Think You Are Too Big For c25k? That's What I Thought. Too.

This probably could have gone in to the Success Stories part, however, my true success story will come once I am at goal. I really just want to use my experience to help motivate someone to try something new.

I always thought running was for people who were already in shape, over at very least, not fat. At 5ft 4in, 235 pounds, how was I going to run, or even jog, when I get winded going up a flight of steps? I had heard a little about the Couch to 5K program and read how it was a gradual build up of endurance and could take a couch potato (ME) to running a 5K. Right.

The last week in June, I thought “What the heck. I’ll give it a shot. The worst that will happen is I will suck at it and go back to random workout videos on YouTube.”

So I tried it. Day 1 includes a 5 minute walk and then jogging for 60 second intervals. Funny joke. I couldn’t make it the 60 seconds. I made it between 30-35 seconds each time before I was panting, drooling, nose running, and my legs wouldn’t go anymore. I would continue walking until it was time to jog again, and end up being done just as quickly the next time. By the time I got done, I was hot, sweaty, dizzy, and sick to my stomach. That went well.

Week 1 Day 1
235lbs
Waist: 49 inches
Hips: 50 inches
Thigh: 31 inches

But I kept going. Day after day, week after week.

Week 5 freaked me out. I was able to do Day 1, which has you jogging for 5 minutes at a time. Trust me when I say I was VERY impressed at myself for being able to do that when just a few weeks ago I couldn’t even go 1 minute. Then I did Day 2. It wasn’t until I had already started that I realized it wanted me to jog for 8 minutes…oh no. I can’t do that! But I DID.

Week 5 Day 3. Brisk 5 minute walk, then jog 20 minutes with no walking. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I went out. I tried my best. I came home and told my husband to guess how far I made it. “Ten minutes?” Nope. “15?” Nope. I MADE IT THE ENTIRE 20 MINUTES!!!! Wahoo!!!!

Now, by no stretch of the imagination was I fast. But I did it. Slow and steady doesn’t always win the race, but it does finish it. That was the turning point when I realized that I can do this. I can’t give up now. I just went from jogging 30 seconds to jogging 20 minutes in a month. I was so thankful that I had decided to give it a shot, even though I was embarrassed at how poorly I did at first, and even more thankful that I kept going. "You don’t know what your limits are until you push them." How true that is, but until now, I was never one to push limits.


I just finished week 7. There is one week left, and as much as I thought I should wait until it was completed to share this, I just couldn’t. I have no doubt in my mind that I will finish week 8. I am so impressed and proud of myself, and I just want you to know that if I was able to come this far, and prove so much to myself, anyone can. I just kept telling myself over and over as I was going "You don't have to go fast, you just have to go. This isn't about speed, it is about endurance. Go at a pace that is challenging but not so hard that you die with ten minutes to go."

There isn’t a TON of changes within my body, but as I already mentioned, my endurance is much better. And my CONFIDENCE. Wow. I have always had super low self esteem. For the first couple weeks of this program, I wouldn’t jog at all if there was a person, a house, or a vehicle within my line of sight. I was so afraid someone would see me and laugh at me, call me names, go tell their friends “Haha I saw this fat girl trying to jog and it was so funny!” Literally even just the thought of someone witnessing my attempts at exercising brought me to tears. By the end, I barely noticed when people went by and even had a few brief interactions with others who were out walking/biking. I will be honest, I did have a couple people stare, and one person did yell something incoherent at me. And yes, it did bug me. But the amazing thing is that it didn’t bug me enough to make me stop. And for anyone who knows me, that is a HUGE accomplishment.

Week 8 Day 1
Weight: 221.2
Waist: 46 inches
Hips: 48 inches
Thigh: 30 inches



Sorry I was going to include photos, but my camera is being a piece so I can't get any After shots.