Need help with C25K!

My first question would be what is causing you to stop after the first min? Are you getting short of breath, side stitches, or just tired?

I'm fairly new to C25K, but personally I wouldn't advance to the next stage unless you could successfully complete the stage you are on. Otherwise, it just gets harder and harder. Many people take more than just 9 weeks to do the program, but that's okay! Don't get discouraged. If you stick to it, you will improve and eventually you will move on to the next stage.

I tend to work out a little while after meals, so I don't eat anything right before I run, BUT if it is an off-day where I'm exercising quite awhile after my last meal, then I eat something (banana, milk/fruit smoothie, etc.) about 30 min. before I exercise.

I understand your frustration. I have been doing C25K for forever because I have a hard time finding the motivation to get to the gym and stay there. I am on Week 4 now but not actively running, plan to get it started again this week. I have seen women older and heavier than me (I am 22 and weigh 160lbs) graduate from C25K, and on time! I think you are using these women as a way to put yourself down instead of for what they really are---- inspiration! Don't be so hard on yourself!

I would definitely finish Week 2 successfully before moving on to Week 3. If you have to do it more than 3x, then so be it. Even though I successfully finished Week 1 the very first time I did it, I still repeated it for over 2 weeks because I didn't feel ready to move on to Week 2. Don't worry about where you are "supposed" to be. Just focus on where you are at!

As for the eating thing, I really have no suggestions. I have a bit of a weird schedule and have no set time that I hit the treadmill. If I can, I try to go between meals so I won't get sick while running but also will have the energy to do it. Sometimes I have to go REALLY early and will eat something small immediately before or eat nothing at all. I have no idea what the "right" thing to do is though!

If you can NOT run the full 25 minutes of intervals then you are definitely setting yourself up for failure if you try to move on to the next week of longer intervals. Seems very counter productive and useless. BECAUSE, even if you could do the 3 minute run, you STILL wont be able to do the 25 minutes of intervals!

Use the program the way it was intended!!

That being said...I always run intervals! I tried the C25K and couldn't finish week 5. And even at the other weeks I found myself to be totally exhausted when I finished a workout. I realized that I run more and farther if I stick to 1-2 minute intervals and do equal amounts of walking/running. AND, I am not totally wiped out after I do either 30 minutes or 3 miles, whichever I choose.

Do NOT think you are a failure just becasue you cannot run longer times. Some people are just not meant to and I am a firm believer that whether you run straight amounts of time or do intervals forever, you are STILL a runner!

Some of the best running coaches are interval runners!

Cmenendez - My legs feel like they'll give out if I keep running. And once I stop running, my whole body is tingly like I hit a nerve or something.

Ugh. Now I really don't want to run.

It sounds like you just have to build up your endurance. If you have to, take a week of without stressing over it. Do other types of exercise. When you're ready to try again, then come back with a clear mind and be ready to work on it however long it takes - running is a tough exercise, and the endurance it takes to run is different than endurance to go on the elliptical or do other types of cardio. Like someone else said, don't worry about when week you "should" be on - I'm willing to bet that most people take more than 9 weeks!

Don't give up. :flowerforyou: You *can* do this... you just have to stick with it and realize that slow and steady wins the race. If you keep working on it, you will get better.

I'd say running on an empty stomach will make you feel wiped out! I run in the morning and I drink a (short) glass of Chocolate milk before hand... it makes a huge difference. I don't have time to get up and eat/digest actual food before my run. There are several excellent articles out there about the weight loss and cardio benefits of drinking it... odviously, like anything you don't want to drink a lot of it because there is still sugar and calories. Hope that helps!

