2008 - C25K program :) WELCOME!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Buzz: Thanks for the heads-up with W6. I wondered how moving back to the WR might go. (I might be getting way ahead of myself here.) Way to put a positive spin on things.

Swim-mom: I'm glad Kim was there to help you work through things. You're right, you haven't quit; you're just a little off an idealized schedule. Just think about how much more bragging rights you'll have when you're running your 5K race. You'll have overcome adversity, refused to quit, etc. It'll be a great story! :goodvibes

3DisneyKids: You just continue to amaze and impress! You overcame your ambivalence, mustered your inner strength, and came away with a PB. You SHOULD be proud!

Kim: Sounds like you might be another person who will really take to the running over the R/W intervals. No rest for you! (Me, I'm quite attached to my walk breaks--it's what got me through the Goofy.) What's the difference between your walk & run; mine is minimal, and I wonder if that will affect me. Congrats on W5D1!
 
Swim-mom:[/B] I'm glad Kim was there to help you work through things. You're right, you haven't quit; you're just a little off an idealized schedule. Just think about how much more bragging rights you'll have when you're running your 5K race. You'll have overcome adversity, refused to quit, etc.

DEEKAYPEE - Thank you and you are right!!!

WELL, last night at 10:30pm I ran for 30 minutes and I felt horrible before after and during the whole thing.....BUT I did do it!!!

It was a great decision but at the time, I could have kicked myself when I was actually doing it!!

Somthing just does not feel right, I am on the TM for up to 40 minutes and I am not doing 3 miles, just 2.85. I am going to have it checked and maybe that is why I have been having problems with my knees!!

Keep running everyone!!!
 
Hi, everyone. Sorry I haven't checked in with all of you in a while. I am continuing to have health issues lately. I had a nasty stomach virus last week, followed closely by eating gluten-contaminated food accidentally (which always makes me sick for at least three days). I am angry with myself for that one - it happened because we ate out and instead of eating what I knew was safe, I decided to try something different that I "thought" was safe. Not a good idea. I have determined that experimenting in the restaurant arena is not a good idea! So I learned my lesson on that one. The problem is, my stomach is still dicey. It was not liking my "meat and vegetables" regimen, so I ate a few more carbs for a couple of days - that helped my stomach, but made my blood sugar shoot up. So there you go. I am more concerned about my blood sugar than my stomach, so I am back to eating meat and vegetables (which is what my doctor recommends), but my stomach is giving me fits now. And on top of that, I have caught DH's nasty cold/flu germs that he brought home earlier this week and now have a sore and scratchy throat, aching all over, yada, yada, yada. I just had a cold that turned into a sinus infection and it took me almost a month to get over that, and now I have another one. It just sucks.

The thing is, when I am sick, I can't get past it and train through it. I know I am running out of time to prepare for the 5K in Disney in May, but I just can't seem to make myself get out and do the training when I am hurting, running to the bathroom, etc. I am still on Week 4 of C25K (have done two days of it in the last week), but if I keep getting sick I am not sure I will be able to get through it. This 5K in May is beginning to feel like an obstacle I have to overcome instead of a positive fitness goal, and I am unhappy with that feeling. I don't want to quit - I am too stubborn for that - but I am very discouraged today. I feel like every time I try to move forward with this new chapter in my life, I get tugged back by illness. And I don't know what to do to boost my immunity. I take the supplements my doctor recommends, but if I need to add to those, I don't know what to add. How do I repel stomach bugs and cold/flu bugs at the same time? And I must also admit that getting up at 5:00 a.m. on mornings when I am feeling so unwell is starting to not happen. I find I am giving in to my exhaustion and going back to bed until closer to 6:00, when I have to get up and drag to work. I have already chewed through 2/3 of my sick time for the year, and it's only February 15. The situation is just not good, and I don't know what to do about it!

