C25K week 2 comments and questions

Hey Betsi! Welcome to c25k!!!
I am in week 7 right now. Here are a few things I've learned.

Even if you aren't sure you can do it, try. I have read about people who repeat a week because they don't think they can do it. I refuse to repeat a week. I slow my pace if I need to, but I keep going. TRY the next day's run... if you can't do it once you start, ok... I have found that I may have to decrease my pace a bit or focus more on my breathing, but I have not had to repeat anything.

It gets easier! I promise.. it really does. Just keep pushing through.

Rest days are important..especially at the beginning and especially if you are new to running (like me!).

Your bp will be lower as you get into running.

Your heartrate will also lower as you get into running.

My left knee ached and so did my left ankle. I found that if I moved to the outside of the road it helped the ankle. If I kept my knee a little more bent it didn't hurt. Two days ago I got fitted for running shoes at Fleet Feet. Yesterday my run was amazing! NO PAIN! At the end, I was a little achy, but I had increased by pace AND my body is having to adjust to being in alignment after 7 weeks of running out of alignment.

As far as weight.. I started c25k at 295. I wanted to be a runner so I may be the biggest one out there, but at least I'm running. I'm lapping everybody still in the bed...or still on the couch. I might run slower than most, BUT I won't call it a jog. I am working HARD to carry my weight those few miles...and every stride has a time where both of my feet are off the ground. That means I am RUNNING. to heck with anything else.

My first week, I felt like I would puke after my runs if I put anything in my stomach. Now I have a soft peppermint while I put my shoes on. That's not much, but I don't want to throw up. I also know I need a little energy boost now that I am running 20+ mins at a time. I get up at 5 - 5:10 and am running at 5:30.

Week 2 is not a whole lot different than Week 1... I'd go ahead and try to push through.

As food goes, I prefer to run on an empty stomach.

I am on Week 6 right now, btw.

Wow this is so inspirational. I'm 236 and wanted to start the c25k but was afraid of being to heavy. I will try it thx!

I started C25k two months ago and love it. I'm heavy and not a runner so it was work for me. Keep going....it gets easier I promise and feels amazing when you complete each run/walk session they ask you to Shoes are essential so make the effort to get fitted properly...if $ is a concern then find what fits you and go online to find it cheaper...whatever works. As for eating sometimes I do and sometimes I don't....for me a banana before I run gives me what I need to get through it. If you need to repeat a day then repeat it...doesn't matter if it takes you 9 weeks or 16 weeks to do it; the point is that you do it

Don't ever repeat a day just because you THINK you won't be able to do it. That's just like quitting before you start. Surprising yourself with what you are able to accomplish on each run is the best part of the program! Good luck!

I'll be doing Week 2 Day 3 tomorrow. I felt the exact same way when I got up the morning I was to start week 2, but thought, "what the heck!" and plugged in Week 2. It wasn't as bad as I had feared, and definitely not as bad as Week 1 Day1!!!! Nothing could be as bad as that, and if I could survive Day 1 I can survive anything!

Congrats on doing week 2!

I am doing a slightly different C25K programs. Its Zombies! Run! 5k training program. I am starting my 7th week this weekend. It is an app on the phone. But in doing it I learned some things that might help. Feel free to friend me and read it.

Get fitted for running shoes early on! They are a little pricy but totally worth it. I am in love with mine. But, I waited a while, maybe too long, until I got them. I wanted to make sure I was committed and able to run a mile before I purchased them and they were my reward for being able to run a mile. However by then I had already developed leg pain from running in my cruddy old Target sneakers. The leg pain persisted for a few weeks while running in the new shoes as well because the damage was already done.

Also, I learned that there is a big difference between what you can do, and what you think you can do. I found a lot of times I held myself back because I honestly didn't WANT to run that extra minute or two, so I convinced myself I couldn't. Now I know I can, so I just suck it up and do it. My program has what is called "Free Form Runs" which encourages you to run/walk at your own pace for a certain amount of time (between 5-15 minutes). I used to treat these as optional, I can run for a bit, then walk for a bit. Now, I push myself to run the whole free form run.

Also, go slow. In the past when I tried C25K, it was often on a treadmill and I was trying to run fast, at at least 6 miles per hour. Now my typical running pace is between 4.5-5 miles per hours. Its not fast, but I am more focused on endurance and distance than speed. Right now I don't care if will take me 45 minutes to run a 5k. I can work on my time later but first I have to be able to go the distance.
Its a lot easier and enjoyable to run at your pace. Last year, I used to try to run with my boyfriend who is pretty tall and has a faster running speed than me, and I was dying trying to keep up. Then one day I ran without him and went double the distance because I was running at my pace, not trying to keep up with his.

Best of luck!

Keep going! I'm using runkeeper to train for a 10k.

I'm on week 4 and yesterday was the best run I ever had. I'm super slow (i'm a bigger girl), but when I started I couldn't run more than 30 seconds and now I can run through 2 songs (6-10 minutes). Not only that but my legs are starting to change. They have so much more shape to them. My bf can't keep his hands off them!

Running is so much fun. Like I said I'm slow but I also haven't ran since grade school! So to me I'm doing great, I feel great, I have more energy, and I love exploring my neighborhood and finding places I've never seen before.

Press through it! It's so worth it!

Wow this is so inspirational. I'm 236 and wanted to start the c25k but was afraid of being to heavy. I will try it thx!

I started doing it only slightly lighter than you (225). Not gonna lie, first couple of weeks I felt like I was gonna die and took what seems like FOREVER to recover....now, it feels AMAZING how far Ive come! You (and EVERYONE) has got this! I completed it and was up to running 5ks every other morning before work, but I got out of the habit and started over at W6D1. Feels great to have that high back again!

Edited to add: I was NOT a runner...thought had never even crossed my mind that I would LOVE running for fitness vs running for food/beer/for my life.

I started around 235lbs so do not let you weight hinder you. At the beginning I thought for sure I would not be able to complete the next session and I was always able to. Yes, I thought I might die but I did it and each time I was successful built my confidence for the next time. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt. You just may surprise yourself as I did. Being a non-runner becoming a runner is an amazing feeling. Oh and run as slow as you can!

Way to go! I knew you could do it! Never underestimate your own strength and determination! I am right there with you. I start Week 3 next week. Yikes!!

Still hanging in here, tomorrow will be week day 3!

Good for you! That's great.