C25K (Couch to 5 K) ~ Week 1

faithikins

It was a lot harder to push through today. I am having a rest day tomorrow (walking only) then do another session on Sunday. Feels great so far.

Kath712

I downloaded a C25K app for my phone. Hoping for nice weather tomorrow morning, so I can do W2D1 on an outdoor track. I can't wait to see how it will differ from the treadmill, where I did Week 1. So far, it hasn't been too bad, but I've heard how much easier the treadmill is than running outside. The outdoor track is flat, so I'm hoping it will be an easy transition.

evertongirl

Hey - I did week 7 day 2 tonight (my second 25 min all running) and loved it - its a fantastic program to get into running - I have really enjoyed doing every day of it and I now absolutley LOVE running! Enjoy doing it

BifDiehl

W1D2 is complete. It was harder than day one... My legs were still a bit sore from day 1 and it was COLDER outside! I don't have access to a treadmill, so I'm doing this outside. And here in Pennsylvania, it's STILL winter. I'm hoping the weather on Saturday is supposed to be good so I can get my third week-1 session in!

mikerudy1

Just finished Couch To 5k Week 1 Day 2 - 1.9 miles at a 16:15/mile walk and 10:30/mile pace. About the same pace as the first day, maybe a little faster on the walking and slower on the jogging. Feeling really good.

I felt some shin tightness (moreso when walking actually), but nothing I couldn't push through.

chazsucks

did second run today! wasnt too bad but i went a bit easier than i did the other day, think i need to take it slow! lol

HunnyLuvsJorge

Everyone is doing so great! I live in the PacNW and it's been typical rainy weather lately, so I've been doing all my running on a treadmill. W1D1 was tough... I didn't finish. W1D2 was still tough, but I went a little further than the last time. W1D3, I finished the whole cycle! I wasn't really paying attention until the guy on my iPod said "Okay...this is your last minute." I was just about to quit, but when I heard that I kept going and I finished! My 1 mile time was 14'37'. I'm so thrilled with this progress. I'm really working towards an 8 min mile one day, but for now speed is not the goal. I can't wait to be able to run the whole cycle. AHHH!!!

girlinahat

Well peeps, I've had a shocking week food wise (the half eaten Terry;s chocolate orange says it all and I dont much like milk chocolate,,,)

Not done any c25k but I knew I would struggle with my schedule and combated laziness by shifting scaffolds and rubbish.

am looking fowards to week 2 because found myself frustrated and held back by week 1 at times, to the point of finishing on a 'jog as long as you like run' at the end.


for those (this includes me) starting on a treadmill (when the weather's nice outside I'll go) I saw something that suggested you should put the incline to 2 to imitate the wind and tensile resistance you'd get on the road. Personally I'm concentrating on actually completing....

hope to start wk 2 at the weekend - but am happy to fit in with people here and do a double day one day (may get a mucked up schedule again). Looby1968 - I've been toying with the idea of a June 5k target. am thinking about getting some friend motivated. may even try to drag them to MFP...

Kath712

Did W2D1 today outside on a flat track. It was hard at first because it was a little windy. But the app on my phone helped to keep me motivated. I definitely needed the 2 min. walk in between jogging. The walk time seemed to fly by. I'm really proud of myself, feeling like I actually will be able to do the 5K in June. :drinker: :bigsmile: I'm really slow right now, but I guess my speed will come if I keep at it. Have a great day everyone. I'm hoping to do Day 2 on Tuesday or Wednesday.

sixxbaby

you guys are all so motivating, I LOVE it. I am gonna do Day 3 of week 1 today. Dreading week 2, I barely made it through week 1...

stuartme123

Way to go everyone!! We're all doing great :drinker:

I finished W3D3 yesterday. I really struggled with D1&2 for this week (it's a mix of longer and shorter intervals, and the last longer interval is really rough for me) - but a woman on this site told me that it is almost all mental and told me to just push through the last 60 seconds of it and remember that I can rest after. I re-read that post right before I went out for D3 and thought about it throughout the longer intervals. I wanted to kill her while I was doing it, BUT I finished it, and even pushed a *tiny* bit farther after the guy told me it was over. It felt GREAT!

Next week is just so hectic for me, and I'll be losing one, maybe two of my normal c25k days - so on the days that I can do this program, I'm going to do W3, which I think will better prepare me for W4 - because let's face it, W4 is a BEAST and I barely made it through W3.

looby1968

I started C25K in the middle of February!!
I'm in the middle of W3 right now. Mind if I join in with you guys?? It'd be nice to have some support in this program - and I'd love to help motivate you all as well :happy:

My first day of W3 was horrible - but I think it's because I went too soon after I ate breakfast. When I started jogging, I could feel my oatmeal sloshing around in my stomach - such a horrible feeling!!

Just did D2 of W3 today, and it went better, but it's a real push for me, and I think that I'm going to end up doing more than 3 days of it so that I can be better prepared for W4.

Good luck to everyone who just started out!!

~ Meredith

I start Week 3 tomorrow!!!!! Week 2 was easier than week 1. Just hoping I can get through week 3!!!

LouiseXXXXX

mrslong0508

I am starting my C25K today. Mind if I join in a bit late? I am super nervous as this will be my first time doing any actual running since I have lost about 90 lbs with another 110 to go!

Kath712

Way to go everyone!! We're all doing great :drinker:

I finished W3D3 yesterday. I really struggled with D1&2 for this week (it's a mix of longer and shorter intervals, and the last longer interval is really rough for me) - but a woman on this site told me that it is almost all mental and told me to just push through the last 60 seconds of it and remember that I can rest after. I re-read that post right before I went out for D3 and thought about it throughout the longer intervals. I wanted to kill her while I was doing it, BUT I finished it, and even pushed a *tiny* bit farther after the guy told me it was over. It felt GREAT!

