Couch to 5K Challenge

[karrotcurl]

Congratulations! That's awesome! I'm on this program too and officially "graduated" last week (only 5.5 weeks in!). Yesterday I ran a full 4.07 miles THE WHOLE TIME! Whoo-hoo!!! Join me in a happy dance will you?

[karrotcurl]

Originally Posted by WATCH-ME-SHRINK

~ ~ ~

Hello, Abby -- and others! I popped into this thread because I love reading C25K threads. They are always so inspiring. I get excited for those doing this for the first time, sending me on flashback journeys to when I had begun my own c25k program in 2008. One of the BEST things I've ever done for myself.

As for the daunting feeling of beginning Week 5, just wanna say that...

YES....YOU....CAN!

Although as an alumni I'm not officially in this challenge with you guys, I just wanted to stop in and encourage all of you. Inspiration can be a wonderful thing, and the mind is a powerful tool in accomplishing those goals that we don't think we are capable of. With that in mind, I'm pasting an entry from my own c25k journal (I saved every page of that challenge way back then on my laptop -- it was THAT important to me!) regarding when I made it through that BIG LEAP to Week 5.

Here goes...

Congratulations! That's awesome! I'm on this program too and officially "graduated" last week (only 5.5 weeks in!). Yesterday I ran a full 4.07 miles THE WHOLE TIME! Whoo-hoo!!! Join me in a happy dance will you?

[karrotcurl]

I'm going to give up! For some reason I'm not smart enough to figure out how to edit, delete, or quote properly! That's why I've only been "lurking" for so long!

[Jez]

That second one quoted just fine. And that's AWESOME. I seriously did week 1 yesterday FOR THE THIRD WEEK IN A ROW. I have a problem with my calves seizing/cramping up, no matter how much or when I stretch. I am seeing definite improvements, though, so I'm going to stick with it however long it takes me.

[karrotcurl]

Thanks Jez! Nice to meet you. Keep up the good work with the program! I heard a tip that stretching BEFORE the run can actually do more harm than good so maybe just trying to stretch after only may help with the cramping/seizing? Just a thought...

[Abby1983]

Originally Posted by karrotcurl

Thanks Jez! Nice to meet you. Keep up the good work with the program! I heard a tip that stretching BEFORE the run can actually do more harm than good so maybe just trying to stretch after only may help with the cramping/seizing? Just a thought...

this is true stretching beforehand on cold muscles can cause tears (eek!) i stretch afterwards, and always do the full 5 minute warm up even if im feeling good. jez- how much potassium do you get in your diet? lack thereof can cause bad muscle cramps. and if you drink a ton of water it can also give you muscle cramps (it 'washes out' the salt from your system).

im so excited our little group is growing! its nice to meet everyone

today i had week 6, day 3. 5 minute warm up, 22 min run, 5 min cool down.
I did it! it was actually much easier than i thought it would be. i felt pretty good for most of it, started getting winded for the end, but didnt get lightheaded until i STOPPED running. so weird! the only thing i can think of is that i wasnt hungry at all today, and ran at 1:30 without having eaten anything yet. i tend to get a little lighteaded when working out regardless so im thinking the no food added to it. now i have a two day rest until week 7 day 1 on wednesday. good luck to everyone!

[Jez]

Originally Posted by karrotcurl

Thanks Jez! Nice to meet you. Keep up the good work with the program! I heard a tip that stretching BEFORE the run can actually do more harm than good so maybe just trying to stretch after only may help with the cramping/seizing? Just a thought...

Originally Posted by Abby1983

this is true stretching beforehand on cold muscles can cause tears (eek!) i stretch afterwards, and always do the full 5 minute warm up even if im feeling good. jez- how much potassium do you get in your diet? lack thereof can cause bad muscle cramps. and if you drink a ton of water it can also give you muscle cramps (it 'washes out' the salt from your system).

I don't stretch before, and I've tried taking potassium. I think it's simply just from under-use and having to relearn to take the stress. It's not cramping, it's more like seizing. Like a charlie horse in both calves. I find my inability to run kind of amusing, actually, considering I'm killer at weights and strength-training. Guess we can't all be awesome at everything.

