C25K question

Notenispal

I am in Week 2 and I happened to look ahead to the upcoming weeks. I am totally freaked out!!! I psyched myself out by seeing how fast the amount of time you have to run goes up. How am I supposed to do that? Has anyone else had trouble or does it just happen. I ran my first week 4 times instead of 3 and I'm gonna try for 5 times this week. Is that bad to do? My theory is that if I run 4-5 times a week instead of 3, I will have easier transitions into the next week. Does this make sense? Help!

Thanks!

LittleSpy

Personally, week 4 kicked my butt. I tried it 3 times, then moved back to week 3 again and then moved back to week 4 again and still struggled so finally last week I said "screw it" and moved onto week 5 and kicked week 5's butt! Yesterday I ran 20 minutes straight... last monday I was struggling with the 3, 5, 3, 5 of week 4. It makes no sense, but I'll take it.

You'll do fine. Just take your time, repeat weeks, and slow down your runs if you have to. It's about stamina. You can work on speed later.

Also, about running more than 3x/week, I don't recommend it to start. I thought like you -- that I would progress faster. WRONG. What happened was my knees started killing me and I pushed through the pain to the point I could hardly walk at all let alone walk/run for exercise. I had to take nearly 2 weeks of running and walking for exercise all together before they were okay again. Since then I've stuck to 3x/week and I haven't had a single problem.

LandBsdotingchauffeur

I would try not to overdo it--leads to burn out, but that's just me. I'm a c25k graduate and it's the best. It'll come...I had to repeat week 6 or 7 twice before I could move on so don't be afraid to go at your own pace and it's no big deal to repeat a week or day a couple of times until you're comfortable!

mmrose00

Hi ! I am also doing the C25K actually I am W2D3 ( stopped for the week, because I was having some pain in my knee), however from people I know that have successfully completed the program the consistent message is run at your own pace. If it takes 3 weeks to complete each week, then that's ok. As far as training more then 3 days a week, I have heard quite a few people advise aganst that as you need time to heal..

Many people have mentioned finding other cross training activities for your off days, but not doing more then 3 days per week. There is a very helpful group on Facebook.. (The Couch to 5K).

Hope this helps!

its_B

I don't know about the simple version so much, I have done the podcasts before, I love them because they tell you when to slow down or speed up, plus they give words of encouragement with good music! If you want to de-stress a little about the future of the program think about downloading one of the sets of podcasts. There are many different versions on Itunes, and they are all free! If you don't have Itunes, I know that at least one of the programs have a website. So that way you can focus on good music, and the words of encouragement more then the amount of time your on the treadmill or running.

As far as the time, Your body will surprise you I think! And when I did the c25k I ran 4 or 5 times a week as well. I think as long as you do great stretching, and don't push your body in any other way besides the 5k you will be fine!

I think your theory will work, and that your body will be fine!
B

arewethereyet

I did the same dang thing. I looked ahead and then quit.

I am back on week 1 now and love it. I will do week 2 then see what happens.

I mean really..........if I continue to do week 2 until it was boring, then went to week 3........who cares? I have still accomplished a great feat !

I look at the program as an interval program. It makes me move faster than I would on my own.

Right?
BTW good going for even considering it! Now RUN!! :laugh:

Notenispal

Cool! Thanks for your suggestions...I'll go do the elliptical or bike on my off days then and stick to the 3x a week. I will make sure to slow it down if I'm having difficulty and repeat weeks if necessary.

Thanks for your help!

arewethereyet

Hi ! I am also doing the C25K actually I am W2D3 ( stopped for the week, because I was having some pain in my knee), however from people I know that have successfully completed the program the consistent message is run at your own pace. If it takes 3 weeks to complete each week, then that's ok. As far as training more then 3 days a week, I have heard quite a few people advise aganst that as you need time to heal..

Many people have mentioned finding other cross training activities for your off days, but not doing more then 3 days per week. There is a very helpful group on Facebook.. (The Couch to 5K).

