BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

[Sweet Strudel]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Did my Monday run...was the same as last Friday.

5 mins brisk walk at a steady 3.0 mph

7.5 min jog at a steady 3.5 mph

5 min brisk walk again at a steady 3.0 mph

7.5 min jog, first 5 mins at 3.5 mph...last 2.5 mins at 3.3 mph

Will see how I feel on Wednesday...might step it up a bit...try a 5 min walk, 10 min jog, 5 min walk, 10 min jog....as I say...have to see how I feel that day.

Anyway, another one under my belt.

Everyone is doing GREAT.

I'm so proud of us all!!!!

[D-Termined]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

I just did a 20 minute jog with no stops! It went amazingly well. I plugged in mp3 player, tuned in my jogging playlist and just let it go. I'm pretty sure I could've done another 10 minutes no problem. I thought it would be tougher since my muscles were sore. I ran the 8/5/8 part of rung 5 in my neighborhood Saturday and the hills gave me quite a workout. I'll probably pay for this tomorrow

[Sweet Strudel]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

I am soooooo glad sweet strudel dragged me into this! It's the best!
liz

Yup dragged ya in, kickin and screamin...by the hair...hehehe...UGG

Glad you are enjoying it...who'd a thunk?

[Evermind]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

YAY! It's getting easier for everyone, and we're all enjoying it a bit more!

Isn't this COOL?

[hrgillespie]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Everyone is doing so awesome! It's so encouraging to me as I am so not that far along but to know we all started in the same place and look where you are now ........ it helps me to keep telling myself I can go on .......... This morning I finally got to get outside and run again, our weather has been keeping me inside and trying to do what I can to make it as close as possible on my Eliptical ....... but it's just not the same as actually getting out and running. I was really worried about losing progress but I was pleasantly suprised this morning. I decided to do week three again this week just because of all the missed runs and so as I set out I was anxious to see if it had gotten harder and much to my suprise I actually ran 4 minutes with out stopping this morning! I have no clue what the distance is I don't have a way to measure that so I am going by time ......... but 4 minutes is the longest i have gone yet and it didn't feel terrible it felt good! So every little step is progress!

I am looking forward tot he day when I can run the full 1/2 hour ....... that seems so far rfom possible right now but I know it will happen!

[Elizellen]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Great going, Heidi

[jamikins]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Heidi...you won't believe how much progress you can make in a short period of time. I want you to be PROUD of your 4 minutes.

The other interesting thing I'm finding is that my best gains have occurred after I missed my regular every-other-day runs. I took off 5 days last week between runs and I was so afraid that I would lose ground; instead I was able to run three times longer! Weird, huh?

D-Termined...you're really doing well! Any idea how fast you're running? Your hills must be quite a challenge.

[D-Termined]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

D-Termined...you're really doing well! Any idea how fast you're running? Your hills must be quite a challenge.

On the treadmill I usually jog at a rate of 5 to 5.5 mph. I like to occasionally step it up and go 6 to 6.5 for 30 to 60 seconds. No idea how fast I ran outside. It was weird, really. It felt completely different running on the road rather than on a treadmill. I felt like I started out too fast so I think I slowed down to about 5mph. And yeah, the hills in my neighborhood are tough. Not too bad, but a real workout. They're either a long slow incline or some rather steep short hills. When I walk the dog, she has to slow down considerably near the top of them.

[Evermind]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

I did my run this evening instead of tomorrow morning, because it's getting chilly in the morning and frankly, I didn't feel like getting up at 4:15 to go out into the cold.

I ran at dusk, and it was cooler, and very nice. However, my legs burned the entire way, and even though I didn't get out of breath or anything, I was really looking forward to being done. I tried to run faster today since I want to focus on slightly decreasing the amount of time I'm out running, and that went well.

I did the full 2 miles, only stopping to cross the street twice, and then once to retie my shoe.

Heidi -4 minutes is perfect. And there's a line you cross at some point, when all of a sudden you can double or triple what you did last time,as Jamie reports.

Jamie - Same thing happened to me. There's something to be said for more than one rest day between runs - probably 3 or 4 is better, but.........

[Purple Rain]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

I finally got to do the last workout on Rung 4 and can't wait to do Rung 5!

Wow! Everyone's making such great progress!!!

[hrgillespie]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

I'm disappointed that I missed my run this morning ........ no good excuse either I just overslept and I only have about a 45 minute window to go ......... I will try and get it in tonight but night running is much harder for me then early morning for some reason.

Thank-you all for your encouragement. I am proud of my 4 minutes ....... it's been an amazing journey to find myself doing something I couldn't even dream of doing two months ago. I am looking forward to the time coming when I can head out and just run for runnings sake! LOL it will come right????? I'm a little anxious that winter is closing in on me faster thenI would like but I am determined to continue running till it becomes impossible, and hope and pray that I don't lose too much progress over the winter. I guess the good news is if I do I know I can pick the couch potato site right back up and start over if need be!

[Elizellen]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Yesterday when I did my walk/jog (after an hour of pilates and an hour of body conditioning classes) I felt a bit more comfortable and did an extra 3 minutes jog over my usual!
Irritatingly the TV screen had a service message over half the picture so I couldnt watch 'Hells Kitchen' properly which usually helps the time to pass quicker. Of course none of the staff could find the zapper to click on 'OK' to clear the message off the screen!
I bet it is still there on Friday when I go next!

[hrgillespie]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

I got my run in this morning and it was wonderful!!!! Can you believe I am using the words wonderful and run in the same sentence????? LOL I started off cold and tired but once I got to where I actually do my running I felt good ......... I did the 90sec run 90 sec walk and then started my 3 min run and just kept going because I felt good ......... I ran for 6 minutes with out stopping! Then I did the 3 min walk and ran for another 6 minutes!!!!!! I couldn't believe it. I was tired for sure but no more tired then I was at 4 minutes the other day! It may be just a one time good run but I feel great about it! Anyways just had to pop in and share because I was so excited!!!!!!

[Adena]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Hey there, guys... long time no see. Sorry about that! But wow -- having not been here in a while, it is SO cool to read about your progress. You guys are really RUNNING now... for more than a minute or two at a time! Amazing that the program really does work. Even if you have to adjust it a little here and there, according to what your body feels capable of, it is turning you into RUNNERS! I'm really proud of you for sticking with it.

So what's after C25k.... a 10k challenge?? Keep up the great work, gang!

[Evermind]

Re: BEGINNERS: Couch to 5K Challenge

Ellen and Heidi, that's great! It's amazing when you find you can go further than you thought, especially when you look back at where we all started. It only gets better, I'm sure..........

I did a 3 mile run today. Took me almost an hour, which tells you how slowly I run, but I did it without stopping. And I wasn't out of breath. Interestingly, the first couple of miles were really hard, and it wasn't until the last that I felt the rhythm and the ease of running.