Hi all
I am hoping to get some support here. I started the C25k last week and I could not make it through the whole thing. So this week I started over and I got through about 12 mins and did 1 mile. This was the first time I ran outside not on a treadmill, I liked that a lot better. Also I got new shoes this weekend. I feel like I did better today but I just don't know why I can not finish.

Has anyone else had this problem with this program? Last week I started at 218 and I am 216 now so I know that is one issue.

I am signed up to do a 2k fun run in April, my whole family will be doing it. I really want to become addicted to running. I want to be able to do a marathon or at least half next year.

Don't fret. If it takes a week or two to build up to completing week 1 of the program, just spread it out. Running outside IS a lot more difficult than running on a treadmill. It is better to stretch it out than to either hurt yourself or get totally disillusioned about the whole thing. Try again today or tomorrow and see if you can't go another minute or two above what you did last week.

The great thing about c25k is that even though it's laid out for the "average" person you can go at your own pace. I have had trouble with weeks, and the thing you can do is just keep repeating the weeks you have trouble with until you are comfortable! There is no "right" or "wrong" amount of time to complete the program in.

I am going through the program for my 2nd time now, and I'm actually having more trouble this time than last! I hadn't ran for about a year due to injury...but I was surprised! Last time I breezed through even though I had never run before, but this time I am having to repeat a lot of weeks. Either way, as long as you don't give up and keep on chugging along you will get through it eventually! Keep it up!

Best of luck!

I have trouble getting through it but Im getting better each time. don't worry if you need to repeat the weeks till you get them down

Don't worry about taking whatever time you need. I mean, really, obviously not everybody is going to require exactly the same schedule.

But also, don't be afraid to start the next week once you're able to do three days of the old one. I know for the first 5 or 6 weeks, EVERY SINGLE WEEK I thought I couldn't do the next one and considered repeating the last one. I never did, I always progressed anyway. And it always worked. Kept me working hard though!

evie, good for you to keep on your journey...when I first started to run I could only do 1/10 of a mile! hang in there, it gets better and more enjoyable with each passing day...

Thanks for the support. I do enjoy it, I love running outside even when it is cold. I will keep on till I can get the whole week 1 done then I will move on. I feel like the more I lose the easier it will get.

It sounds like you might be going too fast. Can you slow down so you can make it through the whole thing?

The Couch to 5k is really two programs. One is for time and one is for distance. They list them together but most commonly people do it for time at least to start.

It does get easier!

Besides repeating weeks another thing you can do is just cut the increase in running time in half for the next week... I wanted to c25k but some of those jumps were just too much for me when I started at 230 so I went with a different program that was a little more gentle in how much it progressed from week to week. I went from only being able to run 1 minute in Jan last year to being able to do a 10k in my Triathalon in Aug (Although note i was a bit lighter then I am now when I did the 10k!)

The weight does bring you down a bit I'm having trouble just making it through 45min runs when I could do 90mins this past summer, and the weight has something to do with it (along with a few months I took off)

Just keep progressing as your body lets you and don't worry about repeating etc... you'll get there!

Thanks you ladies are so nice. It is great to hear all these things.

Idealmuse-I figured the weight was an issue, I will just keep doing what I can and progressing at my own pace.