C25K

I am one run from finishing the program! I have to say it's one of the hardest things I have made myself do. I am coming right in at 3 miles in the 40 minutes on the treadmill. I think it's a very good program that builds the runs up slowly and it's something that I have been able to do. I don't know if it's just by chance but seems like I have had a little better luck in the weight loss coming off. Keep going and I am sure you will finish it.

I successfully finished the C25K programme mid last year. Before I started I was a horrible runner - I couldn't run or jog for three minutes without hyperventilating and I was determined that I was not born to run or be a runner. C25K changed all of that. I figured out that I liked running and it helped me out of a plateau. After finishing C25K I did a few parkruns and signed up to do a 10K and followed the 10K bridge programme, which I successfully completed at the end of February in 55 mins and 17 seconds . I now run all the time - at least 4 times a week anyway - and I have signed up to do a marathon in October. I ran 13 miles yesterday and 5 miles today - something I would NEVER have even thought I would be able to do at this time last year and it is all thanks to C25K. I am a major endorser of the programme to all of my friends on here. It's fantastic . Good luck with the rest of it, I'm sure you'll do fab and feel free to add me if you want encouragement

I am in my 2nd week of doing C25K, I have never been able to run, can do aerobics and bootcamp for an hour without any problems but running, or I should say a slow jog for 60 seconds is a killer.
I would love to hear any stories from anyone that has completed the C25K programme, how did you feel when you first started, good and bad stories. And does anyone really enjoy running after first dreading the first few weeks of doing the programme.

I need some encouragement. :-)

Thanks for posting - I am in exactly the same boat, in my second week after a lifetime of hating running. The encouragement people have given so far is great to read. So thanks for posting and thanks to all those who have replied

I'm on week 7 now, and I honestly could not run for 60 seconds at the beginning!! I also suffered with shin splints, but I have stuck with it and today I ran for a whole 25 mins and felt I could of carried on. Just keep with the programme and if u still struggle repeat the week, I did week 1 twice and week 2 three times! It is honestly one of the hardest but most rewarding journeys I have been on

I'm not done with the C25K. Today I start Week 4. I grew up player soccer and basketball, but was never a "runner." But this March my bf and I signed up for a 5K and decided to train for it with the C25K. I'm not head over heals for jogging yet. I actually jog REALLY slow, but it's the pace I need to go to complete the program. Last week, I didn't think I could jog for 3 minutes, but it is amazing that I could pace myself. When I felt tired I peeked at the program and found I was almost done with the jog and pushed through.

If you need to, repeat days or weeks. Go at YOUR pace. But one thing that people have told me that has helped me is to TRUST THE PROGRAM.

Best of luck!

Hey Amanda,
I completely understand. I have always been the same way as you are (no problems with aerobics, boot camps, combat classes) but running seemed impossible. I'm happy to report that yesterday I graduated C25K yesterday. I felt that each week was impossible but forced myself through each week. Running, like the previous poster had written, is deeply psychological. What I had to wrap my head around is that often pain is psychological so I just needed to learn how to ignore the "pain" and just push through week by week. My running had been hurt by my weight when I started I was almost 90 lbs overweight and I had a lot of knee pain, my feet were falling asleep and my calves were seizing but now with a good dynamic stretching routine and with a bit of weight loss I have found everything has become a bit easier. I wish you the best of luck, and you are welcome to add me if you would like to chat further.

I finished it today! Points I particularly hated it and thought I was going to die were: week 2, week 4 day 1, week 5 day 3. I repeated week 6 day 2 lots of times before trying week 6 day 3 after the disaster that was week 5 day 3. My advice is take it slow, make sure you have proper fitted shoes and do NOT give up, even if you think you can't do it! It doesn't matter if you can't do it at the pace of the programme - any run is better than no run - you're lapping everyone on the couch as they say! I tried the 20 minute run so many times and just kept going until I couldn't do it any more and tried to add on a minute each time. Today I finished the last 30 minute run and was definitely most of the way to 20 minutes before the 'feeling like death' feeling kicked in AND I was running faster that I had previously been doing.

Good luck!

p.s. just re-read your post and thought I would add that I was always the most unfit person there ever was at school. When I'm running I kind of wish I could get my old P.E. teacher to see me - I really have come from nowhere. Week 5 and 6 were the most challenging for me. When I was finding it really hard I found this: http://www.c25k.com/finishing.htm and decided that I simply was not going to be someone who gave up. I have already downloaded the bridge programme to 10K, but plan on repeating week 9 of couch to 5k probably twice, before starting it. It has actually changed my life

Love all these comments
I'm currently on week 3 about to do day 2 tomoro.

I never thought I'd be able to do this. But like others said get outside there is more to distract u - I think I'd be bored on a treadmill

I do take it at a slow pace - my thinking is speed will come later.

Come on u can do this- I've never stuck at any exercise b4. So in determined to do this

Good luck xxxx

I was ALMOST done before I got pregnant this last time. I HATED HATED HATED running.... it was so hard to run that 60 seconds. but it got easier. I was able to run for 20 min. it was amazing. I actually don't totally mind it now.

I started over recently now that I am back to getting on track. it was MUCH easier this time around to pick up where I left off. I actually am on week 3 but it is too easy. so you will get used to it and it gets easier and better!