Week 2 - 8/6-8/12
AsellusReborn
Posts: 1,112 Member
Welcome to the second week of the Couch to 5K - congratulations on making it through Week 1! To some of us it was easy, to some of it was hard, and to some of us it was -just- right. Wherever you fell along the spectrum - whether you were the fastest or the slowest - take a minute to congratulate yourself on just getting through the week. It was an accomplishment in and of itself!
This week it gets tougher, and when we go into our first 90 second run, it's a good time to turn off our focus on what we're doing and remember -why- we're doing this. Whether your motivation is to lose weight, or run a 5K in support of a good cause - remind yourself that no matter how hard it seems now, you can dig just a little bit deeper - because when you cross the finish line in 8 weeks, it's going to feel amazing.
This week, the workout is:
Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
This workout should be done 3x this week. Check in on this thread as you go through the week - let's hear how you're doing!
This week it gets tougher, and when we go into our first 90 second run, it's a good time to turn off our focus on what we're doing and remember -why- we're doing this. Whether your motivation is to lose weight, or run a 5K in support of a good cause - remind yourself that no matter how hard it seems now, you can dig just a little bit deeper - because when you cross the finish line in 8 weeks, it's going to feel amazing.
This week, the workout is:
Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
This workout should be done 3x this week. Check in on this thread as you go through the week - let's hear how you're doing!
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Week 2/Day 1 Complete! I need to learn to pace myself better. In the 25 min I managed to log 2 miles, but I was really huffing and puffing at the end. I started out great, but as the intervals went on, I noticed I was getting slower and slower. It's also very humid here which I'm sure plays a part. Regardless, it's done and I survived! :laugh:
Happy Running and Good Luck to All today!
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Doing my w2d1 tomorrow!!! Good luck everyone!0
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Week on was completed successfully!!! Now on to week 2! We can do this!!!0
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Finished w2d1 this morning. I cannot believe how much longer 90 seconds feels than 60 seconds! Near the end I felt like I was really getting in a rhythm though and am looking forward to day 2! Good luck everyone!!0
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Made it thru W2D1! It felt pretty good!0
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I agree that 90 seconds seemed much longer than 60 seconds. But I did it, and that felt great. My partner/ daughter came down with an unrelated illness so I hope she gets back into it.0
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Doing Tu/Th/Sat again this week. Got in a 2 mile walk this morning and will tackle W2D1 tomorrow.0
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I got through W2D1 today and very excited. I was still struggling a bit at the end of each session last week so I wasn't sure how I'd do with W2. The runs after the half way mark are still hard and I'm running super slow, but I made it and I'm so proud of myself!
It totally helps having the rest of you for motivation/support.0 -
Good luck everybody. I need to repeat week 6. Many of you may catch up to me. I need this focus so I'm sticking with it and following everyone's progress.
Everyone is doing so well!! Keep it up. Keep smiling - dont look back - keep going forward.0 -
Just completed Week 3 Day 1. I think it will be a little easier when it is not so hot outside...28 degrees celcius right now.0
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I attempted Week 2 Run 1 Sunday night - made it to just about the 1/2 way mark and pulled something (thinking my achilles). Still a bit painful when I make the trek from the parking lot to my office and going down stairs. Thinking I'm taking a few more days off and will have to start Week 2 again.0
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Good luck everybody. I need to repeat week 6. Many of you may catch up to me. I need this focus so I'm sticking with it and following everyone's progress.
Everyone is doing so well!! Keep it up. Keep smiling - dont look back - keep going forward.
I'm on week 4 again myself (I think this is like my 5th time - LOL.) I know this group will catch up to me. But everytime I do this workout, I feel just a little bit stronger. I too enjoy the group and following everyone's progress.0 -
W2D1 this morning. Crazy how much longer than extra 30 seconds feels. Did fine until the last two intervals and had to cut them short by about 15 seconds each. I'm going to keep plugging away though with W2. May need to repeat next week.0
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Good luck everybody. I need to repeat week 6. Many of you may catch up to me. I need this focus so I'm sticking with it and following everyone's progress.
Everyone is doing so well!! Keep it up. Keep smiling - dont look back - keep going forward.
I'm on week 4 again myself (I think this is like my 5th time - LOL.) I know this group will catch up to me. But everytime I do this workout, I feel just a little bit stronger. I too enjoy the group and following everyone's progress.
