August C25K challenge
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"I had no idea where in the programme that little hill would appear and of course it arrived right after the first 3-minute run was supposed to start. I took a deep breath, looked up at it, told myself I'd give it a shot before deciding I can't do it - and conquered the blasted thing. When I started the 3-minute walk, a spontaneous laugh bubbled up and I found myself patting a shoulder, too. I kept smiling all through that walk and the 90-second jogging. "
WooHoo!!! Congratulations! You must be feeling great! It's a wonderful feeling to conquer a hill. Way to go! You're very much on your way now. Nothing can hold you back.
Plexgut already said everything perfectly, but I just wanted to add my congratulations. Way to go, AglaeaC! I'm so glad you told yourself to give it a shot, now when you start to have doubts you can look back and remind yourself that you already did it!0 -
Did week 6 day 1 yesterday after an almost two week break (went on holidays). I'm pretty surprised that I actually managed it and that it wasn't as strenuous as I thought it'd be! I'm feeling good.0
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I'm in! I completed w2d3 last night. For those who didn't read it on the other thread, I'm doing this as a family thing. Hubby and I are going through the program together, pushing our son (who will be 3 next month) in the stroller. We started with a week zero - brisk walks on a local trail. It gave us a chance to get to know the trail a bit & get a feel for pushing Little Man in his stroller on the trail. Took us 2 days to decide that we needed a stroller upgrade. lol Thank you Kijiji! :happy:
As for the stats: I'm 33, 5'2 & currently 211-ish. There is a color run/walk happening in my city at the end of September and we will be in it! That is my motivation and reward for sticking with the program. Yes, we may have to walk some, but it will be so much fun!
I would love to add anyone who wants to compare notes and encouragement. Feel free to add me.
How does it go with your stroller? I have 2 boys, almost 4 (but 19% for weight so he really is probably more like most 2 1/2 to 3 year olds) and a 20 month old. We have a double jogging stroller. My husband pushes it on the days he goes with me. But I have never pushed it running. I either run on days when I have someone to watch the boys or have my husband to push the boys. I'm scared that I won't be able to run at all while pushing them but I guess maybe I should just give it a try.
I'm sorry I missed your question about the stroller, Addiec1. My son is also small for his age, (I think he is just a little over 30 lbs) and our stroller weighs 30 as well. My biggest complaint is that I don't get to move my arms enough. Our trail has a lot of people & pets, twists & turns, and little hills to navigate. A lot of people push one handed but, unless I'm on a straight stretch, I just don't feel comfortable doing it. That said, running with a stroller is really not as hard as you would think.. I find it pretty easy to push and turn so it doesn't really feel like I'm pushing around an extra 60 lbs. Of course, you feel it more on the hills, even the little ones, but it is manageable. I'm 210 lbs and push the stroller for half of every run & Hubby takes the second half.
You mentioned that your husband pushes them if you run together, maybe you could take turns until you get used to it. That way you could build up to it before trying to take them out solo. If nothing else, it definitely encourages a girl to run slower & build up that endurance! lol
I pushed a double stroller for some of the runs in the program. Also my first 5k. It can be done.
One of the moms on the Happy Feet board suggested getting a dog leash and fastening it to the rear axle to act as a wrist strap. That way, if you fall, you don't bring it down on top of you. I haven't done this yet and have mostly switched to heading out by myself because the kiddos want to run too when we go together.0 -
Thanks
And great job everyone! Keep pushing!
I just finished W4 and when I arrived at that little hill I thought I could hit it from the other direction now, too, as I don't know what I was fussing about earlier
It still feels in legs and lungs to get over it, but it's okay. I was slower than on D2, but I procrastinated yesterday and was close to not going out today either, so the calories burned are a victory in themselves. And I get to cross off yet another day from my list on the fridge! 0 -
w5d3 down! woohoo was a struggle. excited for the intervals to come back
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Congrats pinkstp, great job!
Phew. It was almost a constant fight today during W5D1. I was acutely aware of my butt and thighs - and not in a good way. Ever have those moments when you feel this is almost too slow a change? I tried my best to lift my mood, but it didn't quite work, so I hope D2 will be better regardless of those eight-minute intervals. Upside is that I didn't stall again, but moved on immediately from week 4; have a feeling I'll have to either take breaks during W5D3 or retake it or something. First is D2 though.0 -
Congrats pinkstp, great job!
