My friend (whom I work out with 5-6 days a week) and I had our usual plan to go to the gym this evening. We have been working out together for 7 weeks (2 times per week are with a trainer, the rest on our own). She showed up to get me and announced that we were going running instead. Our trainer has been pushing the running with me, but I don't feel ready (I am an obese smoker)! My friend is 140 pounds, runs regularily, and is 2 inches taller than me. But, I agreed, and off we went.

We went to a course that is literally 1/2 mile from my house. I have never ran this course, or even walked it. For the first 4 mins, I ran. Then we walked 1 min, and did 2 mins of running and 1 min of walking, alternating. She had to yell at me a little to not give up, etc., BUT I DID IT! We then drove the course, and it was 3.25 miles. I did the whole thing, running about 75% of the time! It took me 40 minutes! I don't know what the usual time is for most people, but I feel pretty happy about it! I know a 12 min mile is nothing to write home about, but I wanted to share that I actually did it. Now I am thinking about trying the C25K, as I see a lot of you are working on it! Maybe I will try it again this week and see what happens!

Congrats!!! Usually 5K takes about 30 minutes, so you're right on the money!

awesome job!! i always assumed that i was doomed to fail at running and that i wasn't built for it. then i looked at the c25k program and realized that a lot of people can't run and we just build up to it. i'm excited to find out that i actually *can* run!

definitely go for it! you are already doing really well! i have been running for a few weeks and just hit a 12 minute mile, so you are doing awesome

That's AWESOME. Mary, if I could run a 30 minute 5K I would be stoked. It's actually pretty difficult to run a 30 minute 5K (that's less than a 10 minute mile average) but I'll get there eventually.

Anyway, CONGRATS on finishing that trail! Keep it up! And sign up for a 5K! I'm starting C25K today not for running a 5K (did mine last week) but for speed since I want to get that sub30 5K time. KEEP RUNNING!

congrats congrats congrats!!


watch out... running is addictive.