I did decide that when it comes to my normal work-out schedule, I need to have my rest day be Thursday and work out the other six days of the week. I am trying to get to Discover Mills Mall on Sunday afternoons to work on the distance walking, so Sunday no longer works as a rest day for me. I am up late on Wednesday nights for a Bible study meeting, and by the time I get home, unwind a bit and get to bed, I really need another few minutes of sleep the next morning instead of getting up at 5. So if I can ever get past all this illness, that is what I am planning to do. I am beginning to wonder, though, if maybe the damage I have sustained from my chronic health problems through the years is too much to undo. Maybe I'm always going to be susceptible to whatever germs are going around. Maybe I'm never going to be able to consistently train for anything physical. Maybe I'm always going to be a very fat, constantly sick, almost always exhausted person who never gets to experience what it's like to live a normal, active life. I don't know - I just know that today I am discouraged and tired of fighting.

And it also occurred to me recently that when I started this lifestyle change, last September, I weighed 326 pounds. I fell and hurt my back, didn't exercise or stick to my eating plan well for about three months, and started again at 331 pounds. This week when I weighed for BL challenge, I weighed 323.4 (as I stated above). I haven't even lost 10 pounds in all this time! I realize that I am doing this for more than weight loss, but it seems like after all this effort I should have more to show for it than I do on the scale.

And what bothers me the most is that I did feel well - really well - for a few days there. And it is too cruel that I had that feeling and now it's gone and I don't know if it will ever come back.:sad1:

DH and I were talking some time ago about what we want to do for our 25th anniversary, which is in April of next year. We decided we want to do an Adventures by Disney trip out to California to see Hollywood and Disneyland, with back stage access to parts of the Disneyland parks. I was really excited about it, because I have never been to California, and I thought it would give me several months to lose weight so I can fit into the airplane seat more easily and work up my exercise tolerance so I can do all the walking that trip will entail. Now I'm wondering if I will be up to it or if maybe that whole plan is unrealistic. Especially after I came home from the last run I did and was in so much pain and so winded that he said "You need to give this up - you're killing yourself. It's just too much for you." I don't know - today I am really wondering if he is right.:sad1: :sad1:
 
Susan - big hugs to you, girl. :hug: I'm sorry you're not feeling well. I totally feel you pain (I've had stomach issues for YEARS and can't imagine running while experiencing those issues :sad2: ). Take your time, and do what you need to do to feel better and get your stomach happy again. Then you can get back out there.

BUT - if you were hurting really bad while feeling "ok" doing the c25k program, maybe you were progressing too quickly? I'm certainly no expert...but maybe walking more of the time would help instead of the running? What kind of pain were you experiencing? Was it knee/feet/hip kind of pain or stomach pain? Either one isn't a good idea to keep running with.

Don't you get discouraged. Just like I told swim-mom....you are not quitting. You are having some health issues right now, and that is what is sidelining you. You still have 11 weeks before Minnie weekend which is plenty of time to train for the 5k (no one says you have to be finished with the c25k program before then - you'll certainly be able to finish by run/walking it if need be :goodvibes )

Please feel free to PM me anytime or email me (I think you can do that through the DIS somehow). I'll be your shoulder - lean on me! :hug:
 

Susan - Hugs to you!!! :hug: :hug: :hug:

Things will work out, but after reading your post you need to set realistic goals and exercising six days a week is INSANE!! You need to set small goals for yourself, this way you will accomplish those goals. So start small and build up to six days a week. You also need to remember that it takes time to gain weight and it will take time to lose it too.

Here is my suggestion: Restart the program at week 3 and do it for only 3 DAYS a week, which is suggested. Then when you go to the store or to the mall, park farther away from the place..........so you are increasing your walking distance.

As far as your diet,,,,,well I am not a doctor BUT you do need to increase your water consumption too. When you wake up BEFORE YOU EAT ANYTHING drink 8 oz of water.............BEFORE LUNCH drink another 8 oz of water, and the same thing for dinner. IF YOU NEED TO SNACK, drink another 8 oz of water and wait 10 minutes.........if you want the snack then try and make the best choice. And again before you go to bed drink another 8 oz, this will insure you are flushing your body and your pee should be clear. When it is clear it means your body is properly hydrated. REMEMBER the biggest problem we have is our body is unable to determine if we are hungry or thristy and when we realize it, it is too late we have eaten a meal where all we needed was water.

