couch to 5K (1st week)

I am on week 1 as well, and doing day 2 tomorrow. Good luck! I am so excited, I used to love running then fell off the wagon. Now I'm getting back in to it to change up my routine a little. I will send you a friend request to keep eachother motivated.

I am also doing day two tomorrow. I started day one on Monday..... I may not do it if I am still sick (stomach flu) but hopefully I will be better and this is only temporary

Hello everyone!

My partner and I have just completed Week 1, and while it is still a bit ouchy, we're both really enjoying both it, and the sense of achievement we get from it.

I have posted a blog entry, if you're interested in reading about my experience thus far.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/TheGoktor/view/c25k-week-1-not-quite-ready-to-engage-smug-mode-but-almost-99465

I only say this because an experience, shared an' all that - not because of some vain desire to have lots of people read my blog! :laugh:

ETA: Sorry, I also meant to say well done to you all. I know what a huge step it can be to not only decide to do it but to actually get out there and do it. Really and truly, I think you're all amazing!

Later today I'm doing Week 2 Day 3 - but I'm sure you'll all catch up with me once I start getting to the harder weeks. To be honest, I'm actually enjoying the intervals more than I think I'll enjoy running, so I'm in no hurry to finish the programme!

First few days of week 1, I was finding it hard to manage the full minute, but did it. Couldn't imagine doing half as much again the next week. Yet on the last day of week 1 I did it no problem.

Oh, and I'm running to the mp3 podcast mixes on Go Nicole Yourself, there is a voice over which tells you when to change from walk to run, brilliant and totally free. The timings are spot on (I checked) and it's far easier than trying to time it yourself and run at the same time!

http://gonicoleyourself.blogspot.com/2008/06/couch-to-5k-podcast-page.html

Do you guys mind if I just eavesdrop on this thread?

Why not give Week 1, Day 1 a go anyway?

I found it fun, so ou might enjoy it, just as a way to occasionally liven up your cardio. You don't have to commit to doing the whole programme - though once you've done week 1 a few times, you might be tempted to have a go at week 2. :bigsmile:

I'm doing a bit of research first so that I use my time effectively.

That's pretty smart.

I've just done Week 2 Day 3, completed on a treadmill at the gym. Apparently it's better to have it set at a shallow gradient if you plan to run outdoors as it's more realistic. I did today's run at 1%, though I found out afterwards that 0.5% would have been fine.

Despite the gradient, my heart rate didn't get significantly higher than on W2 D2 - though it reached 155 at one point at the end and was still rising at the end of each run segment. Goodness knows how I'll cope with running three minutes at a time next week!

I started wk1day1 yesterday! Ive never been a runner...i hated to run. But I got out there..pushed through it..and im hoping to do day 2 today! I plan to finish this plan..and actually finish a 5k this summer or fall. I love it and think its a great idea and a good workout for anybody interested in pickibg up jogging!

I started wk1day1 yesterday! <snip> im hoping to do day 2 today!

Please don't.

It's really important to allow a day between sessions to allow your body to recover.

I started wk1day1 yesterday! <snip> im hoping to do day 2 today!

Please don't.

It's really important to allow a day between sessions to allow your body to recover.

This^^

I'm on Week 2 and tomorrow will be day 3. I'm only aiming to run 3 minutes and walk 1, however, because I've been told that continuing to run in intervals is really the best for you.

The Couch to 5K site specifically says to run every other day, which is important. You need to give your body a day to recover or you risk hurting yourself. On the days in between you can do weight training or a low impact cardio workout.

I started wk1day1 yesterday! <snip> im hoping to do day 2 today!

Please don't.

It's really important to allow a day between sessions to allow your body to recover.

This^^

I'm on Week 2 and tomorrow will be day 3. I'm only aiming to run 3 minutes and walk 1, however, because I've been told that continuing to run in intervals is really the best for you.

The Couch to 5K site specifically says to run every other day, which is important. You need to give your body a day to recover or you risk hurting yourself. On the days in between you can do weight training or a low impact cardio workout.

Couldn't agree more; you *have* to give your body a chance to recover. In my own experience, I *need* to have that day in between, or else I really would injure myself. Not to mention that I'm sure I'd find it tougher, and therefore would be less motivated to keep on.

I've just done W3 D1, it is a bit of a jump from 1.5 to 3 minutes running, to my surprise while it was tiring I did it without actually expiring.

So, up to Week 3 at least, it is doable for "non runners"

I didn't have much trouble going to 60 seconds. 90 seconds is a little harder yet. I'm about to start week 3 and am not sure I'm ready yet. I ran while in the mountains this weekend and thought I was going to die. LOL The altitude (8000 feet above sea level) really does make a difference!!

I'll be on W3D1 on Thursday - I'm really not convinced I'll be able to manage it! On the other hand, I thought that about W2! Day 3 of Week 2 tomorrow. Let's see how I feel after that!

As I'm sure you know, the "Week 3" runs are 90 seconds and 180 seconds, repeated twice. I did W3D1 on Saturday and both of the 180 second ones were a bit of a struggle, but I was surprised that I did manage them. Just got back from doing W3D2 and found the first 180 second one pretty easy, though struggled a bit towards the end of the second one.

So, anyway what I'm trying to say is that you're right. At this stage at least, the previous week does make you fit enough for the next week.

Good luck, I hope it goes well for you.