Couch to 5K

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I've been running but I've been having to take 2 days off between instead of 1 due to weather/life and then had to take 3 days off due to a funeral, luckily I've still been able to progress to week 7d2 with no issues. I just need to start getting up early to run so life can't get in the way. I just hate getting up any earlier than I have to!
 
Great job guys! Keep on trucking!!

Well, Week 2, Day 1 of B210K in the bag-I'm not really even sure how to describe it!! It was really, REALLY incredible. Including the warm-up, cool-down, and two 1-minute walking segments, I went about 5 miles. It was my first time running at home since this time last year and I am floored by how far I've come. Passing the point that used to be my turning around point last year and going over a mile past it, turning around and coming back and passing it again...amazing feeling! The sun was setting so it was very cool out, the air was fresh, my legs felt awesome, my breathing was great-everything was just in place today. After I was finished I felt like I could have kept going. My heart rate was 150 and I could talk very easily. I think that's my cue to start picking up the pace a little.

As I'm recovering now my legs are feeling a little shaky and tired. I love the road I run on here at home because it is very gently, almost imperceptibly rolling, so I get a little bit of incline and decline work without too terribly much effort. As the cars zoomed past me today (they are few and far between out here but they go pretty fast) I realized I should probably get one of those RoadID bracelets, just in case.

My cardiologist appointment went well today. He didn't find anything very concerning physically, but because the Holter monitor I wore a few years ago just gives a snapshot (24 hours), he wanted to do something a little more extensive, so I am being sent a smaller monitor that I will have for 30 days to rule out anything electrical. I feel pretty good today, though.

Finally, WW weigh-in went AWESOME this morning. Down 2.2 lbs from last week for a total of 24.8 lbs. Woooo =) I'm getting down to the wire- I don't want to lose more than another 10-ish pounds before I will start to feel too thin (I don't even know if my particular body can even get down 10 more lbs) but I would be really happy with another 5 or so. We will see ho wit continues to go!

Have a great week everyone!
 
That's fantastic, EllieGirl!!

I finished up W2D1 and man was my breathing out of control toward the end of the running. It probably doesn't help that I'm coming down with a cold though. Oh well, backs and biceps at the gym today!
 
So apparently week 6 is where you finally start to feel like "Oh. Hey. Maybe I can actually do this."?

I've stretched out the weeks a bit longer than the program ... basically did 5 days of week 4, 4 days of week 5, and will add one more day to week 6 ...

But I have to say, last night might have been the first time I felt positive the whole way through. It probably didn't hurt that I was able to get out for the run earlier than normal (most of them have been late night because of scheduling).

Anyhoo... keep on keepin' on! I'm finally starting to feel like the goal is in sight.
 
I have been a naughty breenie.

Just did a W7 run... but I don't know if it was D2 or D3 because I've been naughty and not running a ton. Or paying attention to running. Ooooops. My pace was a little better, though!
 
I finally found my freaking iPod and with that, ran out of excuses to procrastinate starting this.

Did W1D1 today, and thought I was going to die by the end.
 
HopefulAg said:
I finally found my freaking iPod and with that, ran out of excuses to procrastinate starting this.

Did W1D1 today, and thought I was going to die by the end.
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Way to go! The second (and third) days are easier because by then you can say, "Come on, man! You can do it! You already did it once (or twice) before!" It helps. I also ignore all I learned in middle school to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth, but hey, it makes me feel less crappy. :shrug:
 
HopefulAg said:
I finally found my freaking iPod and with that, ran out of excuses to procrastinate starting this.

Did W1D1 today, and thought I was going to die by the end.
Click to expand...

Seriously, keep at it and you will be amazed. I'm still not at the end, but even so I look back and it feels sooooo good to be running for durations that would have killed me just a couple months ago. It's worth it.

If it really beats you up, do what I've done: add extra running days in as needed before moving on to the next 'week' in the program.

Way to go, HA! 🙂
 
scb44f said:
I also ignore all I learned in middle school to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth, but hey, it makes me feel less crappy. :shrug:
Click to expand...

Why do they say that? Somewhere recently (a week or two ago?) the C25K podcast I'm using advised that.... what's the benefit to breathing in through the nose for running?
 