Phew. It was almost a constant fight today during W5D1. I was acutely aware of my butt and thighs - and not in a good way. Ever have those moments when you feel this is almost too slow a change? I tried my best to lift my mood, but it didn't quite work, so I hope D2 will be better regardless of those eight-minute intervals. Upside is that I didn't stall again, but moved on immediately from week 4; have a feeling I'll have to either take breaks during W5D3 or retake it or something. First is D2 though.
You sound like you're going to be totally ready for Day 3, actually. Try engaging your core muscles and pushing your hips forward until they balance over your toes. It'll engage your glutes and give you a bit of a lean. You are just a few weeks away from "whose thighs are these?" and "where did that muscle come from?"0 -
Thanks And great job everyone! Keep pushing!
I just finished W4 and when I arrived at that little hill I thought I could hit it from the other direction now, too, as I don't know what I was fussing about earlier It still feels in legs and lungs to get over it, but it's okay. I was slower than on D2, but I procrastinated yesterday and was close to not going out today either, so the calories burned are a victory in themselves. And I get to cross off yet another day from my list on the fridge!
Good for you!!!! Any day you lace up your shoes and make it out of the house is a victory!:flowerforyou:0 -
W6D2 completed. My quads are sore today:frown: Not sure why. I do know that I have increased my speed somewhat from w5d3, maybe that's it. I laugh cause everyone says w5d3 was meant to slow you down to pace yourself better. I think it speeded me up....It gave me the confidence to know I could do it. With 22 minute run a day away I'm not half as nervous as I was for the 20 min run. I just needed to know it was possible.
I'm also ending my runs at the top of an incline instead of at the bottom (the joy of speeding up):ohwell: 0 -
Congrats pinkstp, great job!
Phew. It was almost a constant fight today during W5D1. I was acutely aware of my butt and thighs - and not in a good way. Ever have those moments when you feel this is almost too slow a change? I tried my best to lift my mood, but it didn't quite work, so I hope D2 will be better regardless of those eight-minute intervals. Upside is that I didn't stall again, but moved on immediately from week 4; have a feeling I'll have to either take breaks during W5D3 or retake it or something. First is D2 though.
I heard that week 4 was the "struggle week" and that moving past it would be easier. I found it sort of the opposite. Week 4 had it's moments but week 5 was the hardest for me. Don't give up on yourself too quickly! I have been noticing more and more different pains or tweaks in my body so I hop on the treadmill for 5 minutes, get off and STRETCH stretch stretch! Then I get back on and start my official program (another 5 minute warm-up and then go!). Hope stretching helps you! As far as W5D3, don't be afraid to go really slow, the goal is to make it through 20 minutes, not SPEED through 20 minutes. Go at a pace that feels comfortable, adjust if you need to and then get your head set to the goal - you CAN do it, you can totally do it! I'm learning not to let the voice in my head tell me that I can't do it or that ending early isn't going to hurt me. It's also telling me to gorge on pizza. Gotta do what we can to shut that voice up 
We're rooting for ya! 0 -
Thanks for cheering and advice! Sorry about the quads, Mamakat!
I forgot to mention that two pieces of music in my podcast were the perfect tempo, so I have the task to find their beat now. I've noticed it has to be totally different from your leg work or exactly the same, but the "almost there" won't work for me. Have a strong sense of rhythm and the feet just have to move to the music like when dancing, so the slightly off drives me nuts. Didn't get it until today! Recognize this?0 -
W6D2 completed. My quads are sore today:frown: Not sure why. I do know that I have increased my speed somewhat from w5d3, maybe that's it. I laugh cause everyone says w5d3 was meant to slow you down to pace yourself better. I think it speeded me up....It gave me the confidence to know I could do it. With 22 minute run a day away I'm not half as nervous as I was for the 20 min run. I just needed to know it was possible. I'm also ending my runs at the top of an incline instead of at the bottom (the joy of speeding up):ohwell:
Week four is the slow-down week in my experience. Sore quads is probably a good thing.
Tim posted some warm ups on here somewhere - I use a variation on the ones from the "Strong Runner" app. It was a few dollars to get all the info I needed, but I use it all the time. Makes all the difference in the world.0 -
songbpm.com - can type in almost anything and figure out the BPM and time it to your run! it's going to be the biggest tool I can use to transition me from the forced speed of a treadmill to outdoor running. song tempo and keeping up with it, that's how I know I'm doing it at my typical speed 0
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I should know it by now; the internet has the answer to almost anything you can think of. Thank you so much!songbpm.com - can type in almost anything and figure out the BPM and time it to your run! it's going to be the biggest tool I can use to transition me from the forced speed of a treadmill to outdoor running. song tempo and keeping up with it, that's how I know I'm doing it at my typical speed0 -
I should know it by now; the internet has the answer to almost anything you can think of. Thank you so much!songbpm.com - can type in almost anything and figure out the BPM and time it to your run! it's going to be the biggest tool I can use to transition me from the forced speed of a treadmill to outdoor running. song tempo and keeping up with it, that's how I know I'm doing it at my typical speed
no problem good luck! 0 -
Thanks for cheering and advice! Sorry about the quads, Mamakat!
