C25K get easier?

Running WILL get easier! And big ups to you for even trying! :drinker:

I started C25K in November of last year, took two months off, did the program again, and now I'm working my way through 5-10K training. Ran 4 miles yesterday!!

As for your back pain - I'd imagine having a hard chest makes it difficult, but that is not a problem of mine, haha, so I can't offer advice there (other than to head to a specialty shop to get a sports bra that fits. You'll get your investment back for sure, if you take up running)

One thing I will recommend is to try and tuck your tail? When I'm fatigued, my form goes to hell - head back, mouth open, back arched. If I tuck my tailbone/straighten my pelvis, I'm able to get more out of my legs.

Good luck!

definitely find a sports bra... you really dont want to be doing a lot of running without proper support!

^this, plus work on your internal bra: knee caps pointing forward, hip bones and shoulder blades connected and strong, belly button pulled back to your spine, breathe, and slow down. Unless you are racing you want to save a little bit for the next day.

Bumping for the great tips! Tried this program myself and just like OP - almost died lol. Really great to hear all of the tips and tricks and the empathy
Bras - just did a quick google and found a company called Big Girls Bras at biggerbras.com
Check it out! They have up to K. I was advised by some marathon runners I know how important it is to get a good bra. For us busty ladies the best really is the compression style, with the underwire inside to hold the girls in place, and the high cut of the compression bra to keep us from bouncing up and out. I got one special ordered and i will tell you, it is the first time I have done exercise without the bouncing pain. Worth the money for sure!

Best of luck

You can buy a 38k sports bra here. http://www.amplebosom.com/ulla-dessous-kate-sports-bra-p1433-s150.php

Now I have the opposite problem, barely need a sports bra...but my best girlfriend is in your club. She wears a sports bra and a regular bra. stabilizing the girls should help with the back.

I did week one twice on c25k and I still get out of breathe. I'm trying to build my stamina with other, lower impact types of cardio and stregnth thrown in on the off days and it seems to be working. Try an elliptical or circuit training on your off days from c25k.

Check out foreveryourslingerie.ca
They carry all the way up to N
I wear a 30GG, and yes it does get easier

To run without injury, keep your knees bent and take quick teeny tiny steps--almost like a shuffle. Do not worry about speed, just form. Repeat week 1 until you can do it--you'll get there. Start slow and work on speed later.

Absolutely this ^^^^^ I am using this app, onto week 3 next week and I have a lower back injury. I take small baby steps low to the ground and I don't worry about how fast I am going, I was a head down runner the first week but at the end of the second week I was head up straight ahead. finding gear that gives you proper support is definitely important and will make you feel more comfortable then you can worry more about keeping your face forward and back straight and core strong. To avoid injuring yourself go slow and easy and repeat a day when needed. It's not about finishing the app it's about progressing at your pace as it works for you. Keep going and great job for getting out there and doing it, it's a big step!! Also, heating pad for the back afterwards is a nice treat to relax your muscles or a soak in the tub. Shoes and supportive bra are very important tools for jogging it will get easier!!

Thanks! I'm not too worried about speed yet since this is just for me and not for a race. I was able to complete 4 of the runs comfortably. The 5th run was on a steep hill and I think it zapped me because I had to skip the 6th run all together. The seventh run I did 55 seconds but I just couldn't go further. On the 8th run I managed 40 seconds and I was wiped out! Hopefully by the end of this week I can complete all 8 runs.

If at all possible, avoid running on hills when you're starting out. They're harder on the legs than running on a relatively flat surface. Running downhill is especially hard because of the eccentric contraction of the muscles: they have to contract while lengthening, in order to control your speed. Save hills for when you're a more experienced runner.

C25K is a great program, and it does get easier. It's not a contest; if you need to repeat a day, or a week, there's no shame in that. Ideally, at the end of each week you should feel like it was a challenge but you're ready for more. If you're not, then repeat the week.

The CoolRunning C25K program (the original) does have a quirk, though: weeks 2 and 3 both involve 9 minutes of running, while week 4 involves 16 minutes (3-5-3-5). That's a big jump from week 3 to week 4. I modified week 3 to add an extra 3 minutes of running at the end, which made the transition to week 4 a lot easier compared with the first time I did C25K (I had to stop in week 6 due to a bike crash, which is why I did the program again).

Great info in this thread. Thanks girls.

I don't know if it gets easier since you have to start running more and more.

I started with a couch to 5k program and have now run more 1 marathon and about 10 half marathons. Give it long enough to know if you like it. Some of us get addicted.

Hello! I did my first day of C25K today and it was so hard for me! Out of the 8 runs (1 minute each) I struggled with the last 3. I didn't do one of them at all and the other two I only did 55 seconds and 40 seconds, respectively. My lower back was just killing me!

I managed to do 2.5 miles in 35 minutes but was so thankful at the end. My legs don't hurt or anything, but back is the issue. I have a very very large bust and unfortunately they do not make sports bras in my size. I'm wearing one of the most supportive bras that I have, but there is still a lot of bouncing.

Is the pain in my back probably from my breasts? Is it possible that I just run poorly? Is it just because I'm obese and runnin' aint easy?

Please tell me that running will get easier! I want to have fun doing it. I love being outside and love the idea of running, but I don't want to be miserable afterwards because I'm afraid that will really discourage me from continuing.

I appreciate anyone's support. Thanks!

Congratulations for getting started! The first day is always the hardest. You'll find your rhythm and it will get easier (but it will never be "easy").

The best advice I ever got for running was to slow down. Don't worry about the distance; just worry about the time. A good test is to speak a short sentence out loud while running. If you huff, puff and pant out the sentence, you're going too fast and need to slow down. Try it. It works and it's a trick you'll use even when you've completed the C25K program to increase your distance.

Never feel shy about asking questions. A good, active group to look into is: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/30-couch-to-5k-running-program-c25k
There's good support and advice here and it's very active.

I can't help with any advice about the back pain. Try to keep your shoulders down. This will keep your torso looser and that might help.

Keep running. It will get easier and you will like it. I was not a runner but now I run 5K (or longer) at least 3 times a week and I enjoy my runs. You can do this. Do not give up.

The 5th run was on a steep hill and I think it zapped me because I had to skip the 6th run all together.

Ah....this is the "problem". Believe me when I say that hills are your friend. They might need to be avoided for the first few weeks, though, because they are truly energy sapping. But once you get used to running, incorporate this hill into your running routine once a week. It will slow you down (run the uphill slowly, with short almost shuffling steps) but it'll make you really strong, too. I run a hill (about 1.5K uphill stretch) once a week. At first, I had to stop numerous times on the way up to walk & catch my breath. Slowly, my walk breaks became fewer. The first time I ran that hill all the way, I felt on top of the world.
Running uphill will make running on level ground easier. Keep running this hill but maybe wait a few weeks first....maybe even until you graduate C25K. Right now, your focus is to just keep running to the program.

You can do it!