C25K success stories? I want to see your pictures!

getting through a running program was the best thing i ever did in my whole life! I did my own modified version of c25K cause i was too cheap to pay for the app. I pushed myself each day, and it took me 14 weeks start to finish. there were days my feet were so sore i could barely walk, but i pushed on. stick with it, go at your own pace and push yourself a little each day. Running 5K is a physically easy task on our bodies, even with extra weight. I started at 235lbs and I was 185 when i ran my first 5K. Unless you have a medical reason, any hangups you have are all in yoru head. Push on and keep running.

The app is free!

I started couch to 5k in August 2011. I found that I could get through most weeks without repeating, and ran about every other day. I was eating really fatty foods and beer all the time, so I lost a couple pounds off the bat, and then stayed the same. I thought I was mostly eating healthy because I ate alright during the week, but I had no idea that my tracking was way off (I never figured out what an ounce of cheese looked like, for instance) and I totally tanked my week by overeating on the weekends.

I did my first 5k a couple months later at the end of October. It was tough and I didn't think I'd be able to run the whole time, but I did! I was so nervous. I couldn't barely sleep the night before. Once I did it, I thought, "That wasn't so bad!" And I celebrated with hotdogs. Sigh.

The next month I did a 5 mile Turkey Trot run for Thanksgiving! I even ran the whole time for that, and that was the farthest I'd run ever! Then I ate tons of food. Sigh.

THEN! Then I decided that if I could do 5 miles, I could go even farther. I wanted to sign up for a 10 mile run, but couldn't find one, so I settled on a half marathon and just said that I would walk some if I needed to. No need to stress so long as it kept me motivated to run for the winter.

I didn't follow a half marathon plan because I didn't know there was such a thing. I didn't get fit for good shoes because I was broke. I got a cold right before the race and felt AWFUL. But I showed up on race day and ran it anyway, even though I felt like the worst hot mess ever. I did it! And then I ate a ton of food. Ahem.

So over the next year, I ran half marathons. My second one I beat my first time by 15 minutes, and then my 3rd one (still my PR) beat that by another 12 minutes. I made a lot of runner friends, I started working part-time at a running store, and eventually I moved back to my home state. That did a lot to change my habits and make me take a hard look at what I'd been doing wrong.

In the midst of training for a string of half marathons in 2013, I really started logging. I made meals on Sunday, I learned portion sizes and a lot more about calories. I forced myself to eat breakfast every day (a lifelong bad habit of mine: not eating breakfast) and I learned strength training and weight lifting with a friend. I kept up my running schedule, netted about 1200-1400 calories per day with frequent exercise (in other words, I might eat 1800 calories, but I'd run 5 miles, which reduced that by about 500 calories--I don't do what some people do and only eat 1200 calories of food PLUS exercise).

I filled my diet with fresh veggies, fruits, lean protein, light cheese, and all sorts of amazing food. I told myself I could only eat out once, on Friday, and have one beer with dinner. I made better choices, spread my meals out into smaller ones throughout the day, and just kept at it. I would usually only lose about 2.5 pounds per month, but I figured there's no rush and I didn't want to sabotage myself by trying to lose too fast.

And in the middle of those half marathons this spring, I decided I could probably run a full marathon, or at least I could try. So I signed up for one, found a training plan, stuck to it pretty well, and did lots of cross training. My husband and I bought a house in a city, so I can bike to work, too. I had some injuries (not related to running, but I had to sit out a couple weeks) and had to flex a couple times around vacations or obligations, but I got my miles in. And last Sunday I finished my first full marathon! WOO!

Since pics were requested, these are mine



from top left:

Not running - over 160 lbs (didn't own a scale)
Just starting C25K and ran my first 5k
Eating salad at a party, half marathon training
One of many half marathons, still over 150
Bottom is when I started logging weekends and stopped eating wings and fries all the time. haha Down to 131 and my doctor told me to stop losing, so what you see in the bottom right two pics is where I'm at now. Yay!

Nice progress on making it to week 7! Must feel great to see how far you've come with it! I have done Couch to 5K and also the Bridge to 10K program. I was running around 8km "comfortably" then got out of the running habit, and now the last year I have been riddled with injuries (not running related) so I'm slowly getting back into it. I do a modified version of it because I find most of the walking times are too long for me, and I use the Runkeeper app so I have the intervals programmed in to "repeat until I stop my activity" so I can go as long as I like and still track it. The running programs are great to get into running the first time (or again later in life or post injury). I used to run 10k a few times a week in my teens and I hope to get back up to that by the end of winter, and owrk my way up to a marathon eventually!

I just completed week 5 yesterday and moving onto week 6 . I am signed up for two 5ks this year and I will run them unlike my previous races where I've walked / run. From there I will go to C210K training for a race I am registered for in September, I registered early to be sure I will train ! anyone please feel free to add me, can use all motivation !!!

Here's a link of a few pictures after about 30 lbs lost
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1196326-hopefully-this-works

Started C25k 2nd week in Jan ran 5.4mile on Monday 3rd March!

I am currently on week 9 of c25k and I never thought I'd make it there and dare I say I'm starting to like it. I have NEVER been a runner. In fact I always tried to be "sick" to get out of the mile run in H.S. I started this venture at 225 lbs and have recently broken into the 100s. I run as slow as I need to (11-12 min miles). I wanted to quit several time but pride kept me going. I had told too many people that I was going to finish this. Most importantly I want to do it to show my kids that mom is tough, strong , and persistent. It does get easier and even somewhat enjoyable.

Finished C25K over 6 weeks ago. week 5 was the worst for me when you first start to run constantly for 20 minutes. Have since run 10k dressed as a fairtrade banana for Sport relief and I am doing a 100 mile bike ride for Marie Curie in 2 and a half weeks.

My advice would be to ensure you rest between runs and don't worry if you have to repeat a week.