Next week is just so hectic for me, and I'll be losing one, maybe two of my normal c25k days - so on the days that I can do this program, I'm going to do W3, which I think will better prepare me for W4 - because let's face it, W4 is a BEAST and I barely made it through W3.

Thanks for this. :flowerforyou: I'm starting to understand that it is a lot of mental. I guess you just don't know what you are capable of until you push yourself. Good job!! I'm going to have a challenging beginning of the week, too. May try to squeeze in W2D2 tomorrow night.

Katybun3

Hi I'd love to join if that's ok. I started week 1- day 1 yesterday, had a rest today as I ache. Did a few stretches during the day. I plan to do week 1- day 2 tomorrow. Needing support and encouragement. I also downloaded an app for my phone which tells when to run and when to walk. So hope I can do this.

Steph_135

May I jump in a little late as well? I'm finishing up the 30 Day Shred, and I want to start running the C25K tomorrow (weather pending right now) or Monday for sure!

christmasbow

I'd love to join in. I just did week 1, day 1 yesterday. I plan to do week 1, day 2 tomorrow. Previously did the C25K two years ago and ran for the first time in my life. Last year after surgery, quit running and put on weight. I hope I can get back to this.

looby1968

Well, peeps. You'll be glad to know I completed week 3, day 1 without falling over/puking/giving up!!!! I'm amazed that it wasn't too hard. The first time I tried this programme I repeated week 1 four times, then gave up!

Personally, I don't think you can start this from being a couch potato. You do need some fitness, even if it's several weeks of brisk walking! That's the mistake I made last time.
My level of fitness is by no means the best, but it's a lot better than it was!

As a student, I HATED exercise with a vengence, especially P.E. When we were forced to do 'cross-country running', my friend and I would jog slowly round the school field, find a bush or tree to hide behind, get the latest teen magazine out from our t-shirts and sit there waiting for everybody else to complete the outward run. When they came back, we'd tag on to the tail-enders. Dreadful, but I hated it.

Now I'm excited to be able to run 2 intervals of 3mins!!!!!!!

LouiseXXX

chazsucks

Going to attempt day 3 of week one later ... visiting friends though so depends on what we do and when i get back! xx

Atlantique

:bigsmile: My W1D2 was actually really good.

But today it is pouring outside so W1D3 will have to wait until tomorrow. :sick:

Atlantique

I downloaded a C25K app for my phone. Hoping for nice weather tomorrow morning, so I can do W2D1 on an outdoor track. I can't wait to see how it will differ from the treadmill, where I did Week 1. So far, it hasn't been too bad, but I've heard how much easier the treadmill is than running outside. The outdoor track is flat, so I'm hoping it will be an easy transition.

The big difference btw the treadmill and the outdoors is the 'push-off'. When you're on the treadmill, the ground is moving beneath you and you don't have to push off as vigorously to take the next step. Expect sore calfs when switching to outdoors.

The treadmill really can be a godsend for new runners though, as it absorbs so much shock. Alternating between treadmill and outside days can be really helpful in avoiding injury if you have access to both. Treadmills can also be a great help for those of us who try to start out too fast, as it can enforce a pace.

You'll get great cardiovascular and calorie impact either way. But there are some slight differences in mechanics on the treadmill compared with running outdoors. You can mitigate many of them by putting the treadmill on a 1-1.5% incline though.

Steph_135

:bigsmile: My W1D2 was actually really good.

But today it is pouring outside so W1D3 will have to wait until tomorrow. :sick:

It snowed here last night. Yesterday it was all melting... But I'm starting tomorrow no matter WHAT!!

Katybun3

Well today was Week 1,day 2 , I found it a little easier then day1. Looking forward to Week 1 day 3. I'm feeling pretty chuffed with myself. Not been running for a few years. The last time I did running I went about it completely wrong. I went straight into running and not Walk/jogging. So glad I started this programme, I just know I'm going to do this :-)

HunnyLuvsJorge

W2D1 ... I finished it. I started strong, but then I had to slow down quite a bit. I also started to run out of steam towards the second to last interval, but I always seem to get a little stronger when I hear the voice from my ipod say "okay this is your last 90 run". Kinda looking forward to W2D2 to see if I can keep a steady pace. Have a great week every one!

barbacasec

annj1019.... are you doing the warrior dash??? I am doing the one in amesbury MA on June 25th...starting a 10k training program and lots of upper body strength training..... what r u doing to prepare ??

sixxbaby

For those of you ahead of us in the C25K...congrats...for those of us starting week 2 tomorrow, I will post a new topic first thing int he morning, I will post the link on this post though...have a great week!!!

MoLivesLuvsLifts

Great post! I'll look into this. I want to train for a 5K in May and this is the perfect workout! Thanks for sharing.

sixxbaby

ok here is the post for week 2...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/187716-c25k-couch-to-5-k-week-2

Atlantique

:bigsmile: My W1D2 was actually really good.

But today it is pouring outside so W1D3 will have to wait until tomorrow. :sick:

It snowed here last night. Yesterday it was all melting... But I'm starting tomorrow no matter WHAT!!

For those still having to run in snow and ice, I highly recommend a pair of YakTrax. They're like snowtires fro your running shoes! Run about $20 to pick up.

Atlantique

W2D1 ... I finished it. I started strong, but then I had to slow down quite a bit. I also started to run out of steam towards the second to last interval, but I always seem to get a little stronger when I hear the voice from my ipod say "okay this is your last 90 run". Kinda looking forward to W2D2 to see if I can keep a steady pace. Have a great week every one!

Well done!