Lets do this : ) -- just finished week6 day2 again!!! so next is that darn 22 minute run that i just cant seem to get past : 0 -- I'm going to get there. And, cant agree more - i feel just a little stronger.0 -
So, I did week one on a treadmill and it was mostly fun and I did good with some hard work. Week 2, days 1 and 2, I did outside on a track. OMG... it takes so many more muscles and so much more energy to propel yourself forward! After yesterday's run (W2D2), I was really contemplating quitting the whole thing. I wasn't able to do the last 30 seconds of the last run and I was miserable throughout the whole thing. My program is on my iphone and has you run 45, walk 60, run 60, walk 90, run 90, walk 2 minutes, and then repeat all of that 3 times.
I'm kind of wondering if maybe I'm just not cut out for this running thing. Maybe running on a treadmill... but not on a track, but that doesn't help me with the 5K I'm signed up for in October. Bummed!0 -
w2d1finished - not as bad as I thought. I even did an extra 13 minutes.0
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Completed W2D2 today! It felt a bit easier than Monday, but still definitely not easy. I think I might do an extra run on Saturday just to make the transition to week 3 smoother. Good luck everyone! You're all doing great!
AngelP, it IS a lot more difficult to run outdoors than it is to run on a treadmill. Maybe try starting W1D1 outdoors again? Your program sounds a bit different than mine--I'm not sure which would work better for you, but I use active.com's app and W2D2 is 5 min warm up walk, alternate 1.5 minutes jogging and 2 minutes walking for a total of 21 minutes, 5 min cool down walk. If that sounds better to you, you should try it! It does cost $1.99, but that doesn't seem too bad to me. I think you can do it!!0 -
So, I did week one on a treadmill and it was mostly fun and I did good with some hard work. Week 2, days 1 and 2, I did outside on a track. OMG... it takes so many more muscles and so much more energy to propel yourself forward! After yesterday's run (W2D2), I was really contemplating quitting the whole thing. I wasn't able to do the last 30 seconds of the last run and I was miserable throughout the whole thing. My program is on my iphone and has you run 45, walk 60, run 60, walk 90, run 90, walk 2 minutes, and then repeat all of that 3 times.
I'm kind of wondering if maybe I'm just not cut out for this running thing. Maybe running on a treadmill... but not on a track, but that doesn't help me with the 5K I'm signed up for in October. Bummed!
Hang in there. It may just be that you need to repeat the week. I can also tell a major difference between working out on the treadmill vs. outside. I prefer outside because I don't get so obsessed with my speed, but it does work your muscles a little differently than the treadmill. Plus, not as much cushioning on pavement/track as on treadmill. Don't give up. Just give yourself a breather.
Also, I think your program is a little different than the regular C25K. My program for W2 has me alternate 90 seconds of jogging with 2 minutes of walking. Ends up being a total of 9 minutes running, only one minute more than last week.
I am struggling with getting the last few seconds of jogging in with each interval and will probably repeat W2 myself.0 -
Completed W2D2 today! It felt a bit easier than Monday, but still definitely not easy. I think I might do an extra run on Saturday just to make the transition to week 3 smoother. Good luck everyone! You're all doing great!
Bridget - I wouldn't recommend doing an extra run just yet. It's very easy to overtrain when you first start running. Maybe try a walk or some cross-training instead. Sounds like you're doing great!0 -
Completed week 2, day 2! Plus jogged a few more longer intervals a 3 min and a 2 min. Just to see if was going to be able to handle week 3... :-)0
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Completed Week 2/Day 2 this morning and it was a bit easier than Monday (W2/D1). I struggled a bit toward the end but not as bad as Monday. Everyone is doing great! Hang in there!0
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Completed Day 1 last night. The only tough part was near the end when I thought I might just give up; I was able to complete all the runs, and that was fantastic! The hardest part, though, was not looking at the timer. I'd do really good for the first half of the run or so and not look at the timer, then I'd get curious and peek, and I'd see that I still had 30-45 seconds left and the last part of the run would be so much harder because I was thinking about the time and not focusing on the running. **sorry for the run-on sentence** Hopefully day 2 will be better tomorrow!
I will say, though, that I LOVE watching myself run in the mirror (on the treadmill in the gym). It's not that I'm fantastic-looking or have perfect form or anything. It's just that seeing my body do something I never thought I'd ever do was motivating in itself; it kept me going. I just need to focus on the image in the mirror and not the timer. lol0 -
Finished w2d1 this morning. I cannot believe how much longer 90 seconds feels than 60 seconds! Near the end I felt like I was really getting in a rhythm though and am looking forward to day 2! Good luck everyone!!
Thank you for that. I read that last night and did W2D1 this morning. It was nice to know that it wasn't just me; I swear 90 seconds felt like 3 minutes. lol
Done and ready for W2D2.
