Couch to 5K????

ashj3nt

Has anyone done this challenge? It sounds like a great way to get started. Just looking for some feedback!

kathrynG0705

YES!!!! I have two days left (including today) and am completely amazed at what I've accomplished. When I started I could barely run 30 seconds and as of tomorrow I'll be running 30 minutes!!! So a great feeling and I'm so glad I did it.

Philllbis

I've done it and wasn't a runner before. It's a great program and simple to follow. It starts out deceptively easy but soon gets harder. It's a great introduction to running. I like active.com's program. The interface is simple and they also have a 5k 2 10K for when you finish C25K.

tinajean141

I'm just about to start week 6 and I find it to be absolutely amazing! You can feel yourself getting stronger with every week and you can push yourself more and more each time you work out. It doesn't even feel as difficult as you progress through the weeks, and you can run faster and longer as you work your way through it.

I went from never having ran in my life at all, besides the occasional sport season here or there, to now running a mile in under 10 minutes and almost ready for my first 5k race in a month! I would definitely recommend it.

xxghost

It is amazing! I used to struggle to run more than a minute or two at a time. Now I can run for upwards of 10 minutes straight before I even start struggling! And I'm only on week 5! My advice would be to take it at your own pace. Don't feel pressured to run each "week" in a span of seven days if you don't think you're ready for that. And if you want to re-run a day, go ahead! I'm nervous about Week 5, Day 3 (20 minutes of running straight), so I may re-run the previous day (8 run, 5 walk, 8 run) one or two more times until I'm ready for it!

mommybambi

This is awesome. There is also a group on here for C25K. I started last summer and I'm about to run my 4th 5K this Saturday. I spent the winter trying to increase my speed so I'm anxious to see how I do.

Aquabird

I did it in the past to prepare for surgery and had great results. I agree that it started out easy, but I did have to repeat a couple of weeks (especially Week 5, although I think that was more psychological that anything else). I actually just started it again last night (as I had to take off of running when I was pregnant). I am super excited to be running again!

karenhray7

I just finished my first c25k workout. I decided to do it at the gym because of rain today, and ended up having to use the elliptical for most of it-shin splints suck!!! I finished it, which was mildly amazing to me, but I wonder if I'm just kidding myself that using the elliptical, even at a running stride/pace is not going to make me into the runner I hope to be some day. But it is better than just doing the "c" part of c25k!

Good luck to you OP!

Wrenbot87

I'm starting this on April 1st! I have signed up for a Color Run for my birthday in June! It's a bucket list item of mine to run a 5k! Feel free to add me! I've never been a runner, and I'm still a bigger gal, but I know I can do it!

grimendale

It's a grea way to get started. The first mile nearly killed me, but I'm signed up to do my third 10k this summer, and I am shooting for a half marathon later this year. Definitely worth doing.

Lunarokra

There is an April C 25K group of you'd like to join.

I am on week 3 and plan to run my first 5K this year.

Best wishes.

taylorckt1

Just starting and I can already tell th difference...I am preparing for my first 5K in May and am so excited...find the group 5K Summer Challenge here on MFP and join us!

billsica

I did it about 3 years ago. When I started I could barely run week 1 day 1. I was hurting!

Now I'm doing 1/2 marathon this year.

TheStephil

I am using active.com Couch to 5K program and am on Week 4. Before this I could hardly run 30 seconds. This week I'm doing intervals of 3 minutes and 5 minutes of running and I feel fantastic. It is a challenge but its worth it.

Lauramh31

I'm doing something similar but it is from Runners World. It has you run/walk 4 days a week instead of 3 and keeps you moving for 30 minutes at a time rather than 20 or so that the C25K does. I just did day one yesterday (run 1, walk 2, 10 times) and it was great. I chose my program over the C25K becuase I thought it would be easier/better to build my cardiovascular strength and endurance by doing 4 days/wk at 30 min rather than 3 days/wk at 20min, plus then it's like having built in that extra repeat day that one of the posters mentioned. Two other differences are that my program finishes in 8 weeks rather than 9 and you keep having walking breaks right up until you run 30 min - granted its only a 1 minue walk break, but it helps me mentally to know I have a 1 minute break. (for me, even when I'm strong enough it becomes a mental game of thinking I can't run anymore). For example, it is mentally easier for me to run for 20 minutes by doing: run 10, walk 1, run 10 than it is to run 20 straight, even though it's nearly the same bc 1 minute is almost nothing.

In case anyone is interested, here is the link: http://www.runnersworld.com/beginners/8-week-beginners-program?page=single

carrieous

Yes its a great program! Just make sure you are wearing proper shoes and start at Week 1, Day 1- dont try to jump ahead just because you already do other exercise

mdobies78

I did it last year along with my sister and a girlfriend. I was 33 and never ran a day in my life and at the completion of the program I was able to run a 5k. It was a great accomplishment and I feel like the program is a great way for a non runner to become a runner with the gradual pace. I used the free app on my IPhone!

