Starting Couch to 5K Today...Who's In?

I am on Week 2 Day 6. HEH. I'll just keep doing Week 2's run until it feels more comfortable, right now I can BARELY make it through the minute/half run so I'm not willing to push harder.

I think you should give Week 3 a shot! I felt the exact same way you did. The minute and a half was a struggle for me, and running for double that time seemed impossible. I was shocked when I successfully made it through that first 3 minutes, and then I only had to do it one more time. If I can do it, you can do it!

I am starting tomorrow. I started it once before but the person I was running with talked me out of keeping up with it. :frown: Hopefully I will be able to keep up with it this time around! :ohwell:

Hey all -
I was in the beginning of this thread...made it to w1d3 and then got side-tracked with school (it's finals week finally!). So I am starting over again on Wednesday. I know tons of girls that have done this and are now running for FUN (yeah I know crazy right??).

I will let you know how it goes!

Hey Guys! I am new to My Fitness Pal! I created my profile today! Looks great so far! I started the couch to 5K program a month ago but had to stop due to sraining my ankle (twice actually). I am hoping to run a 5K in September. So, today I did Day 3 of Week 1. I didnt get to go as fast as I'd like because I took my little puppy with me and she got tired But I'm curious, to you guys who have been doing this longer, do your shins ever stop hurting?! They dont hurt at rest but usually about 10 mins into the workout they are really hurting! Is this common and will it get better?

I'm on week two and I've never really experienced any pain in my shins or anywhere else. Are you wearing proper running shoes? Are you landing on your heel or your toe? Maybe something somewhere is a little bit off in your stride and this shin pain is a warning to adjust accordingly! I don't know but it's something to consider.

Hey Guys! I am new to My Fitness Pal! I created my profile today! Looks great so far! I started the couch to 5K program a month ago but had to stop due to sraining my ankle (twice actually). I am hoping to run a 5K in September. So, today I did Day 3 of Week 1. I didnt get to go as fast as I'd like because I took my little puppy with me and she got tired But I'm curious, to you guys who have been doing this longer, do your shins ever stop hurting?! They dont hurt at rest but usually about 10 mins into the workout they are really hurting! Is this common and will it get better?

My shins hurt a bit the first week, and that pain did go away. The running/walking actually makes my legs feel better now if I am sore from lifting weights the day before.

I know some people experience BAD pains in their shins though, and mine wasn't that bad. Listen to your body. You don't want to hurt yourself!

I'm in! I had never heard of this before, so I looked it up on iTunes, downloaded it and went out and started. So, today I completed W1D1!! I thought it would be a breeze because I've been doing 1 minute very intense, 4-5 minutes easier pace on all the cardio machines for a few weeks now. But somehow running outside always seems harder to me. Man, did those 90 seconds of walking go by fast!

Hey Guys! I am new to My Fitness Pal! I created my profile today! Looks great so far! I started the couch to 5K program a month ago but had to stop due to sraining my ankle (twice actually). I am hoping to run a 5K in September. So, today I did Day 3 of Week 1. I didnt get to go as fast as I'd like because I took my little puppy with me and she got tired But I'm curious, to you guys who have been doing this longer, do your shins ever stop hurting?! They dont hurt at rest but usually about 10 mins into the workout they are really hurting! Is this common and will it get better?

I did W2D1 today and it was the first time that my shins didn't hurt. Make sure you ice after your run and try to rub them, even if it hurts a bit. Good luck!

