C25K... Results...Sucesses

Bump - I'm a newbie c25k'er too with my first 5k race in September
Would like to follow this thread!

Bump! I'm wanting to start C25k soon myself but have been wanting to learn more about it... so yes. I'll be skulking in the shadows for answers and posts.

I've been exercising for awhile, and can walk all day long, but I've never been a runner. But since I figured it was something I could do anywhere, and for the sake of the challenge, I started c25k on the last day of January. I followed the program exactly and finished it as scheduled. I'm still running 3 days per week and registered for my first 5k race at the end of this month!

I do enjoy it, it's nice to get outside, and I usually run anywhere from 2 - 4 miles. I even managed 5 miles once, but I think it was too far too soon, and I ended up with some knee pain after that. And that's why I think the c25k program works so well - it keeps you from going too fast or too far too quickly. I ran as slow as I needed to in order to complete each day's running times.

And I also think it has helped with my fat loss. I usually do various workout DVDs at home, some with weights, some more cardio, but the running really boosted the fat loss. I've lost a pants size and even hubby noticed that my back fat is gone. :bigsmile:

I say go for it! You can see an overview of the program online, just Google it, and if you've got a smart phone, download an app (I used c25kFree by ZenLabs) and it will coach you through all the walking & running times. Make sure you have some good shoes, and do some stretching when you're done each time.

Thank you... this exactly what I posted for! i have been walking briskly for several months and i think I could do it all day with no problem... but running...Just kills me, and my knees! You mentioned that you had knee issues..did that improve?

I've never had knee problems, and it only started in mile 4 of that 5 mile run. I rested it for a few days & continued my regular workouts & walked with no problem, so went for another run. It hurt again (not as bad), right after the 3rd mile, so I walked the rest of the way home, iced it and started looking for how to fix it. I think it was the IT band, which I guess is very common. I iced the knee, and did daily stretches for it. That was a couple of weeks ago, and I haven't had any problems with it since then, but I haven't run beyond about 3.25 miles since then either. I figure I'm still at 5k distance, so that's good!

If I ever decide to increase distance, I will definitely do it in slower increments to hopefully avoid any more knee problems.

I tried this last Spring for 3 days and gave up. I am ready to try again. I have NEVER been a runner and still don't know if I can do this but I really want to. I am going to try this week!

I started Week 5 today. I'm not a runner by nature (i've never even particularly enjoyed sweating, haha!). Anyway, I've always admired runners, and in the back of my mind, I've been intrigued with the idea of trying it. I can't say that I "enjoy" it while I'm doing it (yet), but I can say that I feel like I've accomplished a lot when I finish a workout, and am starting to "believe" that it is possible to actually do this! I also am finding that I look forward to exercise now. First time in my life!!! Good luck to all C25K'ers!!!!!!

I'm a C25K grad and now a proud member of the "13.1 club" .. I started the c25k program a few months before my 40th birthday, overweight and with bad knees. I'd been walking fairly long distances /fast speeds regularly for several months prior to starting the c25k program, so i had fairly good cardiovascular endurance, though i still struggled with strength. I had been telling myself (and anyone who inquired) that i could never run because i had bad knees. I quickly found out that one of my main problems "learning to run" on my own was that i would run too fast (like 7+mph), for too long (at that point, too long could mean just 3 minutes) and i'd kill my knees, making it all but impossible to run for several days afterwards. You can't just jump into running like that. It will wreck you. You will hate running. Following the C25K forced me to scale back the duration/speed of my running segments so i could finish all of the intervals and get back to another run in a couple of days. It forced me to take rests so my knees could adjust to the new demands. A few times i "jumped ahead" of the program and then i'd really feel it (in a bad way). I highly recommend just sticking to the program, not fast-tracking it in any way. You may feel like you can jump ahead, but fight the urge to do so. Let your body have the time to adjust so you can remain injury free. Don't worry if you're not built for speed. Who cares. You're out there, you're doing it, thats all that matters

For the record, my knees are still crap. I still need to be mindful of intensity, duration and recovery times. If you have any sort of injury, be mindful of it, but not fearful of it. Never let fear run your life Surprisingly, my knees felt pretty ok after my half marathon last fall!

I don't always love running WHILE i am running. Especially in that first mile or two. I've also found that i prefer slower running (jogging) over speed and that the run/walk mindset it what makes running still seem inviting to me. I run when i want to run, i walk when i want to walk. I take it day by day and song by song and i just enjoy myself when i'm out there. And i DO enjoy my "me time" very much!!!!

(I do get competitive WITH MYSELF when its race time though lol!)

Wanted to add that I am the featured runner this month on my runners' club's website... They did a little runner's profile thing on me, if you want to read more. Here is a link to our page: http://www.adirondackrunners.org/ The Featured Runner link is on the right side of the homepage (me!)

hi i never been a runner but started the c25k 6 weeks ago and love it i run outside on the road and every week go further i am doing week 6 tomorrow and can now run 20min without stopping i am doing my first run for life on the 20th of may wish me luck ha

I completed the C25K a few months ago and am working on the B210K now. I can run 3-3 1/2 miles easily now, my only issue can be boredom because I run on a treadmill. I turned 45 in December and am actually in better shape now than I have been in since I was in my teens.

I was a runner in high school, did cross country and was the distance runner on the track team. I hated it back then. LOL. I was good at it, but didn't like it.

I was on business this past weekend. Yesterday morning I woke up and felt like I needed a workout so I went down to the workout room at the hotel I was at and got on the treadmill. I was limited on time, so I decided to run 2 miles. It was so easy! I never thought I would say that. Ever.

I really like running now. I love the calorie burn, I love the sweating and I LOVE how well I sleep at night on the days I run.

I think c25k is great. I finally have my motivation to stick with it this time. I have found out that running is more mentally challenging than physically challenging, for me at least. I've been going back & forth with the app for about 3 months now, I kept repeating weeks 1 & 2, getting to week 3 & dropping back down. Last week I had been following the app correctly & should have started week 4 but instead created my own run/walk routine on my regular route since I ran my first 5k on Saturday, just trying to get some variety & push myself. I actually completed the 5k in 38:56, which I was thrilled with! I have signed up for another 5k at the end of the month & will pick up with c25k week 4 this week to help me be even more successful at the next 5k.

At first I thought 45 second jogs were TERRIBLE, now I actually enjoy the longer jogs.

I'm a newbie C25K, too. I started W2D1 last night. I'm finding that I have to run/jog at a slow pace, but coolrunnings.com keeps telling me that speed will come later. It was a wonderful feeling last night to run 90 seconds without stopping. Granted, I had to walk 2 minutes between times, but I did it! It is such a feeling of accomplishment for me. I've never ran before in my life. I'm finding that I miss the off days. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but this chick likes to run!

My biggest problem has been getting over my own perceived ideas. Since I run in my neighborhood, I picture my neighbors peeking out the window saying, "Look at that fat chick trying to run." But, I've since convinced myself that I'm the one running while they're probably watching TV and stuffing themselves with junk food.

Anyway, I love to run!