Couch to 5K (start 4/4/11)

Great job everyone!! Hope you don't mind if I jump in here too. Tomorrow I run W3D2 so I'm right in there with a lot of you. I am doing ok so far. It still is cold when I run. I'm still wearing many layers, have ears covered and gloves on. I think IF it ever gets warm my runs will get better just from the loss of so much weight in extra clothes. If you're running tomorrow too...good luck.

Hi! Hope you all don't mind me jumping in! I am doing c25k...wk5 d2 today. Saturday is the dreaded (not really) 20 min run! I'm loving it so far. I do it on the treadmill on 2% incline and my runs are 4.4 mph (13min mile). I'm going to take it outside once I complete it and then start again on week 3or 4 maybe. 8 min runs today!!!!!!

Wow Peter, you are pacing well - I did week 9 day 3 and still can't run 5k

Thank you. I still walk quite a bit. Avg 1km in 7.5 mins. - so 5k would be ~37.5mins
I've seen others finish 5k's at around 30 +/- 2-3 mins. so that's what I'm aiming for.

emiskins - great job - great feeling to hit that non stop point - it does get easier once you've done it once. I guess i'm just 1-2 weeks ahead of you.

TS65 - there is no failing - Your body didn't adapt as fast as it the plan could allow some people. of couse it's ok to repeat, get your legs stronger, build up more stamina, then try to move ahead again.

cutiger81 - you can do it tomorrow - Slow down your pace. Do you listen to music/podcasts? holding on to the end of a song is a great way to get to 3 mins.

Funny thing I found out since last 2-3 weeks. I have different jogging speads. Makes sense. Sometimes we just gotta slow down a gear to get through something tougher

kmac1196 - that's where i'm headed - Just did W5D1 - I might repeat that again or try W5D2 - 8 min non stop
Good luck with it. Wow - just think of 20 min non stop. - Let me know how your 8 min non stop goes.

To push through that extra bit, i'm sure most of you already know.
- slow down.
- Music helped - finish to the end of the song
- Physical markers Jog to that 3rd driveway, 4th telephone pole
- count down from 30 secs or 60 secs to 0.

Good job Kmac1196 - You can do it on saturday - slow the pace and think about other things.

I repeated W5D1 again today - Had a Yoga workout so I didn't want to push W5D2 today - in a couple days I will be attempting it.

I got through W3 D3 today, but I'm with Bob...someone must have put cement in my shoes! I did see a small improvement on how I got through the first set of 90 sec/3 min, so that's encouraging. Sooner or later, I'll get there!

Has anyone else run into this? - Now that it's finally getting nicer out, some of the neighbors are outside when I'm doing the walk sections and they want to gab - I never thought I'd be a person to say, "Sorry, I have to keep moving...I'm being timed on this program in my phone!" It's neat to think other people might look at me and think I'm dedicated and determined - it used to always be me thinking that about other people

Getting ready to run wk4D1...Wish me luck...

Just started today. After the first interval I was gasping for breath. I was really surprised that my recovery from the jogging portion got faster and faster. I've never been good at running, and I'm so excited that this program exists to teach me how to work up to it! Good luck everyone

Run first part of wk4d1 run went well. I finished both the 3 and 5 minute runs up and downhill with no problems. I completed the second 3 minute at a slower past doing up and down hills and curves on a running path through the neighborhood. During th last walk I had to add an additional two minutes of walking to catch my breathe. I complete the last 5 minute run without stopping but it was difficult. I keep telling myself that my legs were fine and my breathing was fine. I'm sort of disappointed that I walked an additional two minutes during the walk but my wife told me that I never stopped running during the run phases. I guess that is an accomplishment. She also reminded me that I'm carrying 292lbs up and down hill as she is only 137lbs and we are both keeping the same pace. I guess that makes me feel a little better.

Run first part of wk4d1 run went well. I finished both the 3 and 5 minute runs up and downhill with no problems. I completed the second 3 minute at a slower past doing up and down hills and curves on a running path through the neighborhood. During th last walk I had to add an additional two minutes of walking to catch my breathe. I complete the last 5 minute run without stopping but it was difficult. I keep telling myself that my legs were fine and my breathing was fine. I'm sort of disappointed that I walked an additional two minutes during the walk but my wife told me that I never stopped running during the run phases. I guess that is an accomplishment. She also reminded me that I'm carrying 292lbs up and down hill as she is only 137lbs and we are both keeping the same pace. I guess that makes me feel a little better.

Well done! don't forget you've got 2 more times on that routine before you have to move on, sounds like you did really well. I was suffering a bit with asthma/hayfever, need to remember to take my inhaler before I go out. Otherwise it was ok.

You gotta remind yourself ... "2, 3, 5 weeks ago I couldn't have done ...... ".

3-4 weeks ago, I could barely keep up the 3 mins non stop.
I've done the 5min non stop, and completed W5D1 twice.

