C25K

I'm currently doing a C25K program. Zombies,Run!5k to be exact. The most recent improvement I've had is being able to run for 5 mins straight. Today in fact I was able to do the 5 min runs 3 times throughout my workout. It's a first for me, since I started. It's been a really long time since I was able to run for 5 mins straight.

I did do a little bit of math today. I counted the laps I was making during my runs so I could try and come up with an estimate of how fast I was going. Well when I did the math, the times I was running, I was moving at approximately 6 - 6.6 mph. I bet if I slowed down my running pace a bit, I might actually be able to run for more than 5 mins straight. I'm about to start week 6 and there is a 12 min run thrown in. I'm a little scared, but at the same time can't wait to see how I do. If it turns out horrible, then I might just repeat week 5 or try to run a bit slower.

fitfairy91 wrote: »

I may have to try Zombies,Run!5k. Sounds interesting. I have always been a secret wanna be runner, but I always hated running if that makes sense lol. I think its because I'm a bit over weight. Have been for most of my life. But I will give the Zombies,Run!5k a shot. Thanks y'all

I was a runner when I was kid, but after high school I wasn't running unless I was being chased! I want to be a runner again and for years thought I couldn't do it because I am overweight. I weigh 240 now and I am running, albeit very slowly! Please don't let your weight hold you back from accomplishing this goal. Best advice I can give you is to have good shoes, go slow and don't worry if you are getting lapped by walkers (I usually am), and walk when you need to. You will soon be posting your success story about becoming a runner!

You can add me if you want to. Good luck and enjoy the running!

As a love/ hater of running.. I think the best thing with the C25k program is that you can see how you progress and that gives you more motivation to run better/ harder the next time. I know for me, if i have taken a few weeks off it is always hard to me to get back into running and I am never at the same level I was, this is discouraging, but seeing myself progress, get faster, father, its like the best feeling in the world to me, which is why I always come back to running. No other exercise does that for me.

fitfairy91 wrote: »

So, c25k what are your thoughts on it? Has anyone had good results doing the program? Any dramatic results? Now I know its different for everyone, but I want to read everyones accomplishments. I love reading success stories. So please feel free to share yours.

I used it two years ago. Lost four stone, reduced my bodyfat percentage by a third and I'm five weeks away from another trail half marathon now.

I started with C25K in December of 2010, at 38 years old having never been a runner and the last time I ran was a college phys ed class. By October of 2011, I was running a 5k in under 25 minutes and a 10k in 53 and change.

I used C25K over a year ago, ran a half last September and this year I'm training for a full. A LOT of runners start with c25k.

Good Luck!

im on week 4 on c25k, and have definitely seen a huge improvement already give it a try!

I did C25K 3 years ago and ran my first 5K within 10 weeks. I had never run a full mile before that. Since then I have run numerous 5Ks, numerous 10Ks, a 15K, 3 HMs, 1 Full Marathon, and I'm currently training for my first ultra. When I started running I lost very little weight until I started counting calories, then I lost 50 lbs in 6 months. My weight fluctuates by 15-20 lbs in the off season, but I'm working on stopping that trend (as I get older it gets harder every year to take that weight back off).

If you are serious about doing it - sign up for a race now. Give yourself a goal and a deadline to reach it. When you run your first race set several goals: at least 2 easy goals and 1 tougher goal. Mine are always the same Finish the Race, Finish within a specific time (I always estimate :30 seconds slower pace than my fastest training run, so that I am fairly certain I will make my time cutoff), and Pass X number of people on the course (depends on the race).

Keep your eyes on the prize and keep working. Run hard, have fun, don't beat yourself up on tough days (everybody has *kitten* running days), celebrate your good days. I also try not to be too competitive about running and/or racing. I like to keep it fun, my attitude is that if you can run 5K you are doing something that only an estimated 5-10% of the population can do, so enjoy that.

I am also working on C25K, I am on week 7, yesterday I ran/jogged 20 minutes for day 1. I am signing up for a 5K race over the Memorial Day weekend so I plan to finish up C25K before then. I started the program several times but never got very far on it. When I started I couldn't even do the 1 minute run for the 1st day. So week 1 took me several weeks to accomplish. If I couldn't do the runs I would just keep repeating that week/day until I made it through. I am 54 years old and when I started C25K I weighed around 220 pounds so it was a challenge and I am so proud of myself for sticking with it and getting this far.

I'm going to be getting back on c25k next week, but I've been following the same philosophy since getting back into the gym April 1st. I have been doing 6sets of jogging with a 90 second walking break in between and a five minute warmup/cooldown walk 4x/week.

This is what I've been doing:

Week 1: 2:00min jog/90 sec walk
Week 2: 2:30min jog/90 sec walk
Week 3: 3:00min jog/90 sec walk
Week 3.5: 4:00min jog/90 sec walk
Week 4: 5 min jog/90 sec walk

I have only failed two jog sets, and they both came on the day I went up to 2:30min jogs. As it stands, in just a few short weeks, I'm having no issues whatsoever completing my jogging sets, and could probably go for 3-4 more if I truly wanted. I have increased my jogging speed from 5.2 to 5.5mph, and can complete a 5k in about 35 minutes (including the warm up walk), or so.

Next week, I am going to try to jump into week six of this program: http://www.c25k.com/c25k_treadmill.html. I feel as though I shouldn't have much of a problem doing so, especially considering I have two more days of my week 4 left, which actually means I will have to cut my overall jogging time down in order to jog for longer periods of time before breaks.

I've been pretty amazed at how quickly I have gained endurance.