Hope this helps!

The pain in my knee was caused by not stretching! Just an FYI:flowerforyou:
( it never occured to me my leg muscles all met in the knee joint until the ortho doctor pointed it out!)

mmrose00

Hi ! I am also doing the C25K actually I am W2D3 ( stopped for the week, because I was having some pain in my knee), however from people I know that have successfully completed the program the consistent message is run at your own pace. If it takes 3 weeks to complete each week, then that's ok. As far as training more then 3 days a week, I have heard quite a few people advise aganst that as you need time to heal..

Many people have mentioned finding other cross training activities for your off days, but not doing more then 3 days per week. There is a very helpful group on Facebook.. (The Couch to 5K).

Hope this helps!

The pain in my knee was caused by not stretching! Just an FYI:flowerforyou:
( it never occured to me my leg muscles all met in the knee joint until the ortho doctor pointed it out!)

That could be a possibility.. Perhaps I should look into that as well as a new pair of sneakers.. I know I know.. Rule#1.. Hope to be back in business in a week or so..

Thanks for the advice!

arewethereyet

Hi ! I am also doing the C25K actually I am W2D3 ( stopped for the week, because I was having some pain in my knee), however from people I know that have successfully completed the program the consistent message is run at your own pace. If it takes 3 weeks to complete each week, then that's ok. As far as training more then 3 days a week, I have heard quite a few people advise aganst that as you need time to heal..

Many people have mentioned finding other cross training activities for your off days, but not doing more then 3 days per week. There is a very helpful group on Facebook.. (The Couch to 5K).

Hope this helps!

The pain in my knee was caused by not stretching! Just an FYI:flowerforyou:
( it never occured to me my leg muscles all met in the knee joint until the ortho doctor pointed it out!)

That could be a possibility.. Perhaps I should look into that as well as a new pair of sneakers.. I know I know.. Rule#1.. Hope to be back in business in a week or so..

Thanks for the advice!

I love to pass on info. Got most of mine from you all here at MFP! Oh yeah! I did that too. Went to a running store afraid of the prices. 89 bucks later and my feet do not hurt!

The ortho said to stretch lightly before starting. walk 3-5 minutes at slower-moderate pace then stretch 15-30 seconds on each muscle...THEN do the 5 minute warm up.

All I know is no more knee pain! WOOT!

mmrose00

Hi ! I am also doing the C25K actually I am W2D3 ( stopped for the week, because I was having some pain in my knee), however from people I know that have successfully completed the program the consistent message is run at your own pace. If it takes 3 weeks to complete each week, then that's ok. As far as training more then 3 days a week, I have heard quite a few people advise aganst that as you need time to heal..

Many people have mentioned finding other cross training activities for your off days, but not doing more then 3 days per week. There is a very helpful group on Facebook.. (The Couch to 5K).

Hope this helps!

The pain in my knee was caused by not stretching! Just an FYI:flowerforyou:
( it never occured to me my leg muscles all met in the knee joint until the ortho doctor pointed it out!)

That could be a possibility.. Perhaps I should look into that as well as a new pair of sneakers.. I know I know.. Rule#1.. Hope to be back in business in a week or so..

Thanks for the advice!

I love to pass on info. Got most of mine from you all here at MFP! Oh yeah! I did that too. Went to a running store afraid of the prices. 89 bucks later and my feet do not hurt!

The ortho said to stretch lightly before starting. walk 3-5 minutes at slower-moderate pace then stretch 15-30 seconds on each muscle...THEN do the 5 minute warm up.

All I know is no more knee pain! WOOT!

That works! I will let you know how it goes!! Continued success with your running & weight loss journey!

jimswmn

I did the same dang thing. I looked ahead and then quit.

I am back on week 1 now and love it. I will do week 2 then see what happens.

I mean really..........if I continue to do week 2 until it was boring, then went to week 3........who cares? I have still accomplished a great feat !