Hi Everyone...I am a newbie to C25K. I had actually downloaded it from Itunes about 6 months ago, but couldn't commit. I am now on week 2 day 2. I run at the local park on a walking/running trail that is great with hills, but I think the concrete trail is killing my knees. I have NEVER run before (my motto had always been that I would only run if something bigger, meaner and uglier was chasing me....I found out that the fat on my hiney was bigger, meaner and uglier than I wanted to be!!)
I wear "good" shoes, but my husband tells me that I have a heavy "heel strike". Any words of wisdom for me not to have really sore kneecaps when I'm done running (or the next day)????
I LOVE this thread...so much positive encouragement! Thanks everyone!
Lori

Good Morning! I wish everyone the best of luck with this program. Stick to it and more than anything.....have fun!!! Yeah, I know. Fun is not quite the word I would use as I am running either but I am so darn proud of myself each and everyday I finish a run. Yesterday I completed Week 5 Day 1. I thought I was going to pass out and die right in the middle of the trail but somehow I stuck to it and followed the program to a tee. Now if my legs would just stop aching........:laugh:

My husband is one of those crazy "runner types", he has been running cross country for 15+ years...he says that the soreness gets better...he promises me! Hang in there, you will be running a 5K in no time!

Most sites I've looked thru have recommended using the in-between days to strengthen the upper body while resting your legs. I'm looking into some exercises for arms, back and shoulders since you want to be in pretty good condition in those areas for long distance running.

I'm on week 2 of the program right now. A bit of a struggle at times but hanging in there...

uk redhead! fellow redheads unite! i have been working out on off days - preferably something whole body, but not too leg intensive. i *love* jillian michael's 30 day shred right now. it covers everything and is over and done with in 20 minutes, which i love. i would also suggest any cardio from the power 90 or p90x series. they are a bit longer and more strenuous, but they also rock. i like hitting my legs with squats and lunges in between c25k because, even though it's killer at first, i think it has really helped strengthen my legs and keep me on the program. have fun!

My C25K is on hold this week. On Sunday I did about 5 hours of landscaping work (lots of squatting and bending over). On Monday I was able to complete W2D1 but when I tried to do W2D2 I couldn't. My hamstrings are still soooo sore!! Taking the rest of this week off of running/walking. Going to restart next week. So now I am off to the pool. :-)

I actually started this morning since life is too hectic for me in the afternoons. W1D1 on treadmill was a success. I felt like I could do more but I didn't want to piss off my knee by pushing it or do anything that will keep me from completing. I feel GREAT that I actually started the program. I burned 344 calories. It was about a 1/4 mile shy of 2 miles so I walked the additional mileage for a nice even number. LOL. :happy:

I need to buy a heart rate monitor. Any suggestions. I don't want to spend a gazillion dollars but I want a decent one.

Hi Vonnie,

I have been using a Garmin 405 for a couple of years now - yeah, it's on the upper side of the price range I think, but it was recommended to me and it hasn't let me down - I can thoroughly recommend it. I got it because I thought I was too unfit and wanted to make sure that I was working hard enough, but with the garmin I found out that the reason I kept stopping out of breath was because I was working in my 80-90% zone for 15-20 minutes or so at a time - too high for someone with my level of fitness at the time!

I also love the way it tunes in to Garmin Connect and Google Earth - I send posts to all my friends of what I have done when out on my bike (I don't have the pedi thingo), or when I am doing my C25K as well, but it tracks everything. I can send you a link somehow if you would like, so that I can show you one of my bike rides and you can get a feel for what it does - it's pretty cluey. Just let me know.

Hope it helps.

Kind Regards,

Joy.

PS - I stop and start my C25K and lose momentum - So just to cement in my commitment, I'll be out there next week when I officially start keeping track of everything, and I'll post my progress on my blog - I'll even put it up on Garmin too (then we'll see how unfit I've become since slacking off!) Ciao.

My running partner cancelled last night and I'm not comfortable running alone at night so I thought I'd run this morning but then I slept in. ): So I'm going to try the run alone tomorrow morning. I'm really nervous about hitting Week 3 but also hitting Week 3 on my own... but I want to do this!

Wish me luck!

Good luck--- you can do it!!

It was light enough out that I ran tonight after work! It was... fantastic!!!!!

I've never been so pumped in my life! I did it! Haha.

I'm very, very excited to keep pushing onward!

Thanks for encouraging me to do Week 3.

Good job!! I knew you'd do it! Don't you feel silly for being so nervous about Week 3 now? I definitely did. I am taking time off until school is done (one more week) but hope to carry that confidence into Week 4 when I get there.