You are doing a great job, you posted your thoughts here today :) SO you are ready.................trust and believe in yourself, we do!!!!

And also listen to KIM, she has picked me up when I just wanted to throw my hands up in the air!!

As a counselor it is easier to give advise then take your own, which is my problem too :)
 
Hi All! TGIF! :goodvibes

Susan--I responded to you on our other thread, but I want to repeat it here as well...we are HERE for you! When you are frustrated, come post...I can't tell you how many times I have been picked up by reading the posts. :lovestruc

I agree with others...6 days is too much at this stage. I also think that you might want to look into doing each week twice before moving on. (Do week 3 for 2 weeks, then Week 4 for 2 weeks, etc.) Don't give up and don't you dare feel like a failure! :hug: You are STRONG and AMAZING for dealing with all that you have going on right now.

As for the celiacs...my dd's friend has this and we have her over to the house for dinner, etc. once in a while. I can get lots of different things for her at the health food store. We are vegetarians, so I don't cook meat...and I have been able to find things for her. I am not sure about the carb content, but if you have a good health food store, they should have lots of options.

Hang in there!

My run today was GOOD! I didn't think I was going to get one in today because I had a meeting during my normal run time. But when DH came home I said, "I'm going for a run and THEN I'll make dinner..." This was a big step for me...previously, I would always take something like a meeting as an excuse not to work out that day. Now I am making my workouts a priority!

Anyway...I ran OUTSIDE again today (second time ever) and did the whole 3 miles! Felt great at the end!
 
Kim: Sounds like you might be another person who will really take to the running over the R/W intervals. No rest for you! (Me, I'm quite attached to my walk breaks--it's what got me through the Goofy.) What's the difference between your walk & run; mine is minimal, and I wonder if that will affect me. Congrats on W5D1!

What do you mean, what is the difference between my walk & run? Do you mean pace-wise? I'm sure I"m slower when I walk, but I make sure to still "hoof-it" so that I don't bring my heart rate all the way back down. I definitely felt better last time, once I got to the point of consistent running. So I look forward to that again (don't have to look to far forward...my 20 straight min run is Tuesday :scared: :laughing: )

Ok, as for my run today...I went to a path that is a 1/2 mile circle. I decided, since I knew the exact distance, that I'd try to run a mile and then take a walk break & see what I felt like doing after that. (instead of doing w5d2 which is r8/w5/r8) I ended up running for 1 mile, then walked 1/4 mile, then ran 1 mile, then finished with a 1/4 mile walk. Total of 2.5 miles in 28 minutes :thumbsup2 . I certainly wasn't timing my pace or anything and I only looked at my watch when I was done.

I think I was inspired by the fact that DH and I are going out to dinner tonight...and I don't plan on eating "good". :rotfl:

Have a great weekend, guys. I love this group and I'm so glad we have each other! :hug:
 
Susan: First, :hug:. I can't even imagine how you must feel emotionally, let alone physically, with all these setbacks. Kim and swim-mom have given you some great advice and encouragement, and I agree with them. We're here for you, so don't hesitate to come to us for support!

I'd also ask if you have consulted your doctor about taking on C25K? With your medical history and recent illnesses it might not be a bad idea. I agree that working out 6 days a weeks is too much--it puts too much pressure on you and doesn't allow your body to recover. Rest days are about allowing your body to build strength, so don't short yourself on those things.