LetItSnow said:
Why do they say that? Somewhere recently (a week or two ago?) the C25K podcast I'm using advised that.... what's the benefit to breathing in through the nose for running?
Click to expand...

I learned that too! If I do it, I can't run.

And the first week is hard to get through mentally! I found it helped to make myself go a little slower in the beginning because I knew I had more running segments to get through. It was more fun when I wasn't completely dying the whole time
 
I'm not entirely sure to be honest. I just know I ignore it lol.
 
Maybe to make you focus on breathing steadily?

As an asthmatic, I'm happy just to be breathing. 😉 I breathe through whatever holes the air comes in.
 
I do 2 breaths in through my nose and 2 out through my mouth. I find just one through each or just one in and out of my mouth makes me pant more. It also gives me something to concentrate on which helps!
 
Breathed through my mouth as well. In through the mouth and out the nose, because I remembered it had something to do with the mouth and nose, and in the nose wasn't getting me enough air so I figured it was the other way around.
 
Could it just be that breathing in allows the air to flow through your nasal choncha and warm up before it hits your lungs? In the warm weather it wouldn't matter as much but when its cold out it may.

On a personal note: Week 2 Day 2 done! Much easier than Week 2 Day 1. My dog seems to be eating better now too (which is good because he is a picky 60# dog and I'm lucky if I can get him to eat two cups a day.)
 
So I haven't been great about posting, and well coincidentally, I haven't been great about running either. Went on a really long hike this weekend and have been paying for it since then - my legs are still in pain. I am going to start over with the B210k. Tonight I will start back with W1D1, the running actually might be good to loosen some of my muscles...but then there goes my excuse 😉 I don't know about anyone else, but without a race on the horizon, my motivation is seriously waning. This thread does help though!

WTG everyone though for sticking with it!! Reading your successes definitely helps!
 
I'm not doing Couch to 5k because I have knee issues that prevent me from running three days a week. (In fact I was told 7 years ago when I had surgery on both knees to never run. Oh well!) Instead I do the elliptical about 3 days a week and try to run one day per week. I've been training for about 2 months now. I've been doing 10ks on the elliptical to try to prepare me for doing a 5k with real running and this morning I had success! I ran a full 5k for the first time!

This Saturday my boyfriend and I are running Tarzan's Cup which is an obstacle race with a 5k. I didn't get as far into the running as I was hoping but hopefully the obstacles in between the running will give me a break. I didn't realize how hardcore it would be though! I'll post a link for a video below of the Tarzan's Cup that was last month! It'll be ridiculously fun and ridiculously hard! :laugh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZnYpKyMLj8

I haven't been posting on this thread since I'm not actually doing the C25K program but it's been helpful to see everyone else succeeding! Gives me motivation to hit the gym!
 
Chinola said:
I haven't been posting on this thread since I'm not actually doing the C25K program but it's been helpful to see everyone else succeeding! Gives me motivation to hit the gym!
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I think you should post. Stupid/Silly as it may be, reading that other people are sticking with it has been that last bit it's taken me some days to man up and put on my running shoes. If I make it through this, I probably owe the success to EG. 😛
 
LetItSnow said:
I think you should post. Stupid/Silly as it may be, reading that other people are sticking with it has been that last bit it's taken me some days to man up and put on my running shoes. If I make it through this, I probably owe the success to EG. 😛
Click to expand...

Seconded! Knowing other people are suffering through it with me is a huge help - especially when I routinely pass those cute little joggers in their perfect work-out clothes and their perfect hair and their matching tank-top and short-shorts and sneakers, bounding along with ease as I huff and puff through my run. 🙄
 
I feel like poo today for some reason. I am so completely exhausted I can hardly keep my eyes open. I managed to not get my run in today, which doesn't help my mood. I am attributing this to the crazy whirlwind of the past couple of days, and trying not to beat myself up over it. I also feel fat today, and my patience with WW is wearing thin because I'm tired of tracking and everything. I think I'm just thrown off because my routine that I've had for the last three months or so is now gone, I'm stressed because my car broke yesterday and it's expensive to fix, I have rent to pay for all summer and no paying job (I have the savings to pay for that and not much else all summer) and just overall I feel blah.

