C25K..just keeps getting harder

This is going to sound very strange, but stick with me.

When you start running longer distances, you have to be in the right "headspace." If you are thinking about time or distance, you are focusing on the wrong thing. Set the timer and think about anything else in the whole world. You have to be relaxed, drop your shoulders a little, breathe big and go for it. If you have to look at the timer, you will be pleasantly surprised about how far you went when you weren't focusing on it. I ran 4.89 MILES the other day doing just that...and I am a fatty!! Can you BELIEVE IT! Also, I usually like to run by myself since I am ultra competitive and don't like to be "behind" or slower than anyone. I find I run much faster on my own than I do in a group or with a partner. It's easier to zone out.

I don't run for distance at all. I'm too slow, so I stick to time. I also use a podcast that tells you when to run and when to walk, which helps if looking at your watch is a problem for you. I personally like to see how much time I have left. Makes me concentrate on keeping my feet moving. I think so far, week 5 has been the hardest in terms of endurance. 8 minutes is a long time to run. (I'm on week 6). 20 minutes felt like forever, but you can do it. It's around week 4 or 5 that it becomes a mental challenge more than a physical one. Just keep telling yourself to keep your feet moving and you'll be fine. Don't worry about speed at all. C25k does get harder in some ways, but easier in others. I thought I would die after week 1 day 1, but running for a minute is easier..I mean, I can do at least 20 now. It's harder because it becomes mind over matter. If you can keep your feet moving when your head is screaming for you to stop, you've got it made.

I did the same thing you did on week 5! I'm glad I wasn't the only one! LOL!! Yes, it's hard but you have to be your own coach. Talk yourself through it and you will make it. I never would have thought I could jog 20 minutes straight, but I did it! You can do it!

I just finished Day 2 of Week 4 and I find it to be very hard, but doable. I'm doing it on a treadmill and running between 6-6.5 mph for my running intervals, but I think that next week (Week 5) when I have to run for longer than 5 min I might slow it down a little. I also agree with the comment about the headspace. The more you think about the time or distance, the longer it takes to do. Literally think about anything else, sing your favorite workout songs out loud, watch tv, think about tv, do anything other than think about the time.

Hope that helps!

I got to week 4 and it was too hard. But yet, at the same time, I felt like C25K wasn't reallly pushing me enough. Strange that those things can exist at the same time...but, they did. I felt like they were requiring too much in terms of time intervals, but that I could have done a lot more shorter intervals for a longer period of time overall. So, I just started doing my own thing - running really short intervals for a long period of time. In a few weeks, I'll probably go back to C25k, but not yet. I'm also jus tworking on endurance in walking - how can I expect to run 5k if I can't comfortably walk it, etc. This past week I walked 3-4 miles every single day, just working on endurance. At some point, I"ll add the "speed" of running.

I'm on week 3. I just look straight ahead and focus on the end of the road and my breathing. I actually find it relaxing to focus on my breathing. I can't listen to music because I get too distracted and when I get distracted I'm more likely to get hurt

I agree with the 'concentrate on something else' theory though. The more I check the time the harder it seems to be. If I focus on distance instead I find it easier.

Week 5 was hard for me as well. I had to really slow down, which was difficult to do running outdoors. That's the one good thing about a treadmill--you can set a reasonable pace and keep it!

I'm on week 2 day 2 and thought I was gonna die the first time I started lol. And when I went to week 2, I was like oh no, they done added another 30 seconds!!! But i'm doing it and thats the main thing!

Well I am here to say it does not get any easier. But I will say that with each segment/day that you do, your endurance gets better and better. So in time, the intervals won't be as much as a physical demand but more of a mental demand.

I have read many websites, forums, blogs, etc. about C25K and people's progress. In the end, many of them say it is mind over matter. The program is designed to push you 'just a little bit more' day by day, week by week. Now I NEVER thought I would be able to jog for 25 min straight but here I am doing it (well almost doing it, lol).

You do have to stick with it though. Don't focus on time, or speed, or even distance. Been there, done that, and it doesn't help. Only serves to psyche you out and make you more nervous. Just stick with the program, watch your pace (don't go too fast or to slow- which can be an issue as well), and stay focused.

Music is always good or you can download the millions of individual made podcasts that coach you through the intervals.

I am currently finished with Week 7. But I have had such a hard time finishing the 25 min. without stopping, I plan to do W7D3 over again. I find this week to be super hard for some reason. Sometimes you have to repeat and that is okay too. But trust, if I can do this (jiggly booty and all this weight), then YOU can to!

I'm on week 2 day 2 and thought I was gonna die the first time I started lol. And when I went to week 2, I was like oh no, they done added another 30 seconds!!! But i'm doing it and thats the main thing!

^5!

And that is exactly how you have to look at it. Just get out there and do it. Take each segment, one by one, and do them the best you can. Your body, amazingly, will do the rest!

I remember I almost fell out on W1D1, lol. How would have thunk it?