Did anyone struggle with C25k?

I thought it was ridiculous how hard the first week was for me. I was so tired afterwards but still proud I at least finished.
You have to be proud of what you did do compared to what you used to do! I was to scared to try but I finally did it. Struggling or not you still did it!
I'm on week 6 day 3 but I've been working on it for about 2 1/2 months now. I repeated a few weeks or days here and there.

You need to convince yourself that it is ok to repeat days/weeks. I started a C25k program on March 11th. (I bought it in the iTunes app store; it's called Ease into 5k) That first couple of runs were HARD. I was on the treadmill and my "runs" were at 3.2!!!! I couldn't believe that I couldn't even jog for 60 seconds at a turtles pace without feeling like I was going to die! But somehow, I didn't die and I got through it.

As the program progressed, I improved. I did repeat week 4 because I just did not feel ready to start week 5. On May 15th I had made it to week 7, day 1 and I admit, it was hard! (warm up, 20 min run, 3 min walk, 5 min run, cooldown). Then my mom went into the hospital for 3 weeks and I spent almost every minute at the hospital with her. When I was home, I was trying to catch up on my house and spend time with my husband and kids. Therefore, I went 4 weeks without running.

Once things got back to normal, I was sure that I was not ready to jump back to week 7 so I went back to week 5. That was on June 19th and have been doing GREAT since then. On Thursday of this week I was on week 7, day 2 I ran for 26 consecutive minutes! Albeit slowly! I'm going at an average 13 min mile. But that's ok. It is faster than 19 min. mile I was doing on week 1! And it's wayyyy faster than I was going before I started the program.

Don't give up and don't get frustrated. Push yourself, but don't push yourself so hard that you end up injured. I can't believe I was able to "run" without stopping for 26 minutes this week! I am pretty amazed at that and pretty darned proud! Now I'm thinking to myself, "How much further will be in 3 months?? 6 months??!!"

One more thing I want to say that I notice. The first time I ran for 20+ minutes the hardest part was the first 10 minutes. That still seems to be the case, too. Once I get my breathing right I kind of find my groove.

Good luck!!!!! And please, don't give up!

I just started and yes it is tough! I've been going to Zumba but running is kicking my butt! Looking forward to actually running a 5K so that keeps me going. I don't always make it all the way through my run but I'm running and that's what matters! Just keep going!

I have been going at my own pace. I did Week 1 intervals for about 2 weeks and just started Week 2 time intervals. I am REALLY bad about not breathing when I work out...I hold my breath...so working on my breathing has been a challenge.

Yes! I really struggled with some of the weeks. I had to repeat some of them 2 or 3 times. I moved on sometimes without being totally comfortable with the last week. But you DO improve. All of a sudden I was on week 8 and running for 20 minutes, blowing past the spots that I had to stop and walk and that feeling is amazing so keep at it! It's a fantastic program that really works if you follow it.

One piece of advice I have (because I wasn't following it at first): make the commitment to do it three times a week. If you take too much time off between runs, you WILL notice it's harder the next time you run. I was cross training for a lot of the time I was doing C25k so I wasn't great at making sure I was running 3 times a week, but as soon as I upped it I noticed a huge improvement.

So good luck, and have fun!

I've finally got round to starting it, yes I'm struggling because my calfs are quite muscular and always feel really heavy and like they're pulling me down but i push through it and make it to the end. I'm currently doing week 2, well I screwed it up a bit this week so instead of doing 3 days on it as recommended I only managed 1 due to things happening in the week so I'm going to do an extra 3 days next week and carry on from there! I know i'm going to struggle with it but after I did week one day 1 of it I felt so happy that I got through it I nearly had tears!

I just started and it is hard, but I try to run at a pace that is hard but that I can keep going at 60 seconds with. My husband is a better runner too and he just runs faster at the run parts to improve his time and stride. Keep going and don't get discouraged!!! Lol that's what I'm going to do too!!!!

I'm not one to look ahead, but I had to after NoxDineen's post. I started Week 5 today- it was a bit of struggle for Day 1. I'm not one to look ahead, but I did go ahead and look at Day 3. 20 minutes straight? Gulp. I might be seeing repeats in the future. But you know what? I do not foresee quitting.

I will be completing week 2, day 2 tomorrow and the running group that I'm apart of always uses this phrase "your race, your pace" which basically means go at a pace your comfortable with. If you're jogging for 30 seconds at a snails pace, guess what, you're still moving and you're moving faster than anyone who is still at home sitting on the couch.

I did my first day of C25K today.. With my husband.

Who can run about seven miles by himself without tiring.

Needless to say I was very disappointed in myself for not being able to finish the last three 60 second run times.. But I am proud of myself for taking the first step and doing it anyway. Did anyone else struggle with starting out on the c25k?

There was a bit on the C25k website that says "run slowly, if you can run anymore slowly you are probably running to fast", it says stamina first, speed will come. It is much easier to get the times up if you slow up a little.

It is tough but it gets better.

I had a hard time with the program, but don't give up. IT WORKS!! When I started, I couldn't run a minute to save my life. Now, I have completed one 5k and will run another in September. Just remember that you do not have to complete it in the 8 or 9 weeks (depends on which program you are using). Just pace yourself, and it will get easier.

Hi,

I just completed week 8, day 3, so I know what you are saying. The first time I worked through the C25K program, I was like you on the first week and it felt like it would kill me to run just those few moments! This time around I didn't try to run quite so fast in the beginning. I did some research about how to control my breathing while running so I could avoid hyperventilating, and learned that if I keep my torso as upright as possible and my shoulders dropped and relaxed, it made the jogging "easier". I'm not saying it's easy, especially at first. I'm not young (mid 40s and quite overweight) and I'm getting there. So can you!! Best of luck, and keep on plugging away.

Remember that if you find you can't complete a day, try it again in 2 or 3 days. You'll get there. I do recommend doing some other kind of cardio exercises on your non-running days. I haven't had such a difficult time working through the program this time around and I think it's because when I'm not doing c25K on the teadmill, I'm using the elliptical machine at my gym and increasing the time and intensity every few weeks.

I completely agree with starting with walking first. I began walking for weeks before I started C25K. I am now on W7D2 and have not had any trouble with soreness. It does get easier and easier as the weeks go. I love this program and tell everyone if I can do it, anyone can if you stick with it! Good luck all!

It took me four weeks to complete week 1! And then I injured my knee so I still haven't completed week 2! But no matter what, I was moving, and making progress, so I didn't mind. And when I start again, I know it will probably take 18 weeks rather than 9, but that's ok too