I forgot to mention that two pieces of music in my podcast were the perfect tempo, so I have the task to find their beat now. I've noticed it has to be totally different from your leg work or exactly the same, but the "almost there" won't work for me. Have a strong sense of rhythm and the feet just have to move to the music like when dancing, so the slightly off drives me nuts. Didn't get it until today! Recognize this?
I heard http://jog.fm/ is great for that. You can put in your pace and it will recommend songs for you that matches your bpm.
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Edit because my crazy computer posted before I finished typing!0 -
Thanks Skye, I just found it myself! Excited! I also found this little article:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/running-music.aspx0 -
Oh yeah jog.fm is great! And on Soundcloud.com you can also find stations / LONG compilations for BPM too
Just finished W6D1, it was horrible. Whole day was horrible! Are we all on this AND the daily check in topic? I feel like I might be double posting and annoying everyone haha Whoops! 0 -
Congrats on surviving the day then! I just popped in once on the daily thread, but since I saw August first, I'm staying here for now.Oh yeah jog.fm is great! And on Soundcloud.com you can also find stations / LONG compilations for BPM too
Just finished W6D1, it was horrible. Whole day was horrible! Are we all on this AND the daily check in topic? I feel like I might be double posting and annoying everyone haha Whoops! 0 -
Even if I had run in a hail storm, the sun would have come out on my face. After the first 8-minute run of W5D2 I cracked a permanent smile.
Since I found the Robert Ullrey W3 podcast not-so-helpful what with three overlapping workouts, I downloaded the NHS one. Only when I was about to leave, I noticed that the iPod was dead, so whilst it was charging my mind wandered - and I forgot to start the exercise on the HRM. This I noticed a couple of minutes from home, when I had already done all the burning *shakes her head at herself*
Midway in the 8-minute run Laura said that I had already run for 4 minutes, which I couldn't believe, so I just kept going until I heard "60 seconds left"; "Now already?" Haha, unbelievable right? Once the 5-minute walk began, the sun came out for the second time today. I'm still smiling!
The second 8-minute run was a bit tougher toward the end, but part of it might be the fact that I've used the same finish line for quite some time, so the mind went from "oh it's okay" to "are we there yet?" in no time. I found flow and managed to keep if for about 14 minutes, which is a miracle in itself; I loved that feeling of not paying attention to the intervals but actually just *thinking* This is the first time that I've thought continuously other things than something running related.
I also remembered what I read in an NHS article on running form; don't look down to the ground but keep your head "straight", don't swing the arms in angle to the direction you're running in but make them go in parallel with it (which supposedly helps propel you further) and keep the wrists loose (my right wrist tends to tense up a bit when I'm not paying attention). It amazes me how some people are running, though, as it can't be very good for their bodies.0 -
Hi Ladies
I can't wait to check out the music websites you guys talked about. Those sound awesome! I'm getting tired of my same iphone songs over and over!
W6D3 completed. I was tired but nothing horrible. Quads were fine yesterday but tired today. I really need to step up my game on the "in-between" days. In the beginning I was doing a bunch then I freaked myself out and didn't want to be sore on my run days so I've been a lollygagger:ohwell: (no idea how to spell that!). I've also been having more "bites" here and there and I really need to nip that in the bud!
