couch25K soreness

Just stretch the muscles that are sore, and try to relax. If you need to take an extra day off, it won't hurt. I was sore the first week too, so I just took two days in between my first and second day. I was fine after that.

Soreness is to be expected with doing something you don't usually do, but that is good since you are using different muscles! If you have pulled something, for that you need to rest and nurse it so it doesn't get worst.
As for being pushed harder than the C25K program, if you were able to accomplish that, you may want to consider doing something different. C25K worked for me, but I had a hard time running 60 seconds when I started it, and 5 minutes would have been impossible; for you, sounds like you are in better shape than I was at the time.

I think c25k is more about going slowly to avoid injury rather than endurance. You need to go slow to give the muscles and joints time to get used to the pounding.

I agree with guppy...

To add to that - I'm doing the C25k program as well. I'm on week 3 (for the second time). I managed to pull a groin muscle on my first time through week 3 on day 2. It hurt quite a bit. I rested it the next day (didn't do any excercise), and I was actually fine the next day after that and did my week 3 day 3 without pain, I just made sure to really stretch before the run this time. I'm going to add the stretching in before every run now, and hopefully that will stop any chances of the groin pull happening again and I've decided to do week 3 over again since I hurt myself.

I did Week 2 twice as well since I was having trouble with major cramping on my right side. That's when I learned about cadence breathing and keeping my rib cage up to eliminate the cramping. On the second time through week 2, I didn't have any cramping using the new breathing technique. So I figured since I hurt myself on week 3, like I did with week 2, I'd do the week over again to make sure I'm really safe moving into the next Week.

Whenever I run with others, I just make sure they know that I am by no means a "runner" yet. I let them know that I have chosen to follow the C25k program, and then I follow it (I have a C25k App on my phone that tells me when to run or walk). If they choose to run ahead or run faster, I let them. I try to make sure I'm concentrating on myself and my fitness goals, rather than trying to be something I'm not or force myself to adhere to their fitness ability. Its worked pretty well, though I have been running with folks who understand and appreciate what I'm trying to do and help me through it. I've found a perfect 3 mile loop around my house, and I do the C25k program until that ends, and then walk the rest of the way. It's been great fun, and I'm looking forward to each new "week" on the program.

Good luck!

I respect the program, I just knew that you had the ability to do more than the average starter (ie couch)...you did fantastic and soreness is to be expected. You just don't give yourself enough credit.

I agree with guppy...

To add to that - I'm doing the C25k program as well. I'm on week 3 (for the second time). I managed to pull a groin muscle on my first time through week 3 on day 2. It hurt quite a bit. I rested it the next day (didn't do any excercise), and I was actually fine the next day after that and did my week 3 day 3 without pain, I just made sure to really stretch before the run this time. I'm going to add the stretching in before every run now, and hopefully that will stop any chances of the groin pull happening again and I've decided to do week 3 over again since I hurt myself.

I did Week 2 twice as well since I was having trouble with major cramping on my right side. That's when I learned about cadence breathing and keeping my rib cage up to eliminate the cramping. On the second time through week 2, I didn't have any cramping using the new breathing technique. So I figured since I hurt myself on week 3, like I did with week 2, I'd do the week over again to make sure I'm really safe moving into the next Week.

Whenever I run with others, I just make sure they know that I am by no means a "runner" yet. I let them know that I have chosen to follow the C25k program, and then I follow it (I have a C25k App on my phone that tells me when to run or walk). If they choose to run ahead or run faster, I let them. I try to make sure I'm concentrating on myself and my fitness goals, rather than trying to be something I'm not or force myself to adhere to their fitness ability. Its worked pretty well, though I have been running with folks who understand and appreciate what I'm trying to do and help me through it. I've found a perfect 3 mile loop around my house, and I do the C25k program until that ends, and then walk the rest of the way. It's been great fun, and I'm looking forward to each new "week" on the program.

Good luck!

Thanks! I was having bad cramps half way trough and then near the end both sides where cramping and discover on my own raising my chest up while running took the pain away. I think my struggle will be the breathing part of it. Any tips?

What I learned was that if I breathe in or out only when my left foot hits the ground, I stopped cramping. I make sure to keep my rib cage up, and my chin and head up rather than looking down at what I'm running on. I also take shorter breaths now, rather than deeper breaths and that helps a lot too.

I also discovered that i was eating or drinking too close to my running...so once I spread out the amount of time between drinking/eating and running I stood less of a chance of cramping.

If I still cramp, I've found that if you stick your fingers in under the rib cage (as best as you can) and lift, that generally releases the pressure. Stay moving though if you're doing this...it sucks and it hurts but you have to keep moving because it gets worse if you stop.

Hope that helps!