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Week 3 Day 2 completed. Still loving it.0
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I finished W2D2 this morning. I made it through all the runs but on each run started to wonder when it would be time to walk right before the end of the 90 seconds. I will see how day 3 goes!
Good Job everyone!! Keep up the great work.0 -
Did W2D2 this morning and felt great. Is anyone else running with a jogging stroller? My arms feel like they are getting quite the workout too!
My friend and I just signed up for The Color Run on sept 15th, so I will have just finished week 7. I am so excited to have this to look forward too and keep me going! Anyone else signed up for a race?0 -
Did my W2D1 today - going to be W/F/Sun this week, my daughter head-butted my shin on Sunday and oh my gosh, I am finally just getting to the point where it doesn't hurt to walk. I almost thought I needed xrays, and was so worried about today's run - the warmup and first run hurt a little but I actually feel great now. I'm gonna be the odd one out and say that Week 2 felt so much easier than Week 1 - I'm not sure if it's because I have a week of it behind me or just that running 6 intervals felt easier than 8 (even if it was a minute more) but I even pushed it so my route was 2.5miles today. I might never be an obsessive, addicted runner - but after today I am totally confident that I will be ready in time for my 9/23 5KSo, I did week one on a treadmill and it was mostly fun and I did good with some hard work. Week 2, days 1 and 2, I did outside on a track. OMG... it takes so many more muscles and so much more energy to propel yourself forward! After yesterday's run (W2D2), I was really contemplating quitting the whole thing. I wasn't able to do the last 30 seconds of the last run and I was miserable throughout the whole thing. My program is on my iphone and has you run 45, walk 60, run 60, walk 90, run 90, walk 2 minutes, and then repeat all of that 3 times.
I'm kind of wondering if maybe I'm just not cut out for this running thing. Maybe running on a treadmill... but not on a track, but that doesn't help me with the 5K I'm signed up for in October. Bummed!
Running on a treadmill is -really- different than running outside- I actually had this discussion with a friend last week because we were debating the pros and cons of training for a 5K inside or outside. Some things that help, your shoes matter a lot outside AND it's summer = humid, which makes breathing harder. When you run outside go a little slower than you would on the treadmill - just like anything else you have to work up to it! Don't beat yourself up - you tried and you are miles ahead of people still sitting their butts on the couch You'll get up to speed - October is still 2 months away.
Some things to help if you want to treadmill train in the interim -
1) Are you upping your incline? If you're not, the treadmill is actually doing more of the work for you than you think - try upping it if you have the kind that can, I've heard 1-2%.
2) Try to do at least 1 run outside a week - yeah, it's harder, but there's no substitute for outside training if your 5K is outside.
3) Don't panic - some of what bothers people training now is the humidity. A lot of that will dissipate in October
In short - you CAN do this and you WILL do this. So you didn't do as well as you hoped this week - oh well! You put effort in - and THAT is why you will succeed. 0 -
Just done week4 day1 this morning and i have to say im amazed ! Each week i set off thinking i'll never make it and then im amazed when i do. I don't know how this program works ( i suspect magic is envolved somewhere ) but it does.
So far so good 2 more runs to do all being well and then its on to the dreaded week 5 !
Keep up the good work guys, if i can do this anyone can!0 -
I'm on Week 4 Day 2 (I did day 2 last night) and i'm really loving it! I felt really good when I did day 1 this week but for some reason last night, I felt like I was going to die by the end. I am about to sign of for a 5K in September which would end up being the week after I finish Week 9 on the program. I really need to start training on a track or road because I know there's a huge difference between treadmill running and non-treadmill running. I'm dreading it because I know it will be harder. The treadmill makes me run and keeps me moving, I don't know how I'll do propelling myself forward. I might try my day3 run this week on the track in my gym and see how I do. *gulp*
Good job to everyone sticking it out! I've seen several comments about repeating a week and I honestly have considered it myself except now I can't since I'm supposed to run that 5K in September. Do what you need to do to be successful!0 -
I completed W2D3 last night and switched from holding a stopwatch to listening to the podcast on an mp3 player. Wow what a difference the music makes! :happy: While I wouldn't say it was easy, I think the key for me was to be distracted, which made it not as hard. Like so many of the previous posters, I am surprised and thrilled that I've made it this far. I've taken a few extra days in between some of the sessions to try and let my knees get used to the shock (started a week before the group and am now right with the group), but I'm sticking with it. The support of this group is very helpful - here's looking forward to week 3 -- we can do it!!!0