VeeBethTris

I started the Active.com C25K on New Years, ran in my first 5k 3/9/13, did a 34:50, not speedy but I ran the entire thing, and I am 50. I think I will get faster as time goes on and just started the C10K. I absolutely never thought of myself as a runner. I was doing a Y Tri indoor challenge at my YMCA over the weekend, and one of trainers came over to ask me how long I'd been running. I told her and she was shocked. Said I had a great gait, light on my feet, and looked like I'd been running for years. I will rather run longer and safer, then faster, and risk injuries *For me being older LOL* this isn't for anyone just me.

Good luck. You will love it!

BeckyJo19

I'm currently on Day 2 Week 4...it's great! I was never a runner before and this program is the best way to get started.

ze_hombre

I did it last year and my wife is doing it now. We both ran a Color Me Rad (well, she kinda walked some of it) last Saturday. Its an awesome program and I highly recommend it. Last night I ran 4 miles non-stop and loved it.

I also strongly recommend:

*Read up on Chi Running
*Minimalist running shoes
*Find a running store in your area and get a gait analysis done.

Also, there is a great support forum at http://reddit.com/r/c25k

lisa799

I've done it a few times. I'm currently in week 7 - it's a great way to get moving and to train yourself to run longer times & distances. I really like the set schedule and having the accountability to do it each week. Good luck!

LMHinson15

Did it. Loved/hated it! I hated parts of it while I was doing it, because it required me to really push myself, which I now LOVE about it. It helped me discover my love for running. Started not even being able to run for a full minute. I recently completed my first half marathon! It's a GREAT way to get started. My word of advice for it is to take it at your pace. I had to redo a few weeks when the next one was just too challenging, and that was OK!

I hope you love it as much as I did!!!

Lauramh31

Karenhray - Unfortuneately, I don't think the elliptical is equivalent to running. This is just based on my personal experience. I used to be able to do 45 min hard core on the elliptical but couldn't run for more than 10 straight. I think the muscles are used differently.
As for shin splints - I was a runner 2.5 yrs ago (ran a half marathon!) and I had HORRIBLE shin splints. (even got an MRI to make sure I didn't have any stress fractures). If you do some googling there are some stretches you can do but that never helped me. Some things to do are make sure you have the right shoes, make sure you are not striking with your heel out in front of you (best to land with your foot under you), don't go too fast as building up miles and speed at the same time can cause overuse injuries. Finally, I went to a physical therapist and he said this can happen to beginners becuase our leg muscles aren't strong enough and thus running puts too much force on things like knees and shins. He said my hip muscles were weak and that was a cause for me. So consider doing some leg strenghtening exercises after your run/walk routine like squats and lunges and if you have a gym membership - the abductor and adductor machines. One other thing I did that isn't actually recommended (but I was determined to complete my training and my half) is take ibuprofen before running - that kept most of the pain away. I also found that it hurt the most in the beginning of my run but after 15 min or so, it didn't hurt as much - must have been something about all of my muscles warming up or loosening up (I have stiff hammies) so make sure you do at least 5 min warming up, maybe even 10.

hope that helps - I feel your pain!

krissielynn87

I started it like a month ago and I'm only on week 2.
I have a previous injury with my hip from basic, and it's relatively easy.
I have the app for my iphone, and i can listen to my music while doing it.
I've missed running and this is helping me get back into it.

jlapey

Considering using C25K as supplemental cardio to my 3x a week weight training. They say it's not necessary to lose weight, but I feel like it will help AND I'm concerned about strengthening my heart as heart disease runs in my family. I hear lots of good things about this program. I'm a little scared as I ran intervals a couple days ago and found it rather difficult to jog for just 1 minute. How pathetic am I?

churchim808

The Runner's World program sounds more like the Galloway program that I used when I first started running. Compared to C25k, the walking breaks are shorter but so are the running intervals. The emphasis is more on increasing distance than on increasing minutes without taking a walk break. It is easier for me to follow because the intervals don't have to change throughout your workout or your training program, only the distance does. Starting out, you might do a 1 minute walk to two minutes running for the whole workout. Each week you go farther and, if you want, increase your running time between breaks. Galloway has running groups in major cities where you split up into differnt speed groups and do your weekly long run together.

I think the C25K is fine if it works for you (I tried it once after I had my last baby) but I prefer the Galloway because it was easier for me to follow. I have completed 3 half marathons so far and more 5ks than I can count.

karenhray7

Lauramh31

Thank you!! I've been strength training for a couple of years and have very strong legs, but not so much on the hip flexors. And thanks for the tip about heel strike.