C25K - Will I ever be able to do it

judcost

So, today is my W3D1 of C25K. Until today everything was good. I was even thinking "This is great after I'll try 5k to 10k". But today, while I was running i was asking myself, will I ever be able to do the 35minutes run without stopping or if i will be able to hit the 5k...

How was your experience on C25K?

hellou76

Took me a lot longer that stated, I had to repeat several of the weeks and it took me about 7 months to be able to run 5k (and that took me almost 40mins)

Be patient, don't give in, repeat weeks if you feel the need to, don't set yourself up to fail, keep on, keep on, keep on. You can do it and I am sure you will do it, you just have to want it.

Once you get there it is so worth all the hard work and determination, I knocked a few minutes of my time now and keep setting myself new goals. Once you can run for 30+mins at a time you will seriously be hooked, I have to hold myself back from not running every day now, I manage this by incorporating strength work which is helping to tone my wobbly bits and also is making me stronger and my running easier.

19shann77

Yes, you will! I also repeated weeks. I think it took me 3 tries to do the very first workout in the first week. Just run slow. Speed will come. I know it's hard, but running has really helped me lose weight. Good luck!

judcost

Almost a month ago I posted that topic and to anyone starting C25K, you will be able to do it. I NEVER repeated a week, I missed one day while on vacation in Mexico. I'm at week6 day2, i'm now running 4.4K and could finish the 5K with no problem but I'm following the program. Just stick to it, try not to repeat weeks if you can. Sometimes our body is much more stronger than our mind. It was ALLLLL in my head. Can't wait to run my first 5k in a couple of weeks.

AsellusReborn

I did all 9 weeks straight through. The program works

samb330

I really need to do this! Thanks for the motivation. Tomorrow I'm going to start. Wish me luck!!!

DangerJim71

I copied my response to another recent C25K topic:

I share this little story of my experience, not to discourage you, but to encourage you if you find the C25K isn't working for you or you encounter a setback.

I started the C25K program back in June after having quit smoking for a couple of months and doing a lot of walking (35-40 miles per week) and stair climbing.

Day one was hard but I got through it, took my rest day and did day 2. That is when I felt a little pain in my shin. I wasn't too bad so I finished my "run" and went on about my day. Within a few hours I couldn't walk. After going to the doctor it was discovered that I had stress fractures in both my tibia. It was kind of a perfect storm for me due to decades of smoking (apparently this is bad for you and your bones), crappy running shoes, and at that point still about 50 pounds overweight.

The doc made me take 2 months off running while I healed but said I could bike all I wanted as long as it didn't hurt. I stated biking like crazy and I mean I was pushing myself to where I would get winded and high heart rate. After the two months off of running I resumed my walks and threw in a few short jogs with the plan that I would start the C25K again soon. Except I found I didn't need to. All of a sudden, now about 25 lbs lighter and farther removed from smoking I could just jog 5 miles. Slow as hell but I could do it.

Now I am training for my first half marathon next month which will be almost exactly 6 months after quitting smoking. I have worked probably harder than most and have astounded myself with the results. If that sounds like a brag, well maybe it is. But what I really want people to know is that you can't ever give up. We all have obstacles and setbacks but if you are determined and refuse to give up you can amaze yourself.

Good luck with C25K. Set some goals, log your workouts, measure your improvements.

ksraider

I am a 50 year old ex-smoker and I finished C25K this morning. I never thought I would be a runner...but I am now. Not a very fast runner mind you but I am a runner. I did most of my training on a treadmill so it is a bit different when I run outside. I run at a faster pace so I have to slow myself down. I read on here that you should run for as long as you can and then walk till you are bord. That helped me when I ran my first 5k two weeks ago. If I can do it you can do it.

JSheehy1965

yes, you can do this. Totally.