Couch to 5k

[Miss Phode]

My hubby and I are starting an exercise program today. It's called Couch to 5K. It's basically a work at your own pace, training program, for people who aren't active. The first week of the program starts with 20 minutes, 3x's per week of walking/jogging. I'm really excited about this.

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/Programs/conservative_program.htm

Check out the links above if you are interested in reading up on the program.

Hope you guys are having a great day!

[iPamela]

Sounds like a really great program. Thanks for posting the link.

Lots of luck to you and your hubby!!!!

Pamela :icondance

[momofcaz]

I'm doing this too! I'm on week two, and I'm already noticing a difference in my stamina.

Good luck to you! :icondance

[RunAwayMichelle]

What a great couple of links. Thanks for posting. It just shows what can be done with a real plan.

[michele4ad]

You can do it!
This is such a great exercise plan!
I have been on this plan since November. The plan is for 9 weeks but I stretched it to 9 months. I do each "week" of the program for 1 month. When I started I weighed 275 lbs and running was really uncomfortable. I used the "time" measurement instead of the distance because for me time is easier to measure than distance. The first week you run in 1 minute intervals for 10 intervals. It was really hard for me to run for 1 minute at a time. Now I run 25 minutes in a row without walking! (2 miles!!! I have lost so much weight and running is so much easier now, and I actually enjoy it! I always thought that at 275 I was too big to run, but I started off slow, and even though it felt so bad at first (my calves felt like they would explode!) I stuck with it and it got better and now someday I will run in a 5k!
I hope you have as much success with this program!

Michele

[Mary-chan]

You can do it!
This is such a great exercise plan!
I have been on this plan since November. The plan is for 9 weeks but I stretched it to 9 months. I do each "week" of the program for 1 month. When I started I weighed 275 lbs and running was really uncomfortable. I used the "time" measurement instead of the distance because for me time is easier to measure than distance. The first week you run in 1 minute intervals for 10 intervals. It was really hard for me to run for 1 minute at a time. Now I run 25 minutes in a row without walking! (2 miles!!! I have lost so much weight and running is so much easier now, and I actually enjoy it! I always thought that at 275 I was too big to run, but I started off slow, and even though it felt so bad at first (my calves felt like they would explode!) I stuck with it and it got better and now someday I will run in a 5k!
I hope you have as much success with this program!

Michele

That's awesome!! Can you tell me if it was hard on your knees/ankle joints? Even with moderate exercise my ankles sometimes swell up and hurt a lot. I was thinking about doing something like this but I don't want to damage my joints.

Do you think this program would be okay for that?

[2big4mysize]

this is a great program and many hav eused it to run thier first 5K ever.

Check out the cool running site for tips on propper stride and shoes as many mnay joint injuries can be avoided if you are using the proper heel strike roll up on to your toes landing and not the run on your toes we were all taught in elementary class gym sooooooo many yrs ago.

I could not do the running even with every thing done right cause of my knees but I could use the C25K program to speed up my power walking and Mary-chan you can too. if you can't jog just alternate slow and fast walking as you build your distance and time up. My walking 5Ks are just over 30 min now.

[Mary-chan]

this is a great program and many hav eused it to run thier first 5K ever.

Check out the cool running site for tips on propper stride and shoes as many mnay joint injuries can be avoided if you are using the proper heel strike roll up on to your toes landing and not the run on your toes we were all taught in elementary class gym sooooooo many yrs ago.

I could not do the running even with every thing done right cause of my knees but I could use the C25K program to speed up my power walking and Mary-chan you can too. if you can't jog just alternate slow and fast walking as you build your distance and time up. My walking 5Ks are just over 30 min now.

Thanks for the info I am going to give it a shot and hope for the best!

[maribelle]

You know...this sounds really neat. I think its the plan I've been waiting for to get me going. Gonna give it a try!

[nikki_e]

Re: Couch to 5k

Just bumping this thread up to see how all of you that started Couch to 5k are doing. It sounds like a program that could maybe work. How is it going for everbody?

Right now I am walking for about an hour for exercise. It seems kind of odd to decrease my time to 20-30 minutes with a little jogging added in. I have always thought that I should go for a longer period of time, not distance.

How do you all measure your distance or time? I suppose I need to invest in a stop watch.

[Brook]

Re: Couch to 5k

C25K is how I learned to run It's a fantastic, methodical, REACHABLE way to get it done!

Hope it's going well for everyone!!
~Brook

[kkat55]

Re: Couch to 5k

I was worried like Mary-Chan about my knees and other joints jarring too hard with each landing of my foot since I've gained so much weight. So, no one out there has had any problems with this? (I had talked with my husband this weekend about trying to jog/run and he thought I should lose down some before I attempt it...I was thinking of hitting 199 before I took up running and just tried to walk, then power walk and work up to jogging and running.)

Do you feel that you lose weight faster or tighten up better with running versus walking?

Just curious...

[Brook]

Re: Couch to 5k

kkat- I think the most important thing you can and should do is go in to a running store and have someone evaluate your stride and properly fit you for running shoes. Doing so will save you TONS of jarring and joint issues.

I was never a walker - so I can't help you there. I went from doing workout videos to doing workout videos & C25K. Hopefully someone will be along that can answer your question.

~Brook

[2big4mysize]

Re: Couch to 5k

yep go to a running store and get your stride checked and shoes.

you can use the C25K to increase you walking speed right now. Walk faster for the jogging parts and normal for the walking parts of the plan. As you get stronger and faster and lighter one day you might just take off and run.

I have knees so bad biking and elipticals hurts them but for some strange reason walking on the treadmill doesn't.

this is a 3 day a week plan so you can contiue your other walking on the other days and do your resistance training on the C25K days.

[nikki_e]

Re: Couch to 5k

Ok, are there special "running stores"? I feel so lost in all of this, but want to do it right.