prerequisite to c25k?
witeowl
Posts: 89
Hey, all. I'm more out of shape than I think I've ever been, yet I can barely stand to go out walking as exercise. It just feels too pointless to me (and it's still too cold to cycle). I've done the c25k before, but I was much more fit than I now am before I started.
What would you recommend as a good level to be at before starting? Be able to walk three miles comfortably? Be able to walk for half an hour comfortably? Be able to walk?
What would you recommend as a good level to be at before starting? Be able to walk three miles comfortably? Be able to walk for half an hour comfortably? Be able to walk?
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No excuses, no talk about it being pointless. Just start. You will be glad you did. You don't need any real base level of fitness to begin.0
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No excuses, no talk about it being pointless. Just start. You will be glad you did. You don't need any real base level of fitness to begin.
I agree. Just start. If day 1 is too hard and you can't finish, then do it again, and again, and again until you can finish, then move onto day 2, and day 3 and before you know it, you'll be running.0 -
No, you misunderstood. The walking in the C25K isn't pointless. Plain old walking is (in my feeling).
I was really just looking for confirmation that it's okay to start without a decent base so I can stop just walking around the neighborhood and start the program. You gave that to me. Thanks!0 -
I can't wait to start! I have just started run-walking so when I can't continue to run, I'm still moving.
Any other tips I could use?
Kind Regards,
Bel0 -
I think there's not much point starting c25k if you can't walk continuously for 30 minutes, because day one is that with some running thrown in. But once you can do that, absolutely just go for it. No need to walk three miles or anything like that.0
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This is a little flippant (I know there are people with a full range of weight and fitness issues here on the site), but the title kind of has the prerequisite: COUCH to 5k. So, if you are sitting on the couch...
The real answer is that if you can get up and stroll around your neighborhood for 15 minutes, you can successfully complete the program as long as you go slow, find your own pace and let the program guide you to the next level. If 15 minutes of a light stroll sounds like a lot of work, then you probably want to talk to your doctor first and it may take you repeats of days to make it through the program.0 -
i think the only pre requisite to the Couch to 5k is that you have, at one time or another, actually sat on a couch.0
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I would say the ability to comfortably walk at least 30 minutes continuously is a good minimum fitness level for beginning C25k.
There is a "pre-C25k" program, but it isn't necessary.
http://coacheaglesgirl.blogspot.com/2011/07/pre-c25k.html0 -
Thanks all for the feedback. I have, indeed, sat on a couch at some time in my life.
Good news: I went out today (even stopping by a Wally World after work to grab some new workout pants since the ones I have are a wee bit tighter than I'm comfortable with) and did W1D1. When the app told me to run for one minute, I thought, "What the hell? I thought it was only 30 seconds! Well, I'll run until I have to walk and just continue doing that." Thought I was going to die that first minute. Turns out, I was able to run each running segment without needing to walk. I know it's not exactly brag-worthy, but I still say: Yay for me!0 -
That is totally brag worthy! Way to go!!!0
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Congrats on making it through W1D1! Just stick with it, & don't forget. It's not the end of the world if you repeat a week.0
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Good for you! That is great and totally brag worthy!! Keep goin, you can do this!0
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No, you misunderstood. The walking in the C25K isn't pointless. Plain old walking is (in my feeling).
I was really just looking for confirmation that it's okay to start without a decent base so I can stop just walking around the neighborhood and start the program. You gave that to me. Thanks!
You kidding me? I burned almost 500 calories last week on one of my 3 mile walks. Say walking is pointless to someone who is 300 pounds and never exercised, the first exercise they do when they decide to change is walk. Walking burns A LOT of calories. You just dont' realize it because most people take it for granted.0 -
It's stupid that MFP tracker doesn't realize this but walking and running burn an equivalent number of calories over the same distance. 1 mile walking = 1 mile running for the same person. Running is just faster.
