Couch to 5K????

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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!

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!

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?

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.