I don't think you need to abandon your plans for the May 5K, but I do think you need to stop thinking of it as the most important goal. Your end-goal is to be as healthy as possible, right? There are things you'd like to achieve along the way: run a 5K, lose weight, enjoy your 25th anniversary/Adventures by Disney trip (of which I am very jealous, btw). Those are all great things and well worth setting up as short-term goals in order to help you achieve your long-term goal. But these goals and when you achieve them aren't set in stone. No one says you need to run the entire 5K in May; you can walk or run it. Or maybe it'll be another 5K. How much weight you lose and how quickly is something that can be adjusted. And the terms with which you enjoy your anniversary might shift over the next year.

I'm not saying you can't accomplish these things or that you shouldn't try. It just sounds like you've kind of set yourself up for an all-or-nothing scenario that doesn't allow you to "fail" at anything. And if there's one thing we're all going to do is fail, because if we don't fail we haven't taken any risks. And just getting out there on the course is risking something--our identities as non-runners, if nothing else. And we'll all fail in other ways--not being able to complete a scheduled workout, not moving as quickly as we'd like, not covering the distance we feel we should be able to cover.... (If you haven't read any of John "The Penguin" Bingham's books, I highly recommend you pick one up. He covers a lot of these ideas in ways that I find helpful. I've just finished his No Need for Speed, and his advice helped me avoid pushing myself into injury. I think his advice would also help you.)

And there are plenty of other training programs for the 5K, some of which focus on longer training periods, others that incorporate walking into the entire distance. Just because the title of this thread is C25K doesn't mean ANYONE training to run a 5K distance, under ANY program, would be unwelcome here. Just the opposite; we're all in this 5K journey together, although our paths are different. None of us has taken the same training schedule and accomplished in the same way. We repeat days/weeks, skip days, have different paces and distances, run on TMs, tracks, and asphalt. You need to find the program that will work for you--and that may be C25K or it may be another program. But even if it is C25K, it will be YOUR C25K.

So I hope you start thinking, start believing, that you can and will accomplish your goals without being held back by calendars and deadlines and expectations. (That goes for everything, not just the running btw.) I believe in you, and I know the rest of us do too. :goodvibes
 
Swim-Mom: I'm so glad your 30 minutes, although painful, turned out to be the right decision for you. Hopefully this means you're on the mend. (I still think that 10.30 at night running is crazy impressive. :worship:) Let us know how the TM check-up works out; it sounds ill.

3DisneyKids: I love the fact you're prioritizing your workouts because it means you're prioritizing you: your health, emotional needs, etc. I think it's really hard for women to do, but it is so important. And :cool1: for the 3 miles, too!

Kim: Oooh, you're one of those brave outdoor souls, huh? I know my pace, roughly, because most of my RWs have been on a TM. Your use of HR for pace is the way to go, because it's a good gauge of RPE. I was just curious because you said you were feeling a bit stiff with the walking intervals, so I wondered about your walking pace--if maybe you were right at the point where it's easier to run than walk. And holy banana bread--2.5 miles in 28 minutes is speedy pace (at least for me). :banana: Enjoy your dinner!

As for me: I've been having problems with runner's knee, so I took an extra day off the program yesterday. I did complete W5D3 on the TM today; it was warm enough to go outside, but our neighborhood sidewalks are still icy in spots and I wanted to be extra careful. I've also made the decision to shift my workouts & to eliminate some so that I don't push myself into injury; I'll be adding a yoga class for strength training but getting rid of some other strength training that I think has been aggravating the knee. (At least I hope that's the problem.)

DH and I will be signing up for the Cleveland races in May, although I'm not sure which one for me yet. (He's definitely doing the marathon.) I'd love to be at the Minnie in May, but we can drive to Cleveland for the weekend. Running shoes, clothes, workout gear, WISH shirts, and now race fees. This little hobby is getting expensive! :scared1:
 
So I really hope this post doesn't infuriate all of those who live in the less temperate regions.

I woke up this morning and it was about 60 degrees and sunny in Myrtle Beach. To those of you who've never visited the Grand Strand and are unfamiliar with what the area is like on a day like this, let me say that this is the kind of "Chamber of Commerce day" that hotel brochures are made of.

