Go for it! I just did the 20-minute run and it feels great.

I slowed waaaay down and it was easier for me than the 5- and 8-minute runs at a faster speed. I'll work on speed again once I am up to 30 minutes running.

So while I was away for Thanksgiving, I did W5D1 and D2. I didn't attempt D3 but instead jumped to W6D1, which is two 5-minute runs and one 8-minute run. It was HARD, as I had a 4-day break in between runs.

Today I had planned to do W6D2 - two 10-minute runs - but actually I was short on time and decided to just run straight through. Dropped down to 4.5 mph and went for it.

Now that I have done that, my plan is to do another 20-minute run in two days, then on to the 25s, 28s and 30s. I still can't believe that this is working.

A side note: I have GAINED weight since I started this I think I am eating more and justifying it by feeling like I exerted myself with running (even though it is only ~200 cal/run now). I know I don't have that much weight to lose, but STILL - it took me 6 months to lose 6 lbs and now it's mostly back... But that's a different topic...

Power on, chickies!!

I did W5D3 yesterday and honestly I have mixed feelings. Like 30 minutes afterwards I felt great, like I can't believe I did that and I feel good inside and out. But to be honest when I was doing it, I had to keep bribing myself to finish. The first 12ish minutes were fine, then by 15 minutes I was like I can't believe there 5 more to go. The only way I got through it was by promising myself I never had to run ever again if I just finished, and I did finish, I mean without stopping.
So this is me. I always dreamed of being a runner. Now I've discovered I LOATHE running whilst I'm doing it, but love the feeling I get after. Maybe as I get fitter and the runs become more effortless, I'll like it more. I'm kind of discouraged by how much I HAAAAAATED it whilst I was doing it. But I'm going to continue and see how it goes. Bring on W6D1 tomorrow.

I have always felt this way when I "tried" to run in the past.... I'm not loving most of the running time now, either. I think what is getting me through now are the incremental achievements. It is just so amazing to me that I CAN do it at all!

It remains to be seen whether running will be interesting when I am just doing 30 minutes at a time - I hope so...

Good job on sticking it out for now!

I am so glad to hear you gals admit this! There are days, where I DO enjoy running...but the longer the runs are becoming, the less I'm liking them as well. They say, people normally drop out of the c25k program right around week 4 or 5, and I'm wondering if this is why. Hopefully, once my mental block is gone, and my stride and breathing come together, I will overcome this hurdle and be able to run longer and longer, AND enjoy it!

Side note, my DH started running this fall, and he was 300 lbs. He's now running between 4 and 6 miles a day, and has dropped at least 65 lbs. He runs very slowly, but he runs for at least an hour each day. Now, I tell myself, if HE can do it, there is no reason I can't. Nor will I be outdone... Come next summer, I will be out running 6 miles WITH him! (and hopefully outrunning him)

Well, I did W6D2 - sort of. After running 10 minutes, I thought it would be annoying to start walking for 3 minutes, so I just ran through the whole thing, for 23 minutes. @4.5 mph, so that will be my speed until I can regularly go for 30 minutes, then I'll try to go faster.

For the last minute, I ran at 7.0 mph. Fun, and scary, and like the longest minute ever. On the Biggest Loser, don't they crank up the treadmills to 10? I can't even imagine.

Something is hurting on my foot so I think it's time to spend the big bucks on better $hoe$!! I'd better end up liking running a lot if I'm going to make that investment, haha. I will MAKE myself like it, dang it! The music I use is helping lots but I wonder if I will get tired of it...

Suzy - that is so cool about your hubby just getting out there and running slowly for an hour! It took me nearly a year of "thinking" about it to finally start this program - and it is solely because of the program that I have gotten as far as I have.

I hope you other C25K chickies are progressing well -

Hello all!
I am currently doing week 4 of C25K. I completed week 4 last week and then I realized that I was running much too slowly! I was walking 3.0 and jogging 3.7... sheesh. So I've decided to repeat week 4 and work on my timing before I go onto week 5. I'm now working on walking at 3.7 and running at 4.3, still very slow but better than before.

For me, I've had a 5 lb weight loss and my whole body feels better. My legs are stronger, and I feel really good. I took some pictures a month ago and then took some today and I can't really tell a big difference so that is kind of disappointing. Trying not to let it get to me though! Tomorrow is my running day.... I'm looking forward to it!

Good luck with your runs, ladies!

Did W6D3 tonight - 25 minutes of running. It went on a looooooooong time. It was very interesting to note, however, that just a week or so ago I was barely getting through 8-minute runs, and tonight I was relieved when I "only" had 8 minutes left!

Slowing down really helped. Every run I have done has been pretty much the limit of what I could do. I am tuckered out by the end. But so far so good - nothing hurts and I am just five minutes shy of my goal of being able to run 30 minutes at a time. My ultimate goal is to run 3 miles in 30 minutes but I am far from that speed now. It's going to be painful to start speeding up... but one thing at a time. I want to finish the program first.

