Couch to 5k Anyone?

DrBorkBork

Everyone seems very knowledgeable about C25K and I've looked into the program and am very interested. My biggest concern is should I wait until I lose more to start "running/jogging" to prevent injury? I'm 5'8", 285 lbs., my weight is pretty well distributed. Any advice?

Thanks in advance!

I think you should be fine as long as you stretch really well beforehand. Remember they get 300+ contestants running day 1 on Biggest Loser

RushinBruisette

For those who run outside (or even on a tread and wanna change it up...) and you have the Droid phone...here's the website to find the app to help you not watch the timer http://sites.google.com/site/c25kapp/ and then this site shows for other phones as well: http://www.c25k.com/ I'm on W1D3 tomorrow and can't wait to try it out!! Good luck all and happy walking/jogging!
XoxoxoX Bru

mamagooskie

I'm going to be starting the C25K on monday. I need to buy new runners (I haven't owned a pair in years) and I'm going to see how it goes. I'll be sure to post about my progress!!

nikki_zav

I'm already in a Couch to 5K thread, but just wanted to say great job to everyone working hard on this program!! Over the past few weeks I have discovered how AWESOME interval training is. My legs and lungs want to DIE at the end of most days, but it feels so amazing to complete each run.

Some the tools I use are on my iPhone. First, downloaded a ton of upbeat music that keep me bouncy and motivated...good beats keep my feet moving! RunKeeper is my next favorite purchase ($10). It tracks distance, time, elevation, pace, speed and more. You can put in the intervals you need for C25K (took me about 10 min) and you are ready to go with your training!! There is a free version as well, but it does not do the intervals. My 3rd favorite new purchase was a Polar HRM. A little more expensive at $100...buts it's been an invaluable tool. No more guessing when doing interval training. (Keep in mind that when you are doing the walk portion of your C25K, your heart rate is elevated from the run, burning a few more calories than a normal walk). Also found out that I burn almost 900 calories when mowing the lawn!!

Kick butt everyone!!!

RushinBruisette

Quoting myself:

For those who run outside (or even on a tread and wanna change it up...) and you have the Droid phone...here's the website to find the app to help you not watch the timer http://sites.google.com/site/c25kapp/ and then this site shows for other phones as well: http://www.c25k.com/ I'm on W1D3 tomorrow and can't wait to try it out!! Good luck all and happy walking/jogging!
XoxoxoX Bru

Well, I decided to do Week1 Day3 of Couch to 5k today instead of tomorrow...tried it out with the new droid app and it was great! I'm pouring of sweat (so I'm a bit stinky, lol) but I love it!!! Can't wait to get to week2!!! XoxoxoX Bru

RushinBruisette

Hi all!! I just finished Week2Day1, whew!!! I'm beat, but I love it!!! Hope you all are well Have a wonderful week!! XoxoxoX Bru

melodyg

Hi all! For anyone looking for a more conservative program than the C25K, I found the link! (This is a 7 month program building up to a 5K... though the first month is walking so if you already walk all of the time you may want to skip it!)

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=27

RushinBruisette

Hello Hello!! I started Couch to 5k last Tuesday... I just finished W2D2 today and felt great!!! I just came across a good site to use for anyone who wants to track their walks/runs mapmyrun.com It really helps see exactly how far you went plus how much you average mph Its free as well and it helps me accurately log my pace for my walks for here. If you join, feel free to add me brunettewife. I'm gonna weigh in Friday, I'm hoping that my making up for last weekend( gonna burn an extra 150cal each day this week) will help me get back on track. I tried a few new drink mixes. Ocean Spray Cran Grape and Cran White Peach (on the go for both) and Great Value Grape...they are great It's suppose to be rainy all week so hopefully I can get my last day of C25k in for the week, then it's gonna be a lot of dancing. I've been considering getting a workout dvd, I haven't made it up to Walmart to see what's out there, but do you all have any suggestions? I've also thought about heading to youtube.com and seeing what kinds of videos I can find there to do for free. I hope you all are well and having a wonderful week. XoxoxoX Bru

vineas

Finished week 4 day 2 this morning. I'm really liking the program, and it'd doing wonders. I run in the mornings, 5 AM or so to avoid the daytime heat, plus I'm kind of a morning workout person anyway.

RushinBruisette

I completed week2 and can't wait for Monday to start my week 3!! I have a few friends on facebook that have recently started thi splan and a few on mfp as well! Keep up all the hard work all, remember, it may be a little hard now, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger! XoxoxoX Bru

JennaMarie3

hey guys, i just found this blog, so i thought i'd join in. i started a c25k program a couple of weeks ago. I just completed my week 3 day 1 workout. it's definately challenging, but i am starting S-L-O-W. I am doing it on the treadmill, and only running at a speek of 4.5mph to begin with. i know its slow, but i figure that i have to start somewhere, so for now i will work on endurance, and then when i can actually jog for the full 30 minutes, i'll work on speed.