ETA: Also, I'm fat now, and I'm sure my body isn't super used to that, either.

[Kaimi2008]

sick monday and tuesday. on cold meds.

[Abby1983]

hi ladies! forgot to post last night after my run, but im still hanging in there!

week 7, day 1:
5 min warm-up @3 mph, 25 min run @ 5mph, 5 min cool down @ 3 mph.

I added one extra minute of cool down where i slowed from 5 -> 3mph rather than just stopping immediately. i had no dizziness so i think thats the trick!

my run went...great actually. i felt amazing during it, wasnt really winded much. i actually wanted to keep going at 25 min but my ONLY issue is that my right ankle really started hurting me to the point i was limping in my cool down (and today its my achilles). i know that my arches are collapsed in both feet, and im wondering if i need to wear my orthotics in my running shoes. i did a quick google search and collapsed arches can make a difference in how your ankles feel. so, tomorrow i have another 25 minute run and im going to try to wear them to see how it goes.

hows everyone else doing? kaimi, how are you feeling??

[Kaimi2008]

Abby, good job!! so glad u found a way to beat the dizziness.

I'm still sick w/ stuffy/runny nose but so far today no cold meds. My baby girl has a temp of 99 and both kids are teething. no fun this week. school is out tomorrow so i will probably be active.

I walked the kids around today and outside because it was warm.

I'm going to be hurting when I DO start back but I'm determined to finish NO matter how long it takes me.

[Abby1983]

Hi ladies i completed the second workout of week 7 last night (same as workout 1).

It didnt go as well as i had hoped, but i also upped my running to 5.5 mph so that was probably it. I ran 22 min and then had to walk for 1 min before i finished, but i did finish the last three minutes so i was proud of that. The good news is that i had no ankle pain this time so i was pscyhed about that! I burned 410 calories too, so i cant complain too much

[Kaimi2008]

Originally Posted by Abby1983

Hi ladies i completed the second workout of week 7 last night (same as workout 1).

It didnt go as well as i had hoped, but i also upped my running to 5.5 mph so that was probably it. I ran 22 min and then had to walk for 1 min before i finished, but i did finish the last three minutes so i was proud of that. The good news is that i had no ankle pain this time so i was pscyhed about that! I burned 410 calories too, so i cant complain too much

Good job!!

I'm still sick and Soooooooooooooo far behind.

I walked home from the school activity yesterday. Today, nothing. Tomorrow, I plan on grocery shopping and that's the only walking I will be doing.

Good news, no more meds for the past couple of days ~ just a runny nose and kids crack up laughing when I blow my nose. They think it's the funniest thing ever - besides mama sneezing.

[Abby1983]

Hi ladies, im still alive and kickin!

I was feeling particularly nder the weather the past cople days, so missed on workout. It showed

I had week 7, workout 3 today. 5 min walk, 25 run, 5 walk. It turned into more of a 13 min run, one min walk, 7 min run, 3 min walk, then finishing up last of the 25 min of running, followed by my cool down. Total distance was 3.2 miles, but it was slow going. I cannot believe how much missing one workout affected me! Im going to repeat week 7 bc i am DEFINITELY not ready for week 8

Kaimi, glad to hear you are off meds! I cant stand being sick. My allergies have been really terrible this week. Itchy eyes, stuffed nose, very tired. I hate this time of year

[Star73]

I'm subscribing to this thread. I hope that's ok I may give this a try.

[Abby1983]

Originally Posted by Star73

I'm subscribing to this thread. I hope that's ok I may give this a try.

of course! and i totally recommend the program. i've never been a runner...couldnt get more than a quarter mile without wanting to keel over, and im hovering right around 2 miles right now

[Kaimi2008]

Originally Posted by Star73

I'm subscribing to this thread. I hope that's ok I may give this a try.

still hacking up the "goo" and coughing but not as much. Hopefully, soon I will be able too start my week 4; day 1.

