dead last place) but this friend is MAYBE 100lbs soak and wet. I haven't seen her in years and she has no idea I put on 100lbs (I gained one of her!). Although I have already lost 31, and I know by April I will have lost more, but dont know if I should say yes or no...or just wait until closer to the deadline to give her an answer. He husband will also be running and from what she says, he will be way ahead of her.

Do the run....don't think of it as a race. Is your real goal to "beat her" or is your real goal to finish? It will be a good gauge of where you are at with the 5K.

Originally Posted by ShineOn:
Our base has a sweetheart 5k run right before Valentine's day. I know I won't be far along enough in the program but it's a run/walk so I'm going for it. Who knows, I may suprise myself!! Plus, it will give me a feel for how a 5k feels and try my new skills out off of the treadmill - which, btw, I totally love!!

That sounds fantastic. I am looking for a 5K in the area to do. I am going to try the "try"athalon at UNO first though.

after reading your encouraging advice I am seriously concidering doing the 5k. I haven't given my friend an answer yet, but I think I will talk to her and explain my feelings.

I had started c25k back in december, and then I sprained my MCL on Christmas Eve (playing ping pong of all things), so that nixed the running for me for a while, but I could do the elliptical, so that was helpful. Anyway, I went for my first "run" on Tuesday, and I thought I would have to start right back on week one where I was when I sprained my knee, but I just kept feeling good, and I ran over a mile straight at 6.2 mph!! (I ran for 10.5 minutes.)

I NEVER could have done that before-- probably never in my entire life could I have done that. So, I'm super thrilled with that. I actually walked/ran for 45 minutes (about 4 miles), so my average is much lower, but I am shocked that I could keep up that pace for that long. I'm going to attempt it again tonight. I'm switching between treadmill and elliptical to give my knee a bit more time to heal, but eventually I plan to do the running 5 days a week (that's how often I work out). This is the first time I've stuck with an exercise program consistently for this long (It's been about six weeks now), and from the looks of it, I'm still going strong.

Where do you all think I should pick up on the C25K program? Week 4 maybe?

Originally Posted by tkdtara84:
I'm going to attempt it again tonight. I'm switching between treadmill and elliptical to give my knee a bit more time to heal, but eventually I plan to do the running 5 days a week (that's how often I work out). This is the first time I've stuck with an exercise program consistently for this long (It's been about six weeks now), and from the looks of it, I'm still going strong.

Where do you all think I should pick up on the C25K program? Week 4 maybe?

I started the C25K on the 3rd week since I had been working out on the treadmill for about a month before. I had no problem starting there and am on week 5 now. Some people have said that the extra beginning weeks are to help prepare your bones and joints for the longer runs so you could always try out week 4 and see how your body feels and then go from there. I've got the long 20 minute no walking run tomorrow. Hopefully I can make it!

Originally Posted by dla:
I am going to try the "try"athalon at UNO first though.

Tell me more about the "try"athalon at UNO - where do I find information on that. I love to swim and bike, running has always been the thing that held me back.

Originally Posted by KeepinOnandOn:
I started the C25K on the 3rd week since I had been working out on the treadmill for about a month before. I had no problem starting there and am on week 5 now. Some people have said that the extra beginning weeks are to help prepare your bones and joints for the longer runs so you could always try out week 4 and see how your body feels and then go from there. I've got the long 20 minute no walking run tomorrow. Hopefully I can make it!

Good luck with your 20 min run tomorrow Bonnie. I can't even imagine that yet. I'm just getting used to the 3 min! I know I will be there soon.