So my solution? I'm going to bed. I'm going to try and not wake up tomorrow until I have to, around 7. I will eat a good breakfast, take my lunch with me to the clinic, and make sure I get all my fruits and vegetables in tomorrow. I will also make sure I run tomorrow evening.

Hope everyone else's day was better than mine!!
 
Had a much better day today =) Volunteered at the clinic in the morning, where one of the techs spent the day calling me things like "bag of bones" and "stick girl." lol I don't know if I'd go that far, but it's nice to know people notice my weight loss. I did W2D2 of B210K and it went great again! I ran probably about 1/2 mile, at least, farther than I did yesterday in the same about of time, so I definitely picked up the pace. I'm feeling pretty confident that I should be able to run my 5K on July 9th in under 30 minutes, which is my goal. I think I'm starting to get to that "runner's high" point that people talk about. I get pretty beat around mile 3-ish, but then by the end of mile 4.5 when I'm about done, I feel awesome and like I could just keep going forever. I know I'll be able to get through Day 3 on Saturday, so I'm looking forward to starting Week 3 on Monday and seeing how I fare!
 
EllieGirl89 said:
Had a much better day today =) Volunteered at the clinic in the morning, where one of the techs spent the day calling me things like "bag of bones" and "stick girl." lol I don't know if I'd go that far, but it's nice to know people notice my weight loss. I did W2D2 of B210K and it went great again! I ran probably about 1/2 mile, at least, farther than I did yesterday in the same about of time, so I definitely picked up the pace. I'm feeling pretty confident that I should be able to run my 5K on July 9th in under 30 minutes, which is my goal. I think I'm starting to get to that "runner's high" point that people talk about. I get pretty beat around mile 3-ish, but then by the end of mile 4.5 when I'm about done, I feel awesome and like I could just keep going forever. I know I'll be able to get through Day 3 on Saturday, so I'm looking forward to starting Week 3 on Monday and seeing how I fare!
Click to expand...

Glad to hear things are going really well! The photo you posted in one of the other threads had you lookin' pretty fly, girl!
 
Ok, first post here and I'm really excited!!!

So I used to run quite a bit (3-4x week, 2x6km runs in ~30 min, 1-2x 3km runs in hilly terrain)...
And then third year happened... and I was working 30 hours a week 🙁... and yeah...

SO I decided C25k would be the perfect way to get back into it!

I'm either going to do it with my boyfriend (who's unfit so we'll start from the start) otherwise I was planning on starting from around week 3/4.

BUT I get shin splints!!!

So I was wondering if theres anyone else here whos doing C25k and has suffered from these? Does the program progress you slowly enough to prevent these? Its pretty much my only misgiving about starting at week 3 or 4...
 
sunshinevet said:
So I was wondering if theres anyone else here whos doing C25k and has suffered from these? Does the program progress you slowly enough to prevent these? Its pretty much my only misgiving about starting at week 3 or 4...
Click to expand...

My only experience with shin splits has been when I'm not wearing decent shoes. Get a good pair of running shoes and you should be okay.
 
sunshinevet said:
Ok, first post here and I'm really excited!!!

So I used to run quite a bit (3-4x week, 2x6km runs in ~30 min, 1-2x 3km runs in hilly terrain)...
And then third year happened... and I was working 30 hours a week 🙁... and yeah...

SO I decided C25k would be the perfect way to get back into it!

I'm either going to do it with my boyfriend (who's unfit so we'll start from the start) otherwise I was planning on starting from around week 3/4.

BUT I get shin splints!!!

So I was wondering if theres anyone else here whos doing C25k and has suffered from these? Does the program progress you slowly enough to prevent these? Its pretty much my only misgiving about starting at week 3 or 4...
Click to expand...

I started at W4 and have had no problems. About to start W8.
 
Coquette22 said:
My only experience with shin splits has been when I'm not wearing decent shoes. Get a good pair of running shoes and you should be okay.
Click to expand...

Oh I have super good running shoes now. I got EPIC shin splints, to the point where I could not actually run at all because it was too painful, and like, $700 in physio bills later I was all fixed lol 😛 Even in my awesome shoes i still cant run two days in a row 🙁

I have "weak glutes" apparently, that let my knees bow in and my ankles out and roll heaps... I'm a bit of a lemon lol! So i have to do butt strengthening exercises!!!
 