Abby, congrats! You're going to finish this!!

[Abby1983]

went for a run last night im repeating week 7 so i still did my 25 minutes of running, but i broke it up with a 3 minute walk in between. im trying to up my speed so i started the first set at 6mph and dropped it down to 5 for the last couple minutes, and then my second set i started at 5.5 and dropped it down to 5. i would love to be able to run it consistently at 6 mph. i will get there!

[Kaimi2008]

Originally Posted by Abby1983

went for a run last night im repeating week 7 so i still did my 25 minutes of running, but i broke it up with a 3 minute walk in between. im trying to up my speed so i started the first set at 6mph and dropped it down to 5 for the last couple minutes, and then my second set i started at 5.5 and dropped it down to 5. i would love to be able to run it consistently at 6 mph. i will get there!

good job.

rest day. my right knee is throbbling. maybe inflammed? going to take some ibuprofen and see if it helps.
omg, getting old and will need a bike.

[Abby1983]

Good evening

I ran yesterday for 25 min again, and ran at 5.3 for the whole time. I took a 90 sec walking break with 6.5 minutes left. After my cool down i ran a few minutes longer and ended my workout at 3.5 miles! I think im going to repeat all of week 7 until i move on to week 8. Im loving this program!

[Kaimi2008]

Originally Posted by Abby1983

Good evening

I ran yesterday for 25 min again, and ran at 5.3 for the whole time. I took a 90 sec walking break with 6.5 minutes left. After my cool down i ran a few minutes longer and ended my workout at 3.5 miles! I think im going to repeat all of week 7 until i move on to week 8. Im loving this program!

Yeah, so happy for you.

[GypsyLizze]

Better late than never right? I'm starting from full fledged, card carrying couch potato (lol, maybe not literally) to 5K as of today. Did the very first walk/run (jog) this morning after I dropped my kiddo off at school. Totally kicked my butt! LOL My first official 5K will be on July 21. Wish me luck!

[Abby1983]

good luck gypsylizze!

yesterday i ran week 8, workout 1, and i kicked its butt i felt so good i ran for a full 30 minutes. craziness

[Deb]

Abby..

good to see you doing the program

[Kaimi2008]

Originally Posted by GypsyLizze

Better late than never right? I'm starting from full fledged, card carrying couch potato (lol, maybe not literally) to 5K as of today. Did the very first walk/run (jog) this morning after I dropped my kiddo off at school. Totally kicked my butt! LOL My first official 5K will be on July 21. Wish me luck!

good job! keep it up!

[Kaimi2008]

Originally Posted by Abby1983

good luck gypsylizze!

yesterday i ran week 8, workout 1, and i kicked its butt i felt so good i ran for a full 30 minutes. craziness

and Abby has ran right past me.

good job my friend. keep up the good work!!

i walked 50 minutes w/ the jogging stroller and Aleve was my friend afterwards.

[Abby1983]

Originally Posted by Mel 7

Abby..

good to see you doing the program

hi mel!! long time no talk!!

[Kaimi2008]

walked 30 minutes w/ double jogging stroller; burned 280 calories.

[Abby1983]

i have been terrible with updating lately DH got home from work on friday so we had a date night i hadnt seen him since february!

i worked out saturday AM and ran a total of 2.5 miles, and walked 1 mile. i did the first 1.25 miles at 5.5 mph, then dropped to 5 for the second 1.25. i have another run tonight that i am supposed to do but im not sure if i will have time between work and another obligation. if not, i will run tomorrow. im so sore today from sprinting at my softball game. i guess sprinting uses different muscles than regular old running

[ChristineCQ]

You all are so inspiring! I started C25k last week (again, after quitting at week five last fall!). Starting week two this week; I loved reading all about your progress!

Abby, I hear you on the sprinting: I am always sore after softball, and you're right: Different demands on different muscles. My inner thighs kill me after sprinting!!

Keep up the great work, everyone!

[Deb]

Originally Posted by Abby1983

hi mel!! long time no talk!!

burning calories on date night ?