That being said, I think a lot of people who are just overweight and out of shape **** around "preparing" themselves for Couch to 5k instead of just starting it because they're intimidated by the *idea* of running. Sort of like repeating Week 4 because you can't face that Week 5 interval. However, some people have bigger challenges.
rduhlir - you are amazing! Keep up the good work!0 -
No, you misunderstood. The walking in the C25K isn't pointless. Plain old walking is (in my feeling).
I was really just looking for confirmation that it's okay to start without a decent base so I can stop just walking around the neighborhood and start the program. You gave that to me. Thanks!
You kidding me? I burned almost 500 calories last week on one of my 3 mile walks. Say walking is pointless to someone who is 300 pounds and never exercised, the first exercise they do when they decide to change is walk. Walking burns A LOT of calories. You just dont' realize it because most people take it for granted.
No insult intended. We're all different. It's just for me that if I exercise, I want to do more than walk. Ironically, I love hiking, but there are mountains and scenery while hiking. I know that there are a lot of people who get a ton of benefit from walking.
Please note that I've always said it "feels pointless" or that it's "pointless (in my feeling)". Never that it IS pointless. Maybe I should have said boring?
Or, maybe I should have said that it just doesn't get my endorphins up enough. 0 -
Actually time based walking versus running is not much more calorie burn. It's so close to being the same it's scary. They say it's due to the momentum in wakling versus running. In walking you are engaging your muscles to push every foot, whereas running your body momentum only exerts your body to continue with that momentum thus engaging less intense muscle activity as walking. I believe running is still a little more calories but not by much. Of course the harder intensity the walk or run will determine how much more or less you are actually doing. In any rate, swinging your arms like a nutter is going to give you an even extra push to burn more calories while you are doing your walk/run. That's why Ellipticals are so popular they engage arms and legs at the same time and so should you!0
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Way to go!! I was the same as you. I was surprised that I was able to successfully complete the first day and when I did it felt great!!! I am now on Week 4 and struggling a bit, but I don't intend to give up. I also decided that I didn't care what i looked like doing this. ( I got athletic pants from Wally World that are probably 2 inches too short for my height, but there are not a lot of plus size athletic clothes options.) I may not look pretty, but I am challenging myself to better fitness! I will run 3 miles! You will too!0
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Thanks all for the feedback. I have, indeed, sat on a couch at some time in my life.
Good news: I went out today (even stopping by a Wally World after work to grab some new workout pants since the ones I have are a wee bit tighter than I'm comfortable with) and did W1D1. When the app told me to run for one minute, I thought, "What the hell? I thought it was only 30 seconds! Well, I'll run until I have to walk and just continue doing that." Thought I was going to die that first minute. Turns out, I was able to run each running segment without needing to walk. I know it's not exactly brag-worthy, but I still say: Yay for me!
great work!!
as bob harper once said (or was is jillian micheals?lol) "YOU CAN DO ANYTHING FOR ONE MINUTE!"
I always remind myself of that when I'm down to my last treacherous minute of running...it's honestly really true! especially if you pretend it's a life or death type of situation...lol0 -
bttrthanevr - Perhaps your pants are cropped? I found a lot of + sized gear (on sale, no less) at the local Sports Authority. You might want to check them out.0
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just try it and see how it goes....... the beginning is running for only like 90 seconds at a time, if you have to cut that down then cut it down. you'll be glad you started!0
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Finishing W1D1 is totally brag worthy. Those were the longest, most miserable 60 seconds of my life. I would count backwards from 60 to convince myself the end was in site.
Almost six months later I am on W6D2 of 5k to 10k.
My advice is to keep it to a slow and comfortable pace. My worst runs were when I tried to push my speed. The speed will come naturally as you build your endurance.
Good luck and ENJOY!0 -
I wish that were the case, but they are indeed supposed to be pants. I made the mistake of putting them in the dryer! I will have to check Sports Authority.0
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LOL, bttrhanevr. I totally get where you are coming from: I felt like such a fool out there for the first several weeks.0