I get them too I walk on my arches (I am not flat footed I have arches, I just apparently walk right on them.) But keeping at least a day between my runs has helped. Sometimes I wanna run two days in a row but I like being able to walk 🙂

Did w7d1....at my grandparents...in San Fran. Oh dear lord the hills! Did my 28 min but had to walk for about 45 seconds when I tackled a bigger hill than I meant to at a faster pace than I meant to. But I'm still counting it because I did more hills yesterday than in any other run ever! It felt good and I could see the ocean!
 
Running my race in about 2 hours and totally freaking outtttt!
 
I've been a bad girl and haven't ran all this week. Combination of not feeling well, trying to catch up on the classwork (it's online so I don't want to fall behind) and just plain exhaustion. I have spread the word of C25K to some of my co-workers and they're doing it as well, and very excited about it! We're all planning to run the Crescent City Classic next April.

I am ready to start up on W3 tomorrow. Went to the running store today to get fitted for some new kicks! Now that I've splurged on running shoes, I have to keep it up; plus having a race to train for makes it more exciting as well!
 
I'm visiting my grandmother in san bruno california! Its amazing what a change of scenery did for my motivation! W8d2 over! The hills freaking suck but the views and they houses are a nice changefrom the mid west. I cannot believe I am almost done with c25k, I can't make a commitment to keeping a journal so 9 weeks of running seemed nearly impossible!
 
Worst run ever today. It was muggy out so my sweat wasn't evaporating, the wind was at my face the whole way back, my heart monitor's electrodes were coming off with all the sweat so it was beeping at me the whole time. Ugh. But anyway, I got it done, which means I'm finished with Week 2 of B210K. For some reason I was just exhausted and I tried to make an excuse not to go but I'm glad I finished it. The weather here has been crazy for a couple days so I haven't been able to get out until today. On Saturday I did go with my mom as she did her run. Instead of running with her I walked with her, then I let her get ahead of me during her running segments, then when she went to walk again I sprinted to catch up to her. It was a nice change of pace to do some short bursts rather than the long slow runs.

As for WW, I was really going to be happy this week if I could just maintain, and I ended up losing about a half a pound to put my total weight loss at 25.2 lbs. I also switched my WW account to "maintenance" mode for now. I'm going to see what it's like to maintain this weight for a few weeks, and then if I still want to lose another few pounds after that I will switch back to "lose" mode. Most of my family and my GF are discouraging me from losing more so I am taking that into consideration as well.

So I'm not really looking forward to starting Week 3 on Wednesday, but hopefully after a couple night's sleep between now and then I will be more enthusiastic. Hope everyone's doing well!!
 
My grandparents took me to Reno where I think the smoke inhalation may kill me. I can't run outside so I tried the treadmill for the first time since starting the c25k. I did not enjoy it. Maybe if it hadn't been so hot in the hotel workout room. Maybe with cable or a movie... Supposed to do 28 min but only got through 20 plus the 5 min warm up.
That makes it the first run I started but couldn't finish 🙁

Wish me luck in making it through 3 nights of smokey casinos!
 
Took a week off due to work/migraines. Got back out there today and it felt great 😀 Since it had been so long between runs I decided to repeat wk3 d3. For some reason week 4 is my hurdle in this program. First try through, I get tendinitis right at week 4. This time around, migraines. I am determined to get through it starting on Friday. Tonight's run gave me much needed confidence that I need to make it through wk4 d1.
 
I was supposed to do a week 8 run last night, but I was like .6 mi from home and it started POURING. I ran through the rain all the way home, but by the time I got back I was soaked and it'd only been 25 minutes. Oh well! I ran speedier than normal, so that makes up for it, right?
 
I have internet again so I will update. The combination of being sick and moving last week meant that I only did W2D1. This weekend, I started feeling better so on Monday I did W2D1 again, and though tiring, it was nice. There's a park near my new place that allows dogs so I took my girl along and we had a good time. This park has more hills than I am used to, and while they're small, I am still worn out by the time I get to the top. I'm sure it will be easier after I build up my endurance.

Today was W2D2 and it was a little better, though my dog was acting strange on the leash today which made it harder. She would stop to smell when I was jogging, and she would sprint off when I was walking. I think she was rebelling after working on the leash training yesterday...
 
hey couchrunners!