Today or tomorrow I will be attempting W5D2 - 8 mins non stop - I sometimes think, I can't do this.
Push through, we are capable of more than we give ourselves credit for.

Run first part of wk4d1 run went well. I finished both the 3 and 5 minute runs up and downhill with no problems. I completed the second 3 minute at a slower past doing up and down hills and curves on a running path through the neighborhood. During th last walk I had to add an additional two minutes of walking to catch my breathe. I complete the last 5 minute run without stopping but it was difficult. I keep telling myself that my legs were fine and my breathing was fine. I'm sort of disappointed that I walked an additional two minutes during the walk but my wife told me that I never stopped running during the run phases. I guess that is an accomplishment. She also reminded me that I'm carrying 292lbs up and down hill as she is only 137lbs and we are both keeping the same pace. I guess that makes me feel a little better.

That is a FANTASTIC first day effort on w4! I'm so proud of you! You always forget to pat yourself on the back for taking on a course full of hills, too. I if I lived where you do, I'd drive 10 miles first to find 3 miles of level ground before I even started stretching! You are a CHAMPION!

uuggghhh. . .so irritated and frustrated. it's so hard to stay motivated to work out and eat right when i'm the only one in the house who cares!!!

plus, every time i attempt to do w3, my stupid knee starts acting up again. might be a combination of crooked treadmill (don't know how to fix it) and the wrong shoes (because i can't afford the right ones). in any case, i think i'm gonna drop off c25k for awhile - my body doesn't seem interested in the longer runs. and it's really weird, cuz i can do an hour of 1 minute on, 1 minute off with no problem. maybe i just need more time to build up to it. maybe i'm just nuts. or maybe my sister was right and i'm just a total failure at life. i have no way of knowing.

i will keep up the treadmill routine, and i will continue checking in here. i think i'm also gonna look into the Conservative c25k, and the C210k. i hear those are easier programs with longer buildups. that might be a bit more like what i'm looking for.

uuggghhh. . .so irritated and frustrated. it's so hard to stay motivated to work out and eat right when i'm the only one in the house who cares!!!

plus, every time i attempt to do w3, my stupid knee starts acting up again. might be a combination of crooked treadmill (don't know how to fix it) and the wrong shoes (because i can't afford the right ones). in any case, i think i'm gonna drop off c25k for awhile - my body doesn't seem interested in the longer runs. and it's really weird, cuz i can do an hour of 1 minute on, 1 minute off with no problem. maybe i just need more time to build up to it. maybe i'm just nuts. or maybe my sister was right and i'm just a total failure at life. i have no way of knowing.

i will keep up the treadmill routine, and i will continue checking in here. i think i'm also gonna look into the Conservative c25k, and the C210k. i hear those are easier programs with longer buildups. that might be a bit more like what i'm looking for.

I moved to c210k on week 4. It's definitely easier - longer time to build up. I'm having to repeat week 5 though. No biggie. If your treadmill is crooked, take your run outside. as for shoes, there's actually a whole "barefoot running" movement going on. (google "barefoot running" and you'll get a kazillion hits). The theory is the shoes we wear ARE what causes the injuries and humans can run long distances without shoes. (visualize african hunters running for days). Interesting concept.

In all seriousness, give your knees a couple of days to heal. You might be surprised that you'll want to get out and try again. It can be addictive. Hang in there! And don't believe a word your sister says!

uuggghhh. . .so irritated and frustrated. it's so hard to stay motivated to work out and eat right when i'm the only one in the house who cares!!!

plus, every time i attempt to do w3, my stupid knee starts acting up again. might be a combination of crooked treadmill (don't know how to fix it) and the wrong shoes (because i can't afford the right ones). in any case, i think i'm gonna drop off c25k for awhile - my body doesn't seem interested in the longer runs. and it's really weird, cuz i can do an hour of 1 minute on, 1 minute off with no problem. maybe i just need more time to build up to it. maybe i'm just nuts. or maybe my sister was right and i'm just a total failure at life. i have no way of knowing.

i will keep up the treadmill routine, and i will continue checking in here. i think i'm also gonna look into the Conservative c25k, and the C210k. i hear those are easier programs with longer buildups. that might be a bit more like what i'm looking for.

Now just stop that! First, you're not a failure at running because you knee hurts, and I'm SURE you're not a failure at life. I bet all of us have sore spots from doing this, and many have had to take a few days off to let thost things heal up. You're probably right that you need a little more time to build yourself up. It's a great idea to try one of the other programs that allows for a build up. After all, one program couldn't possibly be perfect for everyone on a couch.

Check back in with us an let us know how you're doing. I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say we'd love to help you move forward and cheer you on - brighter days are ahead!!!

I did wk4d2 today and got through the first runs fine. The seconds 3 and five minutes very even more difficult than day 1. My knee was very sore I stop running and paused the program to rest during the second 3 minute run and again for 50 sec during the second 5 minute run. I think I really tweaked my knee. It is really bothering me. I think it is because It was sore from running that long distance on Saturday. I should have rested an extra day.