I need some suggestions on cold weather running clothes. This morning I definetly needed gloves (Holy moly the temp dropped) And I think I'll need long sleeves soon.:grumble: My kids go back to school in less than two weeks and I'll have to start getting up at 5 am (currently I'm 5:30am)!!! I know once it gets dark in the morning I'll have to move inside cause I'm not really a brave sole in the dark I WILL NOT QUIT when the kids go back to school but I'm getting nervous...won't be the first time that as soon as my schedule changes I quit:frown: I also need to find a treadmill on Craigslist and then not freak out that I'll wake the kids in the morning....so many excuses I can come up with already!:embarassed: 0 -
@Aglaea - nice! I quite liked week 5 although I agree, that 2nd 8 minutes was kind of a killer (the first though it's like whoa what? We're done?!). I also stare straight ahead and it helps a lot with my breathing, posture, all of it
Yeah I'm glad I made it through yesterday. Today isn't as stressful but man.. need to find some low-cal wine haha
@Mamakat - I don't have much in terms of running gloves/long sleeves but I think the Columbia Omni-Heat gear is great, I have the leggings and they are not too thin but definitely not anywhere close to bulky and keep me quite warm I'll be interested to see the recommendations for when I start running outside 0 -
Mamakat, my New Balance shirt has longer sleeves that can be folded over the palm in sort of a glove. My sister has two headbands or whatever they are called for keeping ears and temples warm whilst the top of the ead gets to cool down; I'll get one of them. Other than this I'm refusing to think autumn still, because that means investments on my part and I have lots of bills coming up.0
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Week 6 Day 3 completed yesterday - man, that was a challenge! Took everything out of me.0
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After a week break to attend my neice's wedding in the hollars of West Virginia...back to the program. I was supposed to run while I was there but we were working from sunrise to sunset on the wedding and reception decorations. So although I did not run...I must have made 200 trips up and down stairs at the reception hall.
Anyway....W6D2 completed last night the last of the interval runs!! I was afraid it was going to be my first failure after taking so long off and of all the cooler days it was very very humid, but I managed to push through it! Sunday morning we will tackle W6D3...I have the end goal in sight and it is glorious to behold!!!0 -
Hi Ladies
I can't wait to check out the music websites you guys talked about. Those sound awesome! I'm getting tired of my same iphone songs over and over!
W6D3 completed. I was tired but nothing horrible. Quads were fine yesterday but tired today. I really need to step up my game on the "in-between" days. In the beginning I was doing a bunch then I freaked myself out and didn't want to be sore on my run days so I've been a lollygagger:ohwell: (no idea how to spell that!). I've also been having more "bites" here and there and I really need to nip that in the bud!
I need some suggestions on cold weather running clothes. This morning I definetly needed gloves (Holy moly the temp dropped) And I think I'll need long sleeves soon.:grumble: My kids go back to school in less than two weeks and I'll have to start getting up at 5 am (currently I'm 5:30am)!!! I know once it gets dark in the morning I'll have to move inside cause I'm not really a brave sole in the dark I WILL NOT QUIT when the kids go back to school but I'm getting nervous...won't be the first time that as soon as my schedule changes I quit:frown: I also need to find a treadmill on Craigslist and then not freak out that I'll wake the kids in the morning....so many excuses I can come up with already!:embarassed:
I love these: http://www.swimoutlet.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=39456&Click=310393&subscribe=Y&gclid=CPr4wvfKkbkCFSpk7AodB1wAOw
I also have a pair of cheap knit gloves that I wear under them on colder days.
Shirts with thumb holes rock.
You want a light long sleeved wicking shirt, then a light fleecy wicking outer layer and then a wind/waterproof shell to go over that on colder days.
Even though it's *not cool* I love wearing shorts over running tights. The extra layer over the hips keeps me a lot warmer.
I have an ear band, a couple hats and a neck gaiter.
There's a pinned thread about this as well.0 -
I did W1D3 today. I really really didn't want to do it. I had to make arrangements with my ex to watch the kids and while I ran around his neighborhood, lol. I pinched a nerve in my neck while playing with the kids in the lake yesterday and I was just looking for reasons to skip todays run, but I did it anyway. I am so glad that I had read through this thread because I decided to slow down and I swear I would have stopped midway had I not. I am very happy that I found this program because if I was still just jogging on my own schedule, I would have not gone out today.
I feel like I overcame a lot of bull corn to get my butt out there today and I am proud of myself and I feel like if I had to work that hard to make my run time happen, then I am really in this for me! I always feel better afterwards, but with this program, I feel like I've completed a step, too. 0 -
I did W1D3 today. I really really didn't want to do it. I had to make arrangements with my ex to watch the kids and while I ran around his neighborhood, lol. I pinched a nerve in my neck while playing with the kids in the lake yesterday and I was just looking for reasons to skip todays run, but I did it anyway. I am so glad that I had read through this thread because I decided to slow down and I swear I would have stopped midway had I not. I am very happy that I found this program because if I was still just jogging on my own schedule, I would have not gone out today.
I feel like I overcame a lot of bull corn to get my butt out there today and I am proud of myself and I feel like if I had to work that hard to make my run time happen, then I am really in this for me! I always feel better afterwards, but with this program, I feel like I've completed a step, too.
Sometimes the hardest step is the one that takes you out the front door! You should be proud of yourself for sticking with it & completing another step in the program! Keep up your hard work, it will be worth it in the end. 0 -
Thanks 0
