okay,who has done this before and what has been your experience? i'm on week 2 and i'm very excited to be able to run for 30 minutes in the next few weeks!

I am currently using the Couch to 5K training. I am also on week two and going pretty well so far I haven't ran since I was in high school which was ... gosh 30+ years ago!

I too am excited to be jogging again.

i haven't really ran since high school as well. i did run track but wasn't great at it. just did it to keep in shape for other sports. i'm really excited for this. i want to get to the point where i can run and actually enjoy it. is that even possible? lol!

Of course you can do it! You want to do it and that's sometimes the biggest part of the battle.

I'm on week 7 of the couch to 5K and I'm loving it! I found a free podcast that sets their program to music and tells you when to walk, when to run. On last night's session, I ran for 25 minutes. If I can do it, anyone can do it!

All the best to you on your journey.

Karen

i'm using the podcasts as well. thank goodness! its' so much better than constantly checking your watch. good for you! 25 minutes is excellent. you're almost there! were any weeks difficult for you?

No, I haven't found them difficult, but there have been sessions that were more challenging than others. Sometimes my head has had a harder time than my body, lol.

This whole week is 25 minutes each session - this is the first week that the sessions haven't alternated/changed within the week.

I'm still a heavy girl, and if my knees can handle this (and they are) then I know I can just keeping going farther and longer - plus, I'm convinced that running, as part of my exercise quota has helped me lose weight each and every week.

All the best to you!

Karen

karen,
that's great to hear. i'm just commiting myself to this no matter how long it takes. i agree that weight loss is directly linked to adding some running. i don't think i would have pulled a 4.8lb weight loss the first week without it! keep me posted how your week does.

I'm just about to start week two of C25K tomorrow.

I workout on the treadmill and I think I was trying to run too fast in the first week instead of taking it a bit slower because I don't' think I could keep up the pace I was running longer than a minute.

Right now even 90 seconds of jogging seems a bit intimidating, but I know I'll get better if I keep trying!

I just started the program too- ending my fisrt week. I am walking 3.5 mph on treadmill, then jogging at 4.0 mph. All on a 0% incline.- So yeah, a slow, gentle start- as I've never been a runner/jogger. Ever.
I feel like I could go longer than the 20 minutes- but I don't want to over-do it and so, just following the plan for now.

Previously was walking on a 3% incline at 3.5mph for one mile. But- my body got used to that I think, perhaps not enough of a metabolism crank-up- so I'm now doing the C25K.
I REALLY like it- and posted a 1/5 lb. loss this week- SO! It is definitely working for me. I attribute the loss to the new workout/activity plan (it has been a VERY long time for me to have a loss at/over 1 lb.)

Um- make that 1.5 pounds! And FIRST week. (my own typos- ugh!)

I'm still doing well. On Week 2 Day 2. For the last jogging interval I like to see if I can stretch it out- so for the past 2 times I've done it I've run 2.5 min at the end.

It's slow progress, but getting better every time!

I'm now doing Week 3- it is pushing it to do the 3 minute jog for me. But I DID it! Today was Day One, Week Three.

I listen to my own music on mp3 player, which I LOVE jamming to tunes, the ones I have are a great beat to move my feet- and just keep an eye on the minutes timer of the treadmill to switch from walking to jog. It is working well. I look away for the most part so I'm not fixating on the time.

How fast do you guys walk and then jog? I'm walking at 3.5 mph, then jog at 4.5 mph. It is right for me and my un-fitness level for now.
I did not read anywhere on cool running site a "suggested" pace really.

I am just curious if any of you have increased your SPEED as you are moving forward/further into the training program. And- if, as you get closer to completion, are you finding that you can go faster, longer, and breathing is not as hard?

TheaterAnnie- I've also tried to push myself at the end I did that last week- I only go maybe another 30 seconds, but for me, that's a big deal.
I do not want to "over do" it, but feels good to push myself a little bit.

Where do you find the "Couch to 5K Training?"

Thank you.

Well...I did the C25k. I made it to week 8 and then this past sunday I did my first 5k Run!!! It was great! I never thought 8 weeks ago I would have been able to complete it.....keep it up!!!

Beth

The best program I've seen is on the cool running web site, there's a link to their C25K training schedule. Here's a link!
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

great job, beth!!!

Thanks for the link to the cool running website, Misty!

Way to go, Beth!

I just started my C25K training this morning (Day 1, Week 1) using the podcast I downloaded. I went really slow -- I'm sure many people could walk faster than I ran! But I did it and I'm proud of that. My whole life I was given the message that I am unathletic and I think I adopted the attitude of why even try then?! I've never run even a mile and this morning's walk/run was probably the most running I've done in at least 15 years. But I did it and I'm actually looking forward to day 2!

Deb

I just started this yesterday...Day 1-Week 1. LOVED it! I'm dying to try day 2 but I'm waiting the day in between as suggested. I will go for a nice long walk today instead.

Anyone do this program without the rest days? Is there any reason I couldn't do Week 1 everyday for a week?

Thanks....looking forward to calling myself a runner in 9 weeks!

I just finished W2D2....is anyone still working on this program here? I'm feeling so good after completing a day. I'm finding it very challenging but I'm so proud that I have even stuck with it for almost 2 weeks! I'm intending on seeing this to the end. I'm thinking I might need 4 days this week instead of the 3 since I was literally starting off of the couch! LOL!

I would love to hear how others are doing with this program. Would be great to motivate and support each other along the way.

I just finished W2D3 -- feeling good. Actually, my knees don't always feel great when I'm running. I guess it's from all that extra weight. Anyone else have that problem? Any tips? But overall, it's going well and I'm feeling glad to be doing the program.

Can anyone post a link to the podcast. I'm trying to do some running, but am sick of trying to time myself. A podcast saying "run now" would be a big help.

Thanks!

Here you go! Good luck - I had a blast doing it!

http://www.ullreys.com/robert/Podcasts/page4/files/rss.xml

I don't know if anyone is still on this board, but I've just finished Week 2 of C25K, and I looked to see what Week 3 brings, and I'm a little concerned. I had trouble keeping up for 90 seconds, particularly at the end, I just felt so sluggish, and now to go for 3 minutes at a time-YIKES!!

I'm curious if anyone else has been able to run so long, and how fast you go, and how you feel while you're doing it. Stamina seems to be my biggest enemy these days, but I'll keep going, just...........really.........slow.

Kelly