I headed out the door, but instead of heading towards the sidewalk and my normal running route, I decided to take advantage of the weather and do w6d3 on the beach.

The 2 & 1/4 miles went great. The walking breaks during the first two sessions this week now seem like an unnecessary diversion. And, on top of all that, I found a really beautiful sand dollar washed up on the beach on my way back to the car. Those are almost impossible to find around here anymore!

To those of you still braving the cold, flu, and arctic chill - STAY STRONG... spring is on the way!
 
Hi everyone..........I am happy to see that everyone is moving right along!!!

I took Friday off as a rest day and then Sat my two oldest son's had a swim meet........which turned into another rest day!!!.

Today is 46 in my area of NJ. I hope to run outside if I can talk myself into it. Otherwise it is back to the TM for me today, regardless.

Happy Sunday :)
 
Today is 46 in my area of NJ. I hope to run outside if I can talk myself into it. Otherwise it is back to the TM for me today, regardless.

DO IT!!! You'll love it!!! :goodvibes
 
Happy week-end, runners!

So glad to hear that everyone is doing well! Sounds like injuries and illnesses are behind us and everyone is moving forward again--awesome!

Debra--thanks so much for being a constant source of encouragement, motivation, and positive messages! I can't tell you how much it means! :hug:

It was warm here today (which means above freezing...34....Buzz, I am not speaking to you! :lmao: ) so I ran outside! It was definitely a challenge for me...cold air in my lungs, slight breeze, etc., but I did the whole route I had planned (just under 3 miles...about 2.8) and I ran it in about 31 minutes....so my pace seems to be about 12mm which is exactly what I am doing on the TM. I really thought I would slow waaaaay down when running outside, but so far it seems to be ok. I definitely feel the difference in my knees though. I still haven't gotten those new sneaks yet, so that has moved up to a major priority for this week.

My big news is that I signed up for the 1/2 marathon for 2009! :thumbsup2 I definitely plan on doing a bunch of smaller races between now and then...and even some in Disney before then, but I have set that as a goal! Feels great to have something like that planned!

Have a great evening! :goodvibes
 
My big news is that I signed up for the 1/2 marathon for 2009! :thumbsup2

That is wonderful :thumbsup2 :cool1: goal!!!! I would love to make that commitment, but right now it is hard considering I WANT a JOB :) for the 08-09 school year and I am not sure if I can swing it yet!! Cross my fingers I can join you :)

Well, I got up enough courage to RUN OUTSIDE keeping in mind I had a major PANIC attack before I ran. DH got home at 4pm from our son's swim meet. I had told him earlier that I planned on running outside. He is great, he was super supportive :yay:

So I stretched and DH downloaded the week 9 podcast (only on week8) and a couple of songs on the IPOD he bought me for x-mas. Needless to say I have no clue how to work it, and I did not use my Nike + system he bought me either. I figured one thing was going to be hard enough!!

Well, it was windy so I wore cotton NIKE yoga pants a long sleeve NIKE dryfit shirt and a sweatshirt...............can anyone say OVERHEATED!!!! :eek: My first mistake was pushing a button I had no idea what it was, because the podcast did not say to run so I think I fast forwarded the postcast!?!?!?!?!

I ran about 10 houses from my house (:laughing: , not 5 min warm up) but I was nervous. I ran all the way to the 1/2 point (of 3.1 miles) the whole way, it was slow very slow and I had a hard time controlling my breathing BUT I did not stop running either.

I did walk one sidewalk section, which is about 10 feet, because AGAIN I hit a button that said I did a great job running 30 minutes.......needless to say I think I fast forwarded it :laughing: .

I ran the remaining distance home, for a total of 3.1 miles. The wind was horrible and it was light raining, but again I ran it :) It is a huge accomplishment and I am very proud of myself!!

BUT this would not be possible without everyone's support, I kept telling myself "there is no shame in walking, if I need too". Thank you for mentally being their to hold my hand :love:

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :banana: :banana:
 
A HUGE WOO-HOO for you! You ROCK!