Okay so I just have a couple questions for you...

* How do you check your time when you're running
do you just periodically check your watch, or do you have watches that beep on the minute, etc?

* Does anyone know good butt stretches?
Lol I've had this 'problem' for a while- perhaps a weak muscle in my butt. It first cropped up when I started playing rugby years ago, then whenever I get into running or am out at the barn mucking out, it comes up again! Just feels like a deep pulled muscle.. and then its sore for a few days after. I'll feel fine then step or move in the wrong way and "aaaiiieee!" pain in the butt!

Thanks 🙂
 
I carry my iPod with me and use the stopwatch function. I don't listen to music because I find I try to run in pace with it. I'd use a watch if I had one, but I haven't had a problem just holding it while running. Others use their headphones and download apps onto their iPods/iPhones/etc. that tell them when to run or walk.

As for good butt stretches... I do a few under the Hip and Groin stretches. http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/stretching/allstretches.php
 
scb44f said:
I carry my iPod with me and use the stopwatch function. I don't listen to music because I find I try to run in pace with it. I'd use a watch if I had one, but I haven't had a problem just holding it while running. Others use their headphones and download apps onto their iPods/iPhones/etc. that tell them when to run or walk.

As for good butt stretches... I do a few under the Hip and Groin stretches. http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/stretching/allstretches.php
Click to expand...

Beauty! thanks!! the stretches hurt lol. But it was great! 😀
 
scb44f said:
As long as it's the good kind of hurt!
Click to expand...

it was the f*ck i'm all stiff, BOOO that hurts, oowwww this needs to be stretched regularly.... kind of hurt.. lol.

Great website honestly... really helpful 😀
 
lostbunny said:
hey couchrunners!

Okay so I just have a couple questions for you...

* How do you check your time when you're running
do you just periodically check your watch, or do you have watches that beep on the minute, etc?

* Does anyone know good butt stretches?
Lol I've had this 'problem' for a while- perhaps a weak muscle in my butt. It first cropped up when I started playing rugby years ago, then whenever I get into running or am out at the barn mucking out, it comes up again! Just feels like a deep pulled muscle.. and then its sore for a few days after. I'll feel fine then step or move in the wrong way and "aaaiiieee!" pain in the butt!

Thanks 🙂
Click to expand...

I started at W4 so this was practical...but I make playlists that have songs of appropriate length in order of the pattern. Now it's easier because I just throw together 28 min of music and run until I'm done. If it's not exact you can always glance down at your ipod and stuff.

As for butt stretches, my fav is to sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you. Take your right leg and bend your knee and try to put your right foot near your left hip (so crossing over your leg). Put your left elbow on your knee and push it to stretch that glute.
 
Congrats everyone on all the great progress!! Chinola, how did the race go?? Ellie, sorry I haven't been much support with the B210k, but I am trying...sort of 😉.

I have found a 10k though, it's in Edinburgh in October. Right now I am at the point where I can't get past 3 mi, it's like I hit this total wall. I know it is mental, but it's funny how disabling that can be. So I am hoping that having a race on the horizon will help with the motivation. I am going to stick with the 3 mi this week and start fresh on the B210k next week.
 
So I went for my first run today - W3D3. The first block of running i found a bit tough, but by the end of the workout I actually didnt feel like I was working hard enough - bring on week 4!!! My biggest problem was that at the end, my shins were quite tender and my calves quite tight, so hopefully with breaks between runs, good stretching, good shoes and careful management, I can avoid the horrid shin splints!!! 😀
 
Hey guys, I haven't fallen off the wagon, or the face of the planet. It's really hard to get the weather to cooperate with me here!! It's either been stifling hot or pouring rain the past week. I've also been really, really tired for some reason, not to mention my girlfriend came up from Columbus for a few days so seeing her was more of a priority for me this week than running. My plan is, even though I finished Week 2 already, to run 2 more days of week 2 (today and Saturday) and then start up Week 3 on Monday. I'm going to change my route too, because I think I'm getting bored with my current route. It's pretty and there's a lot to look at, it's just...the same. So instead of running 2.5 miles down until the street dead ends and coming back, I'm going to go around the block (which, where I live, blocks are about a mile square).

Great job everybody!
 
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