Quitting C25K....

Brownski860

I'm so frustrated... I tried this program last year, and lets be honest, I was too fat to run and wasn't disciplined enough to see it through. I decided that this would be my year and I would complete it. I was able to get through the first 2 week. I rested on weekends and attended Zumba class twice a week in between my run days. Now, I've been laid up for the last week becuase my knees are screaming. I was fitted for proper running shoes back in the fall so I know that is not the cause. I think my knees can't handle the pounding. Anyone else ever have this problem or any advice? I've been alternating Ice and Heat, elevating my feet and chewing 9 Motrin a day... HELP, Im ready to give up AGAIN!

brookepenni

Maybe running just isn't for you? It's not the be all and end all of fitness and health. Perhaps you just need to look for exercise that is kind to your body. You don't want to regret any damage in years to come!

GeorgieT23

Hey! Being about 19 stone i tried c25k a few months bak, i took it easy at first then once i got into it i pushed myself and too quickly ending up with a torn ligament in my knee. not fun! Are you used to running? Definitely warm up before hand as this is somethin i stupidly didn't do? I hope your feeling better soon Im gonna try it out again in a week or so. Please don't give up! X

GeorgieT23

Also, any exercise is better than none, try walking or power walking then logging for short intervals so you don't over do it

Giraffe33991

Get a bicycle and get out there! You don't need to run to get cadio!

( I personally alternate my running and biking days so I don't have an issue with my knees)

tenax

Maybe running just isn't for you? It's not the be all and end all of fitness and health. Perhaps you just need to look for exercise that is kind to your body. You don't want to regret any damage in years to come!

i agree with this. my feet kill me when i try to run, no matter the weight. i have expensive custom made orthotics for my shoes..marginal improvement only. i can run just a brief spring, longer distances. just pounds my feet until they are painful so...many other ways to stay fit without running (i find elliptical to be a good alternative and i think i get a better body workout with it)

mp13cat

I tried to do the C25K and I had to stop. I have always had bad knees. I dislocated my right knee for the first time when I was in 7th grade. I tried to lie to myself when I was doing it. I wore my braces constantly because my knees hurt so much (braces that I normally only wear when I'm snowboarding). My husband insisted that I stop trying to run because he could see how much pain I was in at the time. There are lots of other choices for exercise that aren't going to put you in pain. As great as it would be to be able to say I ran I 5k, it just isn't worth it to do something that is obviously hurting my body.

johnpannell

My brother did this about a year ago. He was VERY overweight. He still is overweight but has since lost about 100 pounds.

His secret to finishing this was to repeat the weeks until he could achieve the goal. He was in "week two" for quite a while. He stuck with it and finished it. He did his first 5k in December 2010... in the rain with temperatures in the upper 30s.

The point to all that is: stick with it. Don't feel constrained by a concept of the calendar. Repeat the week as many times as you need until you feel comfortable that you can move on to the next step. Think of it as stages towards a goal, rather than just weeks on a calendar.

15in8

I have tried running numerous times....turns out that I just don't like it! I want to like it, but I don't. My shins and ankles dont hold up well, even when I was lighter. But I love swimming, so I started training and I now do ocean swims. They are a lot of fun and it makes for a really good day. Enjoy your lifestyle and find what suit you, don't try and squeeze yourself into a box not meant for you

Brownski860

I love to walk and have no problems there. I do own a bike and love to go on trails, except its too cold out now. I have taken aqua aerobics classes and now Zumba 2x/wk. I do not have a gym membership so I utilize my treadmill and DVDs when I can. My body was ok during the first 2 weeks of C25K. I felt like I was gaining endurance, except my knees just scream 24/7. I tried slowing down, etc. Nothing seems to work. I can walk for miles and feel fine. I always warm up/cool down and stretch. Is it possible i'm just not built to run?

normh545

i quit the challange but only because i did the 5k in only a month after starting running (100 yards i started with and at 17 stone that was not easy). i must just be lucky as i have no probs with my knees or ankles (yet)

i did have a problem a couple of years ago but it was without dout the shoes i was wearing were no good for running

dont give in it will come

the best advice i could give is DO NOT RUN DOWN HILLS OR BANKS, (slow right down) as this will hurts your knees big time

15in8

May be worth talking it over with a Physio, but find one with experience with runners. They may have some added insight, as well as being able to check your running technique.

lawkat

Is it your entire knee that is killing you are is there a particular side of the knee that hurts? If it is the left side or right side of the knee, it could mean two very different things as to why you have that pain and may be remedied.

