C25K Stories?

I was like that. I did a 'sub-week', with 30 second intervals of running. We are not far off in size.

I also talked to my doctor and she gave me an inhaler to use if I need it. I've never had asthma before, but I've also never been this overweight and exercised before. I don't get it on the elliptical or bike; only running.

The first steps are the hardest! Keep it up....I never believed I could do this, and I'm finished with week 4 (although I'm repeating it so I'm not too tired for my 5K on Saturday...run/walk), AND I did a 20 minute run after my W3D3 workout, in my post cool down. You can do it!

I've told my story so many times, I expect people are tired of hearing it! Since you asked..... I started in a group class that was based off the C25K. I totally sucked it up. I could hardly run the 30 seconds and I often had to repeat weeks when the rest of the group moved on. I was dead last all the time and embarrassed at my inability to do it. I just told myself that the class started with 50 and ended with 23 so I was not last, but the first loser. The class ended with a 5K and I was able to run the first mile and that was it, the rest was intervals like in the class. After that, I just wouldnt quit. I did other cardio during the week and would run as far as I could on Sundays, before long... I hit three miles.

It took FIVE months, not 10 weeks.

Now I'm training for a 10k and I've learned a few things...
1. Slow down. When I fell like I'm going to die I'm usually going to fast. I will "run" at 14 miles an hour before I stop.
2. Repeat training weeks if needed.
3. Listen to my body and don't try to do too much. Take my rest days and don't feel bad about it.
4. It's hard!

And yes, my lungs felt like they were falling out. So bad, I went to the doctor to have my heart/lungs checked out. Turns out I was OK, just far from in the right shape to get very far. Stick with it, give it time and you'll do it!

I do each week twice. And I agree with another poster its not about speed...its movement....so even if a jog is almost as slow as a fast walk thats ok. Take it one interval at a time and dont worry about the next one.

I loved the C25K!! I did it 18 months ago, and I am now training for a half marathon.

I HATED running and the program for the first 6 weeks...eventually I fell in love with it. I enjoy my running time, because it's just me, and the road, I don't have kids crawling all over me, and house that needs to be cleaned...just me and my music. Running has become part of who I am and relaxes me when I'm stressed.

I used the podcasts from www.kissmyblackass.org and it really helped keep me motivated. iPod also has an app that you can play right over your own music that will tell you when to run and walk. Pay attention to your breathing, if you're huffing and puffing, slow down. It doesn't matter how fast you get there, as long as you finish, right? Practice belly breathing, it really has helped me with side aches and calming my heart rate down.

You CAN and you WILL do this, running is 90% mental, once you get over that, you'll have a life long friend

also-- I downloaded (for free) the C25K program off itunes by robert Ullery...cool running.com has a great community and a lot of support for this . The itunes download tells you when to run when to walk all to music.

I have never in my life been able to run. Even as a child, I could not complete the 12 minute runs and such that they make you do in gym class. I HATED it with a passion!! I started C25K about 6 weeks ago, maybe a little less, and I am loving it. It took me almost 3 weeks to finish week 1. I forced myself to run each run and not stop until it told me to so I was "running" at a slower pace than most people walk, but I finished! Once the first week seemed easy, I moved to the second week. That one was much easier and only took me a week to finish. I just finished my first week 3 workout yesterday and feel awesome. I found the hardest part was the first week, after that it was much easier. If you had told me when I started that I would run for 3 minutes without stopping, I would have said you were crazy but I did it last night twice!