Couch to 5K? Anyone wanna try it too?

I am looking into this...sounds fun! I also have always wanted to say I RAN a 5K. I did participate in a 5K once but I walked the whole time so that doesn't count! I want to say I actually did run a 5K!

Hi there, i have just finished week one and can't believe how much i enjoyed it. I have never been able to run before. Bring on next week i say. Good luck to everyone trying it!!!!

I'm using the same app - just started today. So far so good! Good luck to you!

Found an app for Droid... Active's Couch to 5K. It's for very beginners, like me. I don't think I've run since high school and that's been 16 years now. I'm quite overweight (need to drop about 70 pounds) but dammit, I jogged last night!! Charlotte and I made it through the first programmed workout. The poor dog came home and flopped on the floor. I felt great! My excuse for years was that I couldn't run because of my knees. So, I researched "excersice for bad knees" or something like that and ended up on a discussion board where they were saying that it's usually form and not the person's knees. So, even when walking around at work, I've been focusing on my form and it really didn't hurt to jog last night. Yay!! Small victories. I'm surprisingly pumped about this 5K program and hope to see it through. The one I downloaded will be 9-weeks long. I think that's a reasonable commitment!

I'm using the same app - just started today. So far so good! Good luck to you!

I did Day 1 for the second time last night. I still couldn't finish it, but I will get there.

As far as "beating the heat" in this drought, I'm not running outside at all. I am running in place in my air-conditioned bedroom while listening to the radio. I just set a timer to know when to switch between jogging and walking. When I walk, I tend to go in circles, but when I jog, I stay in the same spot.

Both my wife and I are graduates of the c25k program. it's a really great way to get into running. I wish all of you the best of luck. Let me throw out some random bits of advice in the hopes that they help someone:

1) Lots of people complaining about blisters and/or sore feet. Good shoes are a wonderful thing! I highly recommend finding a local running specialty store and getting fitted by someone who knows what they're doing. Good shoes aren't cheap, but they're worth it. in addition to helping with normal blisters and sore feet problems, the right shoes can help prevent a lot of uncomfortable running stress injuries like shin splints and plantar faciitis. I developed the later when I first started running again nearly a year ago. It's painful and the only way to treat it is to cut back on your running (the last thing you want to do). Also look into one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Foot-Massage-Great-Backs-Hands/dp/B002QEY6NK they're cheap and feel great on sore feet.

2) It's a great idea to register for a race around the time that you expect to finish the program. You won't win, you probably won't even finish in the top half of the pack... That's not the point. Races are a great motivator because they give you goal. Plus once you have PR (personal record) you have a new goal every time you race: "Beat my old PR". Usually at least part of your entry fee goes to a good cause, and you get a t-shirt and bragging rights too.

3) Don't be afraid to repeat a week if you don't feel like you were ready for it, or aren't ready for the next week. The process is pretty gradual until about week 6, then you quickly start losing your walk breaks. I repeat week 6 twice and my wife repeated weeks 6 and 8. There's no huge hurry to finish. If you've already scheduled a race and you aren't quite done yet, just walk as much as you need to in the race, and you'll improve next time.


BekahLuv: I did the Boston Run For Your Lives this year. It's brutal, in a really fun way. I recommend doing more than just running to prepare. There's obstacles, the course is usually muddy as Hell, and you spend a lot of time dodging and doing short sprints to avoid the zombies. Do some sprints, squats, and some upper body work to get ready.

Maybe it can be possible for non runners to start loving and looking forward to running.

^^ It is possible .. I am living proof!!!

I "graduated" from the C25k a couple weeks ago and it's been amazing! The program I used was from Cool Running I think but weeks 4 and 5 were the hardest. Knowing that was when most people dropped out pushed me harder! Good luck everyone, this is a solid program to follow to get running incorporated in your life!

Bump to read later

I am actually walking 4 miles a day now as i'm training for walking a half marathon in late Sept. I don't like running so i'm just walking/hiking daily!

I am ending my 4th week on it. I like it, but I feel like 3 times hasn't been enough exercise so I have only in the past couple of days been adding in more workouts on the offdays. Then again we will have to see if I am still doing that when it starts getting harder. So far I have had no problems completing the workouts though and I hardly ever exercised before I started. The first day of each week seems challenging, but then you do the second and the third with less problems.

Ran 6, walked 5, ran 6, walked 5 today. This is week 5 for me, and the first time I will be running 4 days a week. I'm thinking I need some new shoes (properly broken in of course before I start running in them full time), because my old sneakers are not holding up. Anyone have any suggestions on a GREAT pair of running shoes? Never bought any before, and I'm willing to put some money into it. I know I have to try them on, see what fits, and all that. But I know next to nothing about it running shoes, so any advice would be great!

Find a running store in your area, have them assess your gait and fit you with shoes that work best for YOU. You will pay a little more, but it's a wise investment.

I started C25K last week and I love it! on Sunday I started week 2 day 1 and I can't wait til tomorrow to do day 2. I've always loved running but would push myself too hard/fast or wouldn't breath right. This app has helped me so I don't push myself for longer than the set time so I feel tired but good at the end. I started to use it cause I have a 5K I want to do at the end of September-so far so good!

Hey there, just joined here today but started C25K a few weeks back...week 3 run 2 tomorrow. I'm using the NHS podcasts (free to download) and highly recommend it...a lady called Laura helps you through with tips and encouragement. I'm asthmatic and can;t believe I can run for 3 mins at a time now....becoming addicted. Would love to keep in touch about your progress...best of luck