I downloaded an app from itunes called c25k awhile ago to help me do this. It's very nice, bc i can listen to my own music while i work out, and it will dim the music down and beep a high pitched tone to let me know when to start jogging and a low pitched tone to let me know to start walking again. That way i do not have to continuously stare at the timer on my treadmill. That got very boring for me.

hopefully we can all motivate each other to continue thru our programs!!

RushinBruisette

I was shocked, but I completed Week3Day1 and I was so nervous about it. I wasn't nearly as winded as I thought I'd be! Woot Woot!! Hope everyone else is doing great!

june78

I completed Week 1 Day 1 this morning at 5:00 am. I was worried that it would be hard to do but I actually found it to feel really great. I dont own running shoes and my shins started hurting but other than that I felt great. I cant wait until day #2 on Wednesday. I have never been a runner but I really looking forward to seeing how well this program works.

christied954

I completed Week 5 Day 3 last night and ran 20 minutes straight without walking!!!! I was nervous about that day, but I surprised myself and made it through! I love Couch to 5K!!!

june78

Finished Week 1 Day 3 this morning. It seemed harder than the first day. I am really looking forward to Week 2 Day 1 on Monday but also very nervous. I really need to get some good shoes I think. I really enjoy getting out and running in the mornings when it is cooler out.

vineas

Just finished week 6 day 1 this morning. For some reason, I had a harder time finishing today than I did week 5 day 3 where I had to run for 20 mins straight. I don't get it...

RushinBruisette

Well, I have completed all of week 3 and start up week 4 Monday Hope everyone has a safe and healthy weekend. XoxoxoX Bru

RushinBruisette

I start week4 of the C25k tomorrow. On one of my walks yesterday, just for the heck of it, I decided to jog down one of my neighborhood streets, I figured 3min at the most (since that was week3's biggest amount) and I made it to the end of the street and back and a little around the corner for a total distance of .41 of a mile and a total time of 5min 40sec!! Woot Woot!! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Enjoy your evening everyone

SillySkittles

Getting ready to go for my W2D1 in a half an hour! Really nervous/scared considering I felt I had a REALLY hard time with week one! I keep trying to tell myself, what's another 30 seconds of running when you're already doing 60 s...

I noticed that running with someone is a heck of a lot easier than trying to go it on your own, though...

neuroticwriter

I'm starting it this week!!! I'm really excited. Many of my friends (out of state) have talked about it and I have decided to give it a try. Unfortunately I would love a buddy to go with me, but I don't think any of my friends that live near by will want to get up at 5:30am and go running with me.

pixiestick

I started c25k two years ago this October. It was a pain in the butt and I only ever got to week 7... that's because I ran the 25min I was supposed to mid-week and just kept running. It was the most thrilling thing! Wound up running 8k that day (I was SO sore the next morning) and I have been running ever since. Did two half marathons last year and one this year and am scheduled for my first ever full marathon in 3 weeks... that's over 42k!

Just hang in there... you will cross over that threshold and you will find that runner's high.

As a side-note, I am running my first ever 5k race a week after the marathon :flowerforyou:

amysj303

I just finished the 2nd week of couch to 5k, ready to start week 3 today. I wanted to post on this thread for encouragement and inspiration, thanks!

oohnee1

Just did my first day of the couch to 5k today. So far so good..lol although I know this is the easiest of it!

amysj303

I did day 1 of week 3 and it went alright, I walk for about 15 minutes afterwards, though, because I take a course around the lake near my house and when I get done I am only about halfway around so I have to keep going!

mamagooskie

I did day 1 of week 3 today and I also do a bit of an extra walk afterwards....I found this week easier than week 2 for some reason?

NichiM

Keep up the good work peeps! I was not even close to a runner and did the C25K program. Completed a 5k in 8 weeks without walking! I recommend Robert Ulrey's Podcasts...

Sadly I quit running after that but would like to start again. Good luck and keep pushing!

chicagomom

I'm starting this as well. Week 1 Day 2.

BTW, how do you record this in your exercise log?

RushinBruisette

Welcome to all the new people! So many faces!!!

chicagomom, I divided up how many minutes of walking and jogging than went into exercise database to see how many calories each burned than added the 5min brisk walking/warm up to the rest. I went in and added my own exercise for each week, if that makes sense, there may be an easier way, but that's how I plan on logging it. I'm coming up to the weeks where it starts going to a different routine one day a week, so I will make a new exercise up for those days as needed.

amysj303

I mapped the route and divided miles by hour to get my rate. In my case it took me 45 minutes to walk/jog 2.8 miles which was 3.7 miles per hour.

chicagomom

Thanks for the information. I'm trying the Podcasts for Running Couch to 5K music this morning; I'm finding music is really important to my workouts.