I, too, am trying the C25K program, and have not gotten past week 2. I tried week 3, and it was killing me (I was getting winded, and my legs were like rubber)... so I went back to week 2. I'm going from a fairly sedentary lifestyle, though, AND I'm a smoker ( I know... bad bad bad, and that's the next obstacle for me!!) So I've decided that I will not move onto the next week until I can do the previous week comfortably... and at least we're doing something!! Slow and steady wins the race!! I know a ton of people who take twice, 3x, even 4x as long to complete this program, and that's OK!! So don't fret!! You'll get it when your body is ready :drinker:

Pace yourself; with the program AND with your walking/running speed!!! Don't run too fast during the runs. Try slowing down and see what happens. You might suprise yourself. Yes, definitely repeat weeks when necessary!!! I have/had weeks when I work late and can't get to the gym or weeks on vacation. I most definitely would rather repeat a week than to move ahead too fast and feel like I've failed. This might sound stupid, but when I'm running I tell myself this: "As long as you can still breathe and you can still put one foot in front of the other, KEEP GOING!" That's my little self-motivation tool, but might not work for everyone! Keep up the running. You won't regret it. Let me know if you need a buddy!

Arielle, girl, you can do this! First and foremost, you need to convince yourself of that!

I realize everyone is different, but I'll share my experiences in case they help you find your way. This is my second time through the program. I finished it about 7 years ago, before my wedding and it helped me lose about 20 pounds, and that summer, I ran two 8k races. I was no speed-demon, but I finished them! And trust me, I had NEVER run before!

Now two babies later, I finally decided to get back into it. I think I weigh about the same as you do. I've been doing c25k for just over 6 weeks, and just completed Week 4. I only count my workout as 'complete' when I finish all the running minutes. So if I cut off even just a minute or two one day, then I re-do that day on my next run. (I don't re-do the whole week.) This helps me convince myself to keep going during my run, because I don't want to have to re-do the same workout again. I also use music as motivation - just run to the end of the song. And when I am really struggling, I use the following countdowns to keep me going because I like reaching goals: if I still have 2.5 minutes to run (I'm currently running up to 5 min at a time), I'll think 'ok, only 5 more 30-seconds to go', '4 more', etc then when I get to about 1.5 minutes left, I start counting in 10 second intervals 'only 9 more 10-seconds to go', '8 more', then sometimes I count down the last 15 seconds, second-by-second. Ask yourself, if you're going to die or throw up? no? then keep going!

I am currently a treadmill runner, because I am terrible at setting my own pace. If I run outside, I run too fast and totally wear myself out. When I run first thing in the morning, which is usually 2 out of 3 of my weekly runs, I do find it more difficult than a later morning run when I am hydrated and have eaten breakfast. I try to drink some water before starting, so I am at least a little bit hydrated, and I bring my water bottle with me. Some mornings, I will bring a handful of grapes with me, and I'll eat one during my walking interval for both the sugar to keep going and to freshen my mouth. (You know how sometimes water just tastes yucky first thing in the am?)

I am planning to run the Race for the Cure as well. Don't give up. You don't need to be done your C25k plan by then. You can just run whatever week you're at - maybe week 4/5 with 5 minute run intervals. Just because you might not be ready to run 30 minutes straight, doesn't mean you should give up completely!

If I were to make recommendations for you to try... slow down. Just to give you an idea, I am running 4.8 on the treadmill, which is a 12.5 minute mile. I will learn to run faster once my body is stronger. Try doing a few treadmill workouts to make sure you've got your pace ok. And get off the sidewalk! The concrete is the absolute worst running surface - are you able to find a low traffic route and at least run on the pavement?

Here is a snippet from an article entitled "Where to Run":
"Running on Sidewalks
It is advised to stay off the sidewalks unless absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, most people tend to do the majority of their running on sidewalks. Concrete sidewalks have the hardest impact on a runner's legs of any running surface. Many sidewalks are cracked and uneven, leaving the runner exposed to the possibility of tripping. Also, sidewalks are not continuous and runners are constantly jumping up and down to cross streets."

The rest of the article is here: http://walkingrunning.suite101.com/article.cfm/choosing_where_to_run

You are doing a lot of lower body work - not that that is a bad thing, but try taking a full day of rest, then do your C25k workout. And don't forget your stretching!

Hope something clicks for you!