Brownski860

mostly the centers and interior sides hurt. Outter sides of the knee feel fine.

lawkat

Have you looked into an ITBS band? That might help with some of the pain. Also, have you seen a specialist about it? They could give you a better diagnosis as to what is going on.

JoolieW68

I didn't start running at all until I'd lost about 60 pounds. When I started way back at the beginning, I actually injured my knee, had to get an MRI and found out I had a bad bone bruise. I've always had 'bad' needs and they seriously sound like someone is crinkling a potato chip bag when I walk up and down stairs.

For the first 8-9 months, I power-walked only (3 miles a day). I am now running that same distance several times a week on my home treadmill and it doesn't bother my knees at all. I do run outside when it's nice (I live in Michigan, so right now it's a tad bit cold), but really notice it in my knees and hips when I do. It's nice to do it once in a while, though, for a change of pace, and I've found I actually run faster outside.

Start out just power walking for now....build up to it. It's not a race.

jeepwidow01

Perhaps running isn't the best source of exercise for you? I have the same issues with my knees when I run; I have since high school. I was on the cross-country team then and started having knee issues then to the point I took off my junior year, and ended up being on the "red cross" list for my senior year after the first month. However, I could run track (shorter distances) without any issues. However, I can do Jazzercise with doing the low impact alternatives to not hurt my knees and TaeBo has not hurt my knees. The key is to finding something you love to do that is still good for your knees. Check with your local library to see if they have any DVD's that you can checkout to find what works best for you.

You definitely don't want to cause problems for later on down the road!!

Good luck!

teeley

I started running at 275lbs...I am still running a year later at 209lbs....and to be honest the only time my knees really hurt was after a Zumba class!!

Kimbie500

I posted this on another thread about a month ago, something else to consider:

"If you're "pounding the pavement" you're doing it wrong. I don't know about where you live, but where I live it's a bit cold to try this, but... Go outside in bare feet and run a short distance on the pavement in bare feet. Concentrate on landing softly and gently. Pay attention to how your feet hit the ground. Then put your running shoes on and do the same thing. The difference is that you can't swing/stride your feet out in front of your hips and land with your heel first when you run in bare feet because it just freaking hurts to do so. Landing on your heels is what causes that jarring feeling - and you can do it in running shoes and not know you're doing it. Take shorter strides, don't worry about how fast you're going, just work on moving as softly as you can, landing on the mid- or ball of your foot. You CAN do this in shoes, you just have to pay attention and trying it barefoot will help you feel it more easily. If you struggle to find the proper form, some minimal shoes like Vibrams will offer enough protection from stones etc. but not offer the cushioning that allows heel-strike. It'll take you a while to get used to this running form. The running/walking interval design of the C25k program would be an excellent way to train yourself to run with proper form, without doing so much running at one time that you over do. Don't be afraid to repeat weeks. You may want/need to walk more than the program calls for. Do so if necessary - you want to think of it as setting up a base for long-term success as opposed to something you have to accomplish right now."

Could be you are heel striking and that is contributing to the pain you are feeling in your knees.

Best of luck!

chevy88grl

Running isn't for everyone.

I can only run on a treadmill because I need the support the base of the treadmill offers. Are you running outside or inside? If you're running outside on the pavement, consider trying it indoors on a treadmill. I know treadmills aren't fun (they aren't called DREADmills for nothing! lol) but they are easier on your body than running outside.

If you're running inside and still struggling, then I think I would look into something else. Like I said, running isn't for everyone. Sometimes our bodies just can't handle the stress running puts on it. No harm in not being able to do it. Find another activity you enjoy!

PlunderBunneh

May be worth talking it over with a Physio, but find one with experience with runners. They may have some added insight, as well as being able to check your running technique.

I'm with this guy. It may be that running just isn't for you, but it shouldn't be causing you pain, and if it is, you should probably see a doc and find out why. Otherwise, don't stress out over it. Sure, some people adore running and it's a great cardio workout, but don't hurt yourself trying to do it when not only does it kill your knees and you don't enjoy it.

eresin

Are you running on the pavement or on grass? it could be the initial shock on pounding the concrete that is hurting your knees? Maybe try running somewhere grassy for a while and see if that helps?

My right knee was very sore when I first started running, thanksfully I work for a physiotherapist and he told me that it was just that my knees weren't used to the impact. I now alternate days running on grass with days on conrete and I try to be lighter when on the concrete.

Do you land heel first or forefoot?

nerdyandilikeit

Maybe you need to wok on your form while running? I'm no expert but I hear it's important. I did a lot of research before I started C25K.

714rah714

Don't ruin your knees, there are other excerises out there

TourThePast

There is a reason the C25K programme is only three times a week, and it's that your body needs time to recover.

