Couch to 5K! Really?!?! Really!!!!!!!

Hi. Im on W4D2 and suprised myslef that I could run it.

I log it as e.g 16 mins running (slow) and 15 mins walking (med pace). Obviously changing the minutes each week.x

Nicely done. I've done W5D1 and will be doing D2 tomorrow. I'm already getting nervous about D3, the 20 minute run. I'm trying to be positive but, well, I can't see it happening...

The worst thing for me isnt my breathing, its the excruciating pain I get in my shins and calves! OUCH! But thus far I have managed to keep plodding on despite it....hoping that it too shall pass!

Remember RICE!
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

After I run anything more than two miles, when I get back I put compression socks on, prop my legs under a pillow, and rest them on an ice pack. Saves the calves, and prevents shin splints. Learning better running form, and buying good sneakers has been immensely helpful as well.

I just started this today! My shins were killing me by the end of it but I was so proud of myself that I actually completed it. I told my friend that I started working out and was going to start this too and we made a promise to each other that when I'm done, we'll run a 5k together. She's pretty active so I just have to get there.

1. Where do you run? At the moment, I run figure 8's and oval loops in my living room. I'm getting a treadmill next month,
though, which will help A LOT haha.
2. What time of day do you run? I run at all different times of the day. today I ran around 3, but last night I worked out at 11 and
ran then too (Wii EA Sports Active game)
3. Do you do other activities on your off days? What? I walk my dog and do the Wii EA Active Sports game.
4. Why are you doing C25K? To get healthier and run a long distance for the first time since I played soccer (which was probably 15ish years ago)
5. Are you starting to feel the "runner's high"? Not yet. at the moment I keep telling myself that it'll be over soon when I get tired haha. Maybe by week 3 or 4 I will!

I'm so excited to see the progress that I'll make haha.

I started week 7 today, but it was a struggle. I took the kids to the pool this afternoon and sat in the hot sun for several hours. Gotta' remember not to do that before a run! lol I also ran in the evening when I prefer to run in the morning. Last week I managed 2.5 miles with no problem. Today I still ran about 2.25 miles and then walked the rest plus some. It was a decent pace for me, but it felt MUCH more difficult.

1. Where do you run? Either at local parks (when I need shade) or around town (when I get out early enough to not mind the sun).

2. What time of day do you run? I prefer to run in the a.m., but will fit it in whenever I can.

3. Do you do other activities on your off days? What? I take a hooping class once a week and go to hoop jams on Saturdays. I do yoga once or twice a week. And I'm trying to get back to light strength training, but I dread the repetition.

4. Why are you doing C25K? To get back into shape after spending the winter injured and/or sick. I also like having the built in short term and long term goals.

5. Are you starting to feel the "runner's high"? Sometimes yes, but definitely not today!

I started c2k5 earlier this summer and although wasn't following the program (did my own variation), I found my stamina was improving big time and felt better and better with each run. Then, I suffered a pulled calf muscle last week and am still healing...doing the RICE thing religiously and it's helped a lot. This week and possibly next week I'll be taking a break from the running, so I can heal. Instead, for cardio, I started swimming laps. Yesterday I did 24 laps in 30 minutes. I seriously think that the running had a huge part in helping my stamina with the swimming because this time last summer I could barely swim 2 laps without passing out. Then again, I was 32 pounds heavier last summer,

My first 5k race (i've done walks before) in on Sept. 11th. I'm really hoping I can make it and that this calf injury won't linger.

Good luck to everyone! I think this is a great motivational thread!

Well, just back from doing W5D2. I actually got in the car and drove 30 minutes to get to somewhere that was reasonably flat, as the steep hills around here have been a killer. The ups hurt my calves and the downs REALLY hurt my shins.

So, I found a nice flat spot and did the 8min run/5min walk/8min run. It was hard, don't get me wrong, but at no point did I feel as if I wasn't going to do it, and I finished with a little bit of extra gas in the tank. I also set my best speed for the mile - 12 minutes, 13 seconds. OK, it's probably still ridiculously slow, but hey, I'm not racing you guys, I'm racing myself!

One rest day and then it's the full 20 minute run. If I can do that I'll be one happy (but exhuasted) man!

I started the C25K program on July 7th... I skipped ahead to week 4. I'm almost done with week 7 and I have managed to lose 4 pounds in 20 days! Whoot whoot!!!

Oh My GOODNESS!! So my " personal Trainer" on my I phone C25k didnt work for some reason today... SO I just Started jogging very slowly. I read that in the book Run Your But Off. and I Ran a whole Hour !!! FAST walked up the steep hills!!! I cant believe it!!!! I am not sure how Far But I feel so GOOD!!!

Wow! Great job!

I'm in.

I'm in!!

I started C25K training earlier this year and I think I got as far as week 5 but then life got in the way and I never finished it. I really enjoyed it though and I am definitely looking forward to finishing it. I had doubled up on weeks 3 and 4 last time around which I really enjoyed but I am signing up for a 5K that takes place on Oct. 9 and if I start training on Monday then I will have just enough time to finish before the race.

1. Where do you run? On the treadmill at the gym. I like that I can watch my time, mileage, and gauge my calories burnt.
2. What time of day do you run? Usually after I get off of work.
3. Do you do other activities on your off days? What? I love kickboxing and zumba or even the elliptical.
4. Why are you doing C25K? So that I can feel accomplished and so that I am prepared for my first 5k in October..woohoo!!
5. Are you starting to feel the "runner's high"? I start training again on Monday so not yet but I know that I felt it previously. I was NEVER runner and would even walk the mile run in high school and junior high but I really enjoy running now.

I'm in. Just finished week 1 day 2 today. I've started several times, but this time i'm in for the distance. I've never been a runner, so I'm excited to be able to do a 5k.

I think I'm going to start this program, but I'm confused about the timing. I feel like unless you're on a treadmill it would mess up the flow of your run if you're constantly checking and resetting whatever timer you have. All I have is my phone. What do you guys use?

kburks-Do you have a smartphone? Or an iPod touch? If so--download a c25k program. The program runs (you can listen to music simultaneously) and gives you some sort of signal that you have to switch from running to walking, or vice versa. I agree that it would be difficult without some program like that. When my phone was being a bit wonky I used the timer on my phone and just kept resetting it...i suppose you could do something similar on a watch, although it would be a nuisance.

I started doing C2 5k using my I pod got to week 3 and I couldn't get it to work one Morning, I just started running,, TODAY I jogged/ ran a bit out of breath 4.4 miles in 40 MIN!!! I was so excited... YEAH ME !!

I'm on week 5 day 3 tomorrow! The dreaded 20min non stop run! Wish me luck x

Eek! I'm doing it tomorrow. Good luck - let us know how you get on.