Hi ladies! I heard somewhere once (so take it as you will) that treadmill runs are easier because the treadmill pulls your foot back. You have to bring it forward to make contact, but then it finishes the stride. You need more power to run outside. I am not sure that's true, but it makes sense to me.

I have found that I like outside better because it's easier for my ADD brain to not get bored and start thinking negative things. I can look at each house I pass and think about thier yard or notice the cat is out or whatever. I also love the feeling of the wind on my face. I like the podcasts, too because I feel like someone is talking to me. Maybe after I "graduate" I will start listening to books on tape rather than just music.

You're doing great ladies!! I am so inspired by your progress!! (Thanks uber for reminding me to look here. )

I've updated my ipod again tonight with some really good music, and I'm off to the gym in the morning to see how I get on.
I've decided to just start running and see how long I can keep going for, but I'm really going to push myself. I think a lot of my problem is mental right now and I don't believe I can do it, so I'm going to try to prove to myself that I can.
If I can make the 25mins then I will be ecstatic, but we'll see. If I end up having to take a break then my main aim is to do more than 20mins in total so I'll have beaten my longest run yet.

Good luck LM!!!

I did it!
I went to the gym and I ran 25mins without a break
I slowed down to 7.3kph for most of the run, and 7.2kph for a short while, but I made it and am SO proud of myself.
I've learned more about myself this past few days and I love that I'm constantly changing with the weight loss and exercise. Like I thought before my run, a lot of my problem is mental barriers that I've put up. I have been so used to failure that I don't believe I can do anything. But when I push myself I'm finding that most of the time I actually CAN do it. Today I really didn't know if I could do it, but once I got to halfway I knew I wasn't going to give up.
I really feel now that I might actually be able to finish the C25K program
The other thing I've learned relates to when I exercise as well. I've noticed when exercising that when I start to get tired I can feel myself tense up and my muscles seem to hurt more and I start to get cramps. Yesterday in my step class I realised this and just told myself to relax, and tried to relax my muscles, and it worked! I did it again today when I felt myself tiring in my run, told myself to relax and tried to relax my muscles and it definitely made a difference. So I need to remember that for future workouts.

I am so happy! I KNEW you could do it!!! You rock!!!! And you didn't even slow to an UBER speed.

Interesting insights about perservering. There's a technique that I learned here on the boards, that when I feel like I can't keep going a do a little inventory... can I still breathe? Check. Do my legs feel okay? Check. Okay, then I CAN keep going... that helps me.

You are doing JUST AMAZING! I'm nor surprised at all! And it looks like you're about to break through to onderland too!

Oh god. So today I did W7D2... or rather failed at it.

I did 19 minutes before I had to walk. I was so tired, I thought I was going to puke, I had a cramp, and I couldn't breathe. I wasn't running any faster than usual, and today I even made sure I drank ONLY water, and I waited 3 hours after eating to run. I ran another 4.5 minutes, so I guess my total was 23:30, but I'm so ashamed of myself. This is the first run I haven't completed in the entire C25K. I feel like I wasn't pushing myself hard enough.

I was nervous for today's run, because tuesdays was so hard, but I listened to my body. My legs were fine.... but I couldn't breathe!

*sigh* I had a rough weekend... I drank, which I've been trying to abstain from while losing weight unless it's MGD 64 and I work it into my cals. I took a few puffs off my friend's cigarette (I quit in November.) I'm ashamed to admit that too, but I think that's why my runs have been going to crappy this week.

I'm sorry for rambling. I just feel like I failed. Will this get easier? I'm starting to doubt myself for the first time ever. If anyone has any tips, any at all, I would be very thankful.

I hope everyone else's running week goes better than mine!

Oh and great job LM. You are totally kicking butt!

I was just introduced to this program but haven't had a chance to look at it yet. Hubby and I are doing a 1/2 marathon in Dec. (in Jamaica) and I am brand new to running (I'll be doing run/walk). I am on week 6 of running although I did have 3 weeks off w/pneumonia and I'm still doing the 1 min. walk, 3 min. run intervals on the treadmill for approx. 30-40 min. I can only do about 5 of those and even then my shins are killing me.

I do wear shin sleeves, have brand new running shoes from the running store where they fitted me, etc. I'm struggling but I am going to do it. The crazy thing is I'm not new to exercise. I do everything from rebounding to Elliptical to spin classes 3x a week and more. I am heavy and I know that has a lot to do with it but boy I could use some inspiration.

Haven't had a chance to read all the way through this thread but I'm going to because it looks like you all have been very successful. Very excited to hear your stories. Oh and I think I will like running outside MUCH better. Can't wait to try that!

So much to read, so little time!

Angie

Oh Oodles, don't be hard on yourself-- it sounds like it's kind of par for the course-- I feel like i'm going to puke about every third run or so. I haven't noticed it so much with other types of exercise, but it does seem like very little thing can throw us off--

probably the ciggy puffs weren't too smart, but besides that you were probably just having a bad day.

Thank you. =] That helped a lot.

I was actually running in noon sunlight too, it was hot and there was no shade. That might have had something to do with it also.

Hi, everyone. I started W1 earlier this week and I'm really enjoying it! I'm going to do it for 2 weeks instead of just one because I already feel the burn at the end of each jogging interval. Ha!

I started this earlier this week. Was only able to do one day so I am walking fast right now and pick back up again on Monday. I have really bad allergies and was practically having an asthma attack by my last run segment (even though I don't have asthma) so my husband recommended I walk fast for a bit. My stopwatch also died so I was having to count in my head. I am getting a heart monitor watch this weekend so I can get back to it on Monday. I am at least walking though. My husband cut me a trail around a pond on our property so I am good to go. Wish me luck cause I am going to need it.

A trail around a pond? Can I move to your house? Sounds like heaven!

Allergies are no fun though. Don't be afraid to start slow. You'd be surprised how quick it will pick up.

Angie, welcome! And congratulations on having a goal - a HM is a pretty big goal. Doing it in Jamaica will be lovely though.

Canadia, welcome as well. It will be no time before you are up and going with this. Seems like just yesterday that I started, and I'm finishing week 6 today.

tnvols, I want a path around a pond to run on as well, that sounds awesome! I run along the creek near our house, it's nice and flat and the scenery is interesting. I'm not bored there - yet.

Cape Breton Chick, welcome. You've been a runner, so you know the feeling of satisfaction you get from pushing yourself just that little bit further.

Oodles, don't stress. I've found that doing the longer continuous runs emphasises any deficiencies in your environmental and mental status. Environmental to me includes anything like nutrition, dehydration, weather, whether you've had a busy day/week at work, mental is the self talk and my children are playing up, what do I do instead of concentrating and telling myself I can do this.

You had a bad day. It happens. Go into the next one well hydrated, well nourished and without the late nights, oh and of course not in the heat of the day, and you'll most likely be wondering what you were thinking when you thought you couldn't. Because you can. You did 20 minutes, 25 is not much further. You absolutely can do this!

I'm doing W6D3 tomorrow. I was going to do it today, but I got up too late and it's too hot now. Actually I may do it this evening as cyclone Ului is supposed to hit tomorrow - don't think I want to be out running in that. It's down to a cat 2 now but still, driving rain and wind doesn't sound like a fun morning. They're saying between 4 and 10am.

Keep going everyone, you can do this!