Couldn't finish c25k on day one:(

I have some advice. Keep going. The whole point of C25K is that you do what you can do, then each day and each week you try to do a little more. For some people, the first week is too easy. For others, it's too hard. Don't worry about it. Do what you can do, and each time out, try to do a little bit more. So you can't go as far as the program goal on day one? So what. Not a problem. Do what you can. Then try do more.

Your neighborhood is hilly? GOOD. Then you'll get into shape much faster. Feeling wiped out? GOOD. That means you're trying your best to achieve something you could not previously do. Feeling frustrated? GOOD. That means you care. Keep trying. Keep going. Keep improving.

Very sound advice; keep at it.
Treadmills set with a 0 incline are doing the work for you so if you are doing C25K on a treadmill then please use atleast a 1% incline. I have had friends who have done C25K on ellipticals and been successful, but same rules apply resistance is key.
Most running programs are set-up to allow you to repeat days until you are feeling comfortable to move to the next level, do not wait til you think it is easy push yourself atleast one day a week. Finally take those rest days in between your run days and walk.

Hills are rough. Hills and running too fast are a recipe for disappointment.

Go slow. So slow you could probably walk as fast as you're running. If you're on a treadmill, keep nudging up the speed until you have to break into a jog and go at that pace. (For me, that was 5mph to start. I could still walk at 4.5mph, and my comfortable walk pace is 3.5.)

If the one minute interval is too much, take it back a step. Think of it as week .5 instead of week 1. Run 30 seconds then walk instead of one minute and walk. Or for the first week, just run slowly until you need to take a break, then walk until you catch your breath, and repeat.

Also, when I run, I like to think to myself that I'm dancing. I try to move in time to the music, maybe mouth the words a little, get into the groove a bit. If I tell myself I'm dancing, I know damn well I can dance for longer than one minute. If I have a mile left, I know that will take me about the length of three songs. So I tell myself , "You can keep dancing for three more songs!"

Yes, DON'T STOP trying. I was much the same way when I started. So what if you have to do week 1 for 4 weeks. You will do it! Some run days are better than others too. I started C25K a year ago. I couldn't finish the weeks on time always but I never gave up. Monday on am on week three of B210K. I'm so excited. You CAN do this!

Stick with it. Be faithful doing it 3 or 4 times a week. Don't worry about speed. Go slower than you think you should. I think that most of the hard part of running is mental. Don't listen to the voice in your head that tells you to stop. You can do it!

This is my first post ever on the boards here. I started using Myfitnesspal April 16, and have lost a lot of weight, starting at 286. I'm 232 now, been at that level for several weeks, kind of stalled out. I started on the c25k program 8-19 last Sunday. I'm almost 38, haven't really run since high school, and have always hated it The time I ran a mile in high school, it was something like 11:30 mile. So not good then, not super now. I've skipped a couple of off days, and did week 2 day 2 today. My first day of week 1 was on treadmill, but I was bored and have been outside the next 4 jog days. So my legs hurt, lower legs outside muscles and calves in particular. I'm forcing myself to just power through it, even though jogging isn't fun to me. I jog fairly slowly, I don't run super fast. I did 2.36 miles today at a 13:08 min/mile average over the 31 minutes, and a speed average of 4.57 MPH. Again, not super fast, but I improved over yesterday's jog/walk. It's starting to get a little bit addicting to me, and I'm stoked when I look at my results and see a little improvement over the previous time. On week 2, i'm pretty worn out by the time I'm done with the 6th jog, but still push through. Week 3 is making me nervous lol.

I will say that I use an app on iphone called jog log. It has the couch to 5k program in it and will tell you when to start walking and running. I also play music when I run. The Jog Log app will keep logs and will export map routes and uses gps as well. I like it.

For those people who have done the couch to 5k program and weren't really runners before, which week did you feel had the most increase in difficulty for you?

