C25k my first run

shiseido_faerie
shiseido_faerie Posts: 771 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I am not a runner. I can walk and walk for hours, i can even speed walk, no problem, but something about running is really difficult for me. However, my hour of walking a day is not helping me anymore so i thought it was time to take it up a notch...Today I completed my first day of c25k...I finished it! I'm not going to lie, there were a few times when I thought I might die (running outside is WAY different from running on a treadmill!) and in the second half there were a few times that I wondered whether or not my legs (which felt like a combination of jelly and lead) would continue to hold me up for the next run interval lol. It was not pretty, and I'm pretty sure I can speed walk faster than my "run" but I finished. I'm just wondering, how long before it gets a little easier? I felt sort of silly shuffling along so slowly. I also found there were times I was going too fast...even though it really was still slow. Any advice from runners? Oh...and I got good shoes and orthotics :)

Replies

  • chrissayya
    chrissayya Posts: 28
    Unfortunately I have no good advice because running as always been tough for me too! But I'm starting day one of that program tomorrow :)
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    For me, it got easier the longer the runs got. It takes me a while to get into my groove, and the stopping and starting of the first few weeks is hard.

    The first few minutes of any run are always the worst. If each run is nothing more than a few minutes, it's just a whole bunch of "worst minutes." :laugh:

    I'm not saying to skip ahead. These first few weeks are tough, but they do the job.
  • shiseido_faerie
    shiseido_faerie Posts: 771 Member
    For me, it got easier the longer the runs got. It takes me a while to get into my groove, and the stopping and starting of the first few weeks is hard.

    The first few minutes of any run are always the worst. If each run is nothing more than a few minutes, it's just a whole bunch of "worst minutes." :laugh:

    I'm not saying to skip ahead. These first few weeks are tough, but they do the job.

    Lol good to know!
  • Meggles63
    Meggles63 Posts: 916 Member
    For me, it got easier the longer the runs got. It takes me a while to get into my groove, and the stopping and starting of the first few weeks is hard.

    The first few minutes of any run are always the worst. If each run is nothing more than a few minutes, it's just a whole bunch of "worst minutes." :laugh:

    I'm not saying to skip ahead. These first few weeks are tough, but they do the job.
    ^^^This. I just finished up week 5, and altho' the 20 min. run was killer (I DID have 3 margaritas the nite before), the longer runs do help you get into your stride. Build up gradually, following the program, get some killer tunes, and you'll do just fine!
  • determinedbutlazy
    determinedbutlazy Posts: 1,941 Member
    I TOTALLY thought I was going to die on the first week...
    But now I'm on week 7. Keep going!
  • ahersh00
    ahersh00 Posts: 85
    I am in the same boat. I started c25k Friday and my second session will be tomorrow (I work all weekend)... boy am I sore! Still sore! Ugh! AND I got a big nice blister on my heel! LOL! Anyways, good luck to you!!!

    PS, Running outside is WAYYYYYYYYY different than on a treadmill!
  • Meaganandcheese
    Meaganandcheese Posts: 525 Member
    I am on week 5 of c25k now. I recently went back and did week 1 again and was so pleased with how easy it was now versus when I first started.

    How soon will it get easier? If you're consistent with it, every workout might feel a little easier. It takes time and patience, but you will definitely see progress. Take your time with it - I might do a workout a couple of times before moving on - and enjoy!
  • RunChristyRun
    RunChristyRun Posts: 72 Member
    Don't give up! I just finished week 4...honestly, week 1 was much tougher for me! I jam out to 80s Cardio on Pandora while I am running. It helps drown out the sound of my heavy breathing!
  • amandalfraser
    amandalfraser Posts: 40 Member
    Wow! This is amazing how many people are doing the c25k! I started last week, and tomorrow will be week 1 run 3. I have been doing Zumba, yoga, and elliptical sinc October, and am amazed at how much more I 'get out' of running. I am more sore (quads, glutes) I realized how out of shape I am!! It is a great program, and I can't say enough good things about myfitnesspal.
    I also downloaded another app called runkeeper. It tracks calories burned and speed/distance of running. It is definately worth checking out!
  • bisland
    bisland Posts: 245 Member
    I am scheduled to start week 9 tomorrow. The first couple of weeks were the worst. I was so sore I could hardly walk & had to take some aleve a couple of times. I had to repeat week 5 and then week 8. The sense of accomplishment is incredible. A little more than 2 months ago I could not run to the end of the driveway, but now I can run for 28 minutes. My pace not great, I slowed it down a bit to get thru the longer runs, but tomorrow I plan to increase my pace a bit and see how I do.
  • froeschli
    froeschli Posts: 1,292 Member
    Just did w4d1. I thought my legs were going to break apart. Was still sore from doing leg work and running on Friday. Anyhow, I've figured out that no matter how I do it, I struggle the first 20 minutes or so, then I start coasting. I think I'll add a few minutes to my warmup - since I have to cross a busy street to get to the trail, it makes sense not to be in the middle of a running interval then anyways.
  • susanloveszumba
    susanloveszumba Posts: 182
    i went through week 7 and stopped the program because the intervals stopped. i ran my first 5k today and was very slow but i made it all the way through! yay! the program does work and it will enable you to run a 5k if you finish it! good luck!
  • xgg2rs
    xgg2rs Posts: 128 Member
    I started out on this program and now I am training to run my first marathon. The one thing I wished I had learned earlier was to get non cotton socks. The cotton ones were causing me to get blisters as I gained in milege. Good Luck, hopefully you will get the bug :)
  • nuttyfamily
    nuttyfamily Posts: 3,394 Member
    I was the same with my walking...it just wasn't enough any more.

    I used c25k. I never ran in my life! Literally.

    It was hard at first but it does get easier. I am now training for another half marathon!
  • shiseido_faerie
    shiseido_faerie Posts: 771 Member
    Thanks so much for all the feedback, it's so encouraging!!
    I noticed a few hours after my lower back/hip was sore...now, I have problems with this anyways, I have proper shoes and orthotics so I think i've taken all the precaution I can, looking back I think my problem was that I couldn't find the right stride in the 60 second runs..like I couldn't figure out how to properly land if that makes sense? I know how you're supposed to, but I struggled to be able to figure it out in the short running periods, hopefully i'll figure it out next time and it won't hurt afterwards. Legs are a little sore today, mostly just going up and down stairs, but not nearly as bad as I thought they might be!
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    Great result, you're doing it exactly right by going as slow as you need.

    It gets easier once the runs get over 10 minutes. Here are my beginner's running tips which include that "Toxic 10 minutes", hope they help!
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/BerryH/view/20-things-i-wish-i-d-known-about-running-when-i-started-103936
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    It gets worse. much much worse.

    Week 8 is when its "easy"

    Week 10, you will wonder why you ever thought this was hard.

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