C25K-Question

okcmomto3
okcmomto3 Posts: 97 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Question for you.. The C25K. On Week 5 Day 3, it jumps from 8 minutes to 20 minutes of running. Is that right?? I am a little scared to try it. I ran 10 minutes straight before and the next day I could barley walk. (Back in Dec 09' i broke my sacrum and its always hurting some) but on the other hand I really wanna complete this program. I have been doing pretty good on this so far without to much pain. But the 20 minutes scares me.

I was never a runner either before this program. Thanks for your thoughts!

Replies

  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    Go as long as you can. Then stop. Make sure you're not trying to go too fast. If you can't make the full 20 minutes, do the best you can, then try again for your next workout. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. until you do the 20 minutes. Don't be afraid to "do over" weeks or days if you need to.
  • TMLPatrick
    TMLPatrick Posts: 558 Member
    It is right.... then it drops back down on week 6 day 1.... week 6 day 3 is like 22 minutes or something and then it is 25+ from their on out. Its really not that bad though, you'll notice that the walking isn't really doing you all that much.
  • maddymama
    maddymama Posts: 1,183 Member
    Try the 20 minute run, you just might surprise yourself! When I did C25K, I thought that jump in time was going to be huge. I just made sure I "ran" so slowly that day..... most walkers were faster than me, but I kept up the running form/motion for 20 minutes.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    Yep - it is a mental thing. You can do it. Gotta release the fear and just go. Even if you have to repeat it a couple times.
  • asalembier
    asalembier Posts: 124 Member
    It is a scary jump, I didn't think I could do it, but I persevered and made it through, then week 6 day 2 is the last of the interval running and you go straight to running. I gave myself the option to check the clock at 10 minutes to see where I was and how I was doing and if I could keep going or needed a break. Turns out I didn't but I did run slow so I didn't wear myself out.

    Good luck, you can do this!!
  • zanne54
    zanne54 Posts: 336 Member
    I had the same fear. And then I nailed it on the first try. It's more mental than anything.

    Just run as slowly as you need to in order to not stop. Believe in yourself. And don't watch the clock! Focus on running to that parked car, tree, fire hydrant, stop sign. And when you get there, pick your next landmark. It will be over before you know it!

    You can do it!
  • BobcatGirl110
    BobcatGirl110 Posts: 364 Member
    everybody who does the program fears that week! Try it...if you run the whole time then great....if you need to walk...then walk to rest and start running again when you can. Running is mental and you will find out that you can do things you didn't think you could do when your head gets out of the way :) Just try....don't give up....and if you need to walk then walk. YOU GOT THIS :)
  • grimendale
    grimendale Posts: 2,153 Member
    Bear in mind that by run, they mean go at a pace that you could carry on a conversation while maintaining. If you are breathing too hard to talk mostly normally, you are going too hard. Take it slow and steady. You'll be surprised how far you can actually go.
  • DMicheleC
    DMicheleC Posts: 171 Member
    As everyone has already said yes it's right. The best advice I can give you, is slow you're pace, and this will help, if you can't manage the full 20 just keep trying until you can. I didn't find it as bad as I thought, week 6 day 3 seems much harder. Good luck :)
  • mjkanaan
    mjkanaan Posts: 78 Member
    I thought the same thing, "holy cow, are you kidding me, they want me to do what?!?! Have they seen me trying to do this? This can't be right?" My bf just looked at me and was like, "you can do it, what's the big deal?" Like everyone else has said, just go slow, and when that feels like you're crawling, go slower! It's not a race! When I got the thought out of my head that I had to go fast, it became so much easier to actually finish the running portion.

    And now, three weeks after completing the C25K program, I've started the 10K training program and I'm loving it! And every time I complete a day of that, I think to myself, "am I really the same girl that just a few months ago could barely run for 30 seconds at a time without feeling like she was going to die? The one that thought week 5, day 3 seemed like an impossible dream?"

    You got this!!! :wink:
  • Kanuenue
    Kanuenue Posts: 253 Member
    Don't cause yourself pain, but strain is your body changing! C25K is about building endurance, and like others have said you will drop back down to walk/run increments the next week followed by a longer run on the 3rd day. Go at a comfortable pace, and try to realize, you have already done a 20 minute run, just with a few minutes of break, this is just a little different. It goes by faster than you think.
  • okcmomto3
    okcmomto3 Posts: 97 Member
    Thank you to everyone! I just completed it! I can't believe I did it though! It was not that bad at all.

    Does any one know what they do run at when running? I have been doing this whole program with walking at 3.5 mph and running at 5 mph. I figured they wanted you running at 6 mph thought to be able to do 2 miles in 20 minute. I am not ready to move up any faster right now.
  • maddymama
    maddymama Posts: 1,183 Member
    Don't worry about speed yet. Go for timed runs, no matter how slow. Once you can run for 30 minutes straight, then you can start to work on bringing your pace down a bit.
  • mjkanaan
    mjkanaan Posts: 78 Member
    I agree, don't worry about speed. I was doing the same, about 12 minute miles (was running outside to start, but that's 5.0), and now that I've graduated from C25K and am doing the 10k trainer I average 6.0 most of the time, but there are days when I go back down to 5.8. Today I did intervals of shorter times and got up to 7.5 for a minute at a time. Speed will come later, for now just concentrate on getting through the running times. Be proud of that!!! :flowerforyou:
  • Flagirlof3
    Flagirlof3 Posts: 86
    You will be fine! the last 4 weeks have prepared you for this. :)
  • TMLPatrick
    TMLPatrick Posts: 558 Member
    Thank you to everyone! I just completed it! I can't believe I did it though! It was not that bad at all.

    Does any one know what they do run at when running? I have been doing this whole program with walking at 3.5 mph and running at 5 mph. I figured they wanted you running at 6 mph thought to be able to do 2 miles in 20 minute. I am not ready to move up any faster right now.

    Congrats, that is an awesome accomplishment. I am going to finish C25k this week and can't be prouder of myself. Its surprising how much 8 weeks of exercise can really change your life. Don't let the increasing length intimidate you, it's pretty much smooth sailing after week 5 day 3... just get through the tough first 5 to 8 minutes and then grind it out.
  • okcmomto3
    okcmomto3 Posts: 97 Member

    Congrats, that is an awesome accomplishment. I am going to finish C25k this week and can't be prouder of myself. Its surprising how much 8 weeks of exercise can really change your life. Don't let the increasing length intimidate you, it's pretty much smooth sailing after week 5 day 3... just get through the tough first 5 to 8 minutes and then grind it out.

    Those first 5-8 are the easiest for me!! :)

    Thanks!

Categories