I look at the program as an interval program. It makes me move faster than I would on my own.

Right?
BTW good going for even considering it! Now RUN!! :laugh:

I finished the C25K last year and I'm redoing it. I could jog/walk after the first try and now I want to run. Looking ahead freaked me out too, and now that I already knw what's coming up guess what? I'm still freaked.:laugh: :sad: :bigsmile:

AshleyTaylor2017

I have to say I am TERRIFIED of the transition from weeks 6 to week 7. I was writing them in my calender tonight and was thinking "how on earth does anyone expect me to go from running 5 mins, walk 3, run 8, walk 3 and run 5--to the next week of running 25 mins..." aaaah!!! I am really trying not to think about it as I go into w2d1 tonight!! I suppose when I get to that point if I have to stop and walk-I stop and walk...and maybe repeat that week a time or two.

bethrs

Hey Guys!
Graduate here- and I just wanted to say that I KNOW each and everyone of you will kick butt!! I repeated one week and during another week repeated a day before I moved on. I went from nothing (not even particularly active- a real couch tater) to a runner.
I had broken my leg in 04 and had 3 surgeries to fix it and finally was all patched up in 2007- I never thought I would walk without a limp much less run. But here I am- I finished the program this summer and I'm going to try to do a 10 miler an maybe a mini this spring.

Rest, Stretch, Drink your water and be proud of yourselves because you are doing an awesome job! Don't let the program freak you out, the intervals are sometimes harder than a sustained effort so even though 20 minutes seems like forever that's easier than the intervals sometimes.

AshleyTaylor2017

...well i put the c25k instructions in my calender wrong...glad I went back and looked at that. So I guess there are a couple of 10 min runs time and such before the big 20 and 25 mins runs....still I am terrified. One step at a time though...thats what i keep telling myself.

LittleSpy

I have to say I am TERRIFIED of the transition from weeks 6 to week 7. I was writing them in my calender tonight and was thinking "how on earth does anyone expect me to go from running 5 mins, walk 3, run 8, walk 3 and run 5--to the next week of running 25 mins..." aaaah!!! I am really trying not to think about it as I go into w2d1 tonight!! I suppose when I get to that point if I have to stop and walk-I stop and walk...and maybe repeat that week a time or two.

Well, it's not so bad considering on week 5 day 3 you run for 20 minutes straight. I'm on week 6 and my body has been surprising the crap out of me since week 5 day 1!

The entire time I was running 20 minutes straight I just kept thinking "holy crap... I can't believe this is really happening." :laugh: Now it's like I have some kind of out of body experience when I run. Last night during week 6 day 1 I seriously started thinking I was dreaming.. or that someone was playing a joke on me. How could I possibly be doing this? :laugh: To go from barely being able to run 45 seconds to running 20 minutes straight with no big problem. Incredible!
I also agree with the above c25k grad who said the interavals can be harder than the big chunks of running. For me, the 20 minute run was easier than last night, which was run 5, walk 3, run 8, walk 3, run 5. That last 5 minutes was killer (but I made it).

splooshcar

...well i put the c25k instructions in my calender wrong...glad I went back and looked at that. So I guess there are a couple of 10 min runs time and such before the big 20 and 25 mins runs....still I am terrified. One step at a time though...thats what i keep telling myself.

One word: Podcasts! There is no thinking or planning or freaking out. I have no idea what is next and I don't want to know.
Like you, I'll just psych myself out. I started W3 monday and kept thinking "Nicole" must really like Michael Jackson 'cause this song is going FOREVER. Now I understand they throw a couple long-er runs in W3 and start alternating.

The program must work 'cause so many people have done it. Follow the plan, repeat as needed, and try not to think too much.

dmgaloha

Yep, ignorance is bliss. I was on the treadmill tonight before "Robert" told me I had to run 90sec / walk 2 min for 6 intervals. I don't know what next week holds, and based on the amount of freaking out above, maybe that's a good thing!