Want to Do Couch2 5 K...But Don't Think I Can

So much negativity, you've already failed by believing that you cannot do this. You need to find some motivation and believe in yourself....then you'll be able to do it.

I have exercise induced asthma. Functionally, what that ends up feeling like is when I exert myself, my lung capacity diminishes by about a third.

And even though I was 30 pounds overweight at the time (and, to be brutally honest, the most fit I had been in at least 5 years, and maybe 10), I ran a 5k three years ago. I didn't have a great time, and I walked as well as ran, but you can do it. You don't have to run the whole time.

Couch to 5k is very popular; you might also try your own personal progressive marathon where you log all of your training miles up to 23, and then complete a 5k (whether an official one, or on your own).

Or you can join a relay for life team - as I understand it, some of those don't even require running.

A friend of mine is generally sedentary, though she will amble for shopping and Disneyland. This past Sunday she strolled just shy of two miles in 42 minutes. Not quite a 5k pace, but she's not training for a 5k - she just kept moving.

Instead of worrying about your pace, embrace it. Get yourself the t-shirt that reads "I run like a turtle lumbering through a peanut butter swamp, but I run." One day, if you want to, you will run farther and faster, and the t-shirt will be a great joke.

My husband and I have participated in 9 5Ks, the most recent being this past Saturday. We walk 85% of the course with a little jogging thrown in. My first time was 55 minutes and change. I finished at 48 minutes this weekend. My goal by the end of the year is 40-45 minutes. We walk a good bit during the week, albeit on the treadmill at the gym, and when the weather permits we get outside on the weekends. My husband also has exercise induced asthma and hits his inhaler before we get started.

TL:dr - go at your own pace. I have just as much fun "wogging" (walking/jogging) a 5K as those who run them. A 16.50 mile is faster than sitting on the couch.

I did a sort of couch to 5k program but it was an in person class that also taught me how to stretch, proper form, etc. I, too, suffer from the 'too much too soon' syndrome so having this program helped a lot. If you have a 'Fleet Feet' store where you are, they run a 'No Boundaries' class that is great. I completed the program, ran pretty slowly, and still at the end was doing run/walk intervals but it felt great to finish a race. I took the class again with the goal of increasing my speed and unfortunately took too much for granted and injured myself and was unable to finish the class. I was only a few weeks away from the race and I'd improved so much but I pushed it too hard and didn't stretch enough and I'm still healing from bursitis in my hip a few months later. Hoping to get back to running again when the hip is fully healed. Take it slow, but be steady with it and you'll see progress.