So why punish your body with Zumba classes on your C25K rest days?

I'm not saying that if you don't do Zumba, your knees will magically be restored, but you're not giving your poor old body much of a chance! Zumba is high impact, if you must work out on rest days, then do something low impact like swimming or cycling.

Fatbuster205

I love to walk and have no problems there. I do own a bike and love to go on trails, except its too cold out now. I have taken aqua aerobics classes and now Zumba 2x/wk. I do not have a gym membership so I utilize my treadmill and DVDs when I can. My body was ok during the first 2 weeks of C25K. I felt like I was gaining endurance, except my knees just scream 24/7. I tried slowing down, etc. Nothing seems to work. I can walk for miles and feel fine. I always warm up/cool down and stretch. Is it possible i'm just not built to run?

If you are long in the torso and relatively short in the leg then running is probably not for you! Runners tend to be lean and long legged!

JoolieW68

The other thing to make sure of, whether walking or running, is to invest in a pair of shoes that have been 'fit' to your feet and how you walk. Don't go cheap, either.

When I started running I finally broke down and went to a local shoe store where they watch you walk to see how your feet land, if they rotate in or out, how your legs look, etc. They presented me with specific shoes that 'fit' my feet and they have been awesome. First pair of shoes I've ever owned that didn't hurt AT ALL the very first time I used them.

Proper fitting shoes make a world of difference.

Brownski860

The other thing to make sure of, whether walking or running, is to invest in a pair of shoes that have been 'fit' to your feet and how you walk. Don't go cheap, either.

When I started running I finally broke down and went to a local shoe store where they watch you walk to see how your feet land, if they rotate in or out, how your legs look, etc. They presented me with specific shoes that 'fit' my feet and they have been awesome. First pair of shoes I've ever owned that didn't hurt AT ALL the very first time I used them.

Proper fitting shoes make a world of difference.

I went to the New Balance store back in the fall b/c i was having issues with my feet going numb. I was properly evaluated and fitted for good shoes and inserts. Now, no more numbness.

kathleen2001

An Orthopaedist I used to work for would tell people "not everybody is born a runner" . If you hurt to do it, try something else.

3trees

Case study of 1 (myself). My knees used to hurt. I ran in high school. An orthopedist told me I had a choice for the rest of my life - stay in bed and not hurt my knees or be active and hurt my knees. He also told me to lie flat on my back and do straight leg lifts, one leg at a time, to build up my quads. That would help stabalize the knee, which would help. So, I did swimming, biking and TKD (karate) for 20 years. Then, one summer day about 6 years ago, I really wanted to run. Kinda like Forest Gump. First I ran a mile. I didn't follow a program, but I gradually built up. Then I added mileage too fast training for my first half marathon and got plantar fasciitis. But that healed and I got back to running (slowly). I did my first 50 (fifty) mile race last fall in a little over 12 hours. I take glucosamine, which may help. I could still lose more weight. Anyway, I'm telling you all this to say bad knees don't have to be bad forever. I don't know if it was the stronger quads, or learning to run with a shorter stride, or something else entirely, but now I'm a runner. So, if your knees hurt now, I'd back off the running. But if you want to run, I'd try again. Seeing a physio may help. A chiro has helped stop injuries for me in the past couple years. Good luck!

KeriA

OK, I am long in the torso and have shorter legs relatively speaking for a 5'6" person. I do not fit the runner sterotype but I am really benefitting from it and I have/had only lost 34 pounds when I started it. I have 70 I think to go. I am older too. However I run very slow. In fact MFP says it is a very fast paced walk but that is what seems to injure me, very fast paced walks. My slower smooth jog is really easier on me than trying to walk fast with my relatively short legs. I have a long neck too. The point is I don't worry about any definition about what I am doing and running. I know for me right now I am running. I am also getting faster but at my pace. I do not think that you should continue with C25K if it isn't good for you but on the other hand there is often something that you can change about how you are going about it to make it work right for you which is why you posted this. It has been great for me and I love the way I can do it almost when and where I want. I don't use the treadmill much. I do Aquafit too and it has been great for me. In fact I know that it works well for me with running because I can stretch in the water so well. I am suipposing you have searched the web for this. Recently I asked my brother-in-law, who is the fittest 60+ year old I know and now can't run due to arthritst in his toes if he regretted running. He said no way. He said it wasn't the running, he would have gotten it anyway and running kept him in good shape so now he is an amazing bicyclist. It quieted my fears I got from so many people saying they can't run or that I shouldn't run etc. etc. If you can't find the answer yes quit but if you do, run if that is what you want. Just find your way and don't worry what others call it.