Oohpujie - congratulations on your weight loss!

Greeting Runners!

K, I'm starting week 5 of my running program. Made the 8 minute mark yesterday. Then, only 7 minutes. But still, it's progress.

Unfortunately, I've caught a cold from one of my kids, so my stuffy nose and coughing is making me feel like a slug. But I'm still trying. I'm not going to push it this week, if I'm not up to 20 minutes by the end, so be it.

Plus, I've started lifting weights with a girlfriend, and her husband the personal trainer. AACK! My body hurts in places I didn't realize had muscles. So now, my gym time has expanded to over 2 hours a day. But I'm learning so much.

As for DH, did I mention he's running 4 to 6 miles, OUTSIDE, on the snow covered bike path? That's dedication. I'm not that brave. I get far too cold.

Suzy - good for you for pushing ahead despite a cold! Take it easy on yourself, but I know that even though I NEVER feel like it when I am sick, if I can get myself out and do a moderate workout, I always feel better (afterward, that is...). Maybe not the best week for the first 20-minute run, though. One idea: I skipped to the Week 6, Day 1 run (two 5-minute runs + one 8-minute run) before attempting the 20 minutes straight through. Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

This week, I did my second 25-minute run. It was OK. The last 5 minutes was still hard. I'm hoping it gets easier before I have to go for 28 minutes. I'm still @ 4.5 miles/hour, going about 2.5 miles total now.

Hope everyone else is still doing well!

Thank you Emma. I'm not sure I'll move on after this week. I think I'll just repeat week 5. I ran on Monday, ran a little on Tuesday (only .5 mile, walk, run another .5 mile, walk, etc) I took yesterday off, because I was going to run today. Unfortunately, life got in the way today and I ended up driving #2 son to college as he car wouldn't start... And tomorrow it's LEG day with the trainer, so there is NO way I'll be able to WALK, let alone run, after that. That's OK though. I'm seeing progress, and that's good enough for now.

Running for 25 minutes! It just still seems like such a long time! Good for you! I wonder if I should try slowing my pace down a bit. When I started, I was running way too fast. I'm down now to running at about a 12 minute mile...speed 5 on the treadmill. I guess maybe that's the mph? It feels so slow, but certainly tires me out!

I asked DH about his running, and if he's enjoying it, what exactly he's feeling. His response is he's "learning to embrace the suffering". I about died laughing. He's one of those zone out runners. He runs, and everything around him ceases to exist. I am the exact opposite. I concentrate on my stride, my breathing, watch the darned clock on the treadmill...

The gal running next to me on Tuesday told me she takes a small towel, and covers all the displays on the treadmill, and just runs. She has no idea how long, or how far, and she says it's a much more freeing experience. I can't wait until I'm at that point....

I have a little update, and it's not a good one...


the day before I got my stitches out, which was the 26th of november, I did something to my back. Or rather, my back just decided to give out on me So my doc gave me the go ahead to run again (building up) on the 26th but I have hardly been able to move since then. It's been 16 days now and I have to say I feel pretty depressed about it all.

there were even a few days where I thought "screw it" and I ate with abandon (especially a lot of chocolate). Various things go through my head like the fact that when I was fat, I never had issues with my back and let me tell you, these are debilitating issues. I had once an issue with my knee and that was over within 2 weeks. I had issues with my ankle, but those were purely my own fault and much easier to accept the responsibility and consequences. I literally do not know what I did to hurt my back (the diagnosis is "acute lower back pain" as if that helps) and it's not going away. I can't go to work, because I can't SIT. I can lay down on my back. I can stand and I can walk (so I actually went out for a walk the other day). So I feel pretty useless. Here I am, I'm just over the halfway point, and I've worked HARD to get fit and healthy and this is my reward????

My point of all of this - whatever you do girls, when you don't "feel" like going out there and doing it, if you feel like you won't or can't or just don't have the desire... go out there, because you never know when your body is going to say "guess what! I'm done with you!" so please don't take advantage of taking care of yourself at every chance you get.

I can't tell you how much I MISS being able to run or even bend over to shave my legs!!!! I am so going to kick *** as soon as I'm able to and never take my body for granted again!



so GO FOR IT chicks!!!!

Oh Renee,

I am so sorry to hear this! I'll be sending healing vibes your way

I am so sorry to hear this, too! Before I started C25K, I read through this entire thread (~350 posts!) and your posts were a big part of my inspiration to start...

You bring up good points about appreciating what our bodies can do (even as I complain about my muffin top/saddle bags or not being able to run a 10-minute mile, etc. etc....). I need to remember this more.

I really, really hope your back problem sorts itself out soon!! I really look forward to hearing that you are back in action.

I'm sorry to hear that, Renee. Hope you feel better soon.

Going right now to do week 5 day 1. AH. I'm terrified.

Completed, and much easier than I thought it would be! Now I'm nervous about W5D3... Lol.