I am the one Snooozie mentioned in her post. The first few weeks are the hardest. Just do what you can. I remember there were some days my legs just ached, I really needed those rest days. At 52 years old I was never a runner. Allways finished last in high school and still do not consider myself a runner, I call it slogg, but when I started I could not run across the street. Trust me every day will get a little easier. Now I have done 2 5k's. Feel free to add me as a friend. I would be happyt to offer you support.

This is my first post ever on the boards here. I started using Myfitnesspal April 16, and have lost a lot of weight, starting at 286. I'm 232 now, been at that level for several weeks, kind of stalled out. I started on the c25k program 8-19 last Sunday. I'm almost 38, haven't really run since high school, and have always hated it The time I ran a mile in high school, it was something like 11:30 mile. So not good then, not super now. I've skipped a couple of off days, and did week 2 day 2 today. My first day of week 1 was on treadmill, but I was bored and have been outside the next 4 jog days. So my legs hurt, lower legs outside muscles and calves in particular. I'm forcing myself to just power through it, even though jogging isn't fun to me. I jog fairly slowly, I don't run super fast. I did 2.36 miles today at a 13:08 min/mile average over the 31 minutes, and a speed average of 4.57 MPH. Again, not super fast, but I improved over yesterday's jog/walk. It's starting to get a little bit addicting to me, and I'm stoked when I look at my results and see a little improvement over the previous time. On week 2, i'm pretty worn out by the time I'm done with the 6th jog, but still push through. Week 3 is making me nervous lol.

I will say that I use an app on iphone called jog log. It has the couch to 5k program in it and will tell you when to start walking and running. I also play music when I run. The Jog Log app will keep logs and will export map routes and uses gps as well. I like it.

For those people who have done the couch to 5k program and weren't really runners before, which week did you feel had the most increase in difficulty for you?

This sounds so much like me, only I'm older. I hated running my whole life. I'm an addict now. I agree with the music while running. Helps me not focus on the run.

I think the first three weeks were the hardest for me. After that I was sure I could do it even if it took longer than the program said. I recommend signing up for a 5k. Just go! Even if you can't run the whole thing you will realize that you can finish! Just keep going! I'm now on week three of bridge to 10 k. I run slow but at least I'm running!

I have the ease to 5k app on my phone which starts running for 30 seconds instead of a minute. All I can advise is go slow as you can. This isnt the day to be mimicing Usain Bolt!!! Persevere you will get there I promise. When i started I too could not run for a minute, my longest run to date is 90 minutes... ( all be it very slow!!)

Paula x

I'm trying to work myself into jogging (I don't want to say running because I have never been a runner, but I could be a jogger ;-) )), so I downloaded a C25K app yesterday. I'm going to try it out tonight and really hope it's something I can stick to. I didn't have a chance to read through everyone's responses to this post, so my question has probably already been answered. Since I'm just beginning should I do it every day or say, every other day? I'm also going to go for a second round of my 30 Day Shred dvd and I'm getting an elliptical off of layaway at the end of this week.

You're 'supposed' to do C25K three times a week, with a days rest in between each run. However, I say supposed to as I'm sure I'm not the only one that did the program differently: I followed the program for week one, and then from week two onward I ran for two days on a trot, took a day off and repeated for the week- so I did four runs of each week. Then from week three I started running twice a day- honestly, see how your body feels.

I graduated from the program last month and now have a 5k race under my belt, and finished a 10k run tonight. I run twice a day on a two day-rest day-two day pattern, doing one shorter run in the morning/intervals and then a longer run in the evening/hill training. I'd be tempted to see how your body takes to it, I can't cope now without my morning run, the day just doesn't flow properly and I find the hour out in the evening really helps to set the day straight. However, what I would say is that I'm quite young (23) and I wouldn't be following my pattern if I'd had any previous injuries/if I started to hurt anywhere from running.

Don't get yourself down...I couldn't finish the day one either. A friend of mine who runs all the time recommended repeating day 1 as many times as necessary to get through the whole thing. You will be able to go further each time. Once you are able to get through day 1 repeat it for a week. Then progress from there. It isn't a point of getting there in 8 weeks. It's the point of getting there. Keep up the good work.