You SHOULD feel proud! What a great accomplishment! :cool1:

I felt the exact same way last week when I ran outside for the first time! I have now run a whopping total of three times outside...:rotfl: ...I still prefer the TM, but I am getting used to road running.

Three cheers for YOU! :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:
 
I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :banana: :banana:


WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO! :woohoo: I knew you could do it!! See, not horrible, right? Sounds like you ran a LOT!! :thumbsup2

Usually when I run outside, if it's between 30 and 50, I'll wear one or two long sleeve tshirts and a vest, as well as stretch pants. I like having the pockets in my vest to hold my gloves and my headband (covers my ears) just in case I start getting too hot. Once it goes over 50 degrees, then I wear just one long sleeve shirt. I read somewhere that your supposed to be chilly when you start out. Not freezing, but chilly.

Great job, guys! We're totally doing it! :goodvibes
 
Thank you everyone for your support!!! I am very proud that I did it, honestly though I am now dreading getting on my TM :confused3

Today my hips are sore and my thighs, other than that I am OK. There is no pain, just proof that you get a better workout being outside..........maybe due to not have the belt of the TM to keep me going??? Oh well, I dont know ;)

Today my dh is not home, and although I am sore I would love to go out today and run.............however I need a new sports bra, I have a racer back and my neck is very sore from it.......

Any suggestions for running bras???

Thanks again!!!! :goodvibes :goodvibes
 
I just happened to stumble across this thread and am thrilled to learn there are more of you out there!!!

My story--
Have never run for exercise in my life until learning about c25k. I was starting to gather info for our trip to WDW in Jan of 2009. I realized that the marathon would be taking place while we are there so I looked through the info they have on the web about events on Marathon Weekend. I saw the 5K family fun run and thought to myself, "they would be really fun to do." In looking at dates, it just won't work for me to be there on that Thursday, but I said that it would be cool to know that I COULD have done it if timing worked out.

That being said, I came across the c25k on the DIS somewhere and read their plan and thought...hey, pretty do-able, I can handle only 25 minutes, especially whn it is broken into short periods of jogging.

That was 5 weeks ago and I am proud to say I have stuck with it. I followed the plan to the letter the first 4 weeks, slipped up a little two weeks ago--weather, illness of kids, special weekend event....so last week I got back on the plan, but ended up only going 2 times last week. But I haven't given up, I am just sort of stuck on week 5! This week I plan on doing week #5 from the beginning, well actually, I am going to do 2 days of 8j/5w/8j and then the third of 20j (that seems like a huge hurdle to get past).

I do run outside--and in PA you never can tell what the weather will be. One day it was 60, the next time I ran it was 25 with a wind chill of 10! I downloaded a few audio books to my IPod and have found that it REALLY makes the time go quickly. I am open to any suggestions for new books...prefer what I call "contemporary fiction".

I am so happy I came across this thread! I am subscribing now to hear how everyone is doing!
 
Buzz: As yet another cold front approaches my area and the winds have pick up, I think I officially hate you. :rotfl2: Seriously, your run sounds picture perfect, the kind of image Runner's World likes to feature on its covers. Better yet, YOU enjoyed yourself. Congratulations--and I think the sand dollar is just another sign of more good runs to come. :thumbsup2

3DisneyKids: Great job on the run outside. That cold air-lung combo is the thing that fills me with dread more than any other aspect (except crazy traffic). Your ability to set a 12mm pace both on the TM and outside sounds like you're establishing a solid running base. And congratulations on signing up for the Disney 1/2! DH and I have decided we're doing the full AND we're scream teaming for the half. We'll be able to cheer for you!!! (You do have your WISH shirts, right?)

Oh, and you need to get yourself some new shoes, woman! We want your knees feeling fine. :cloud9:

Swim-Mom: Yea! You did it, and despite the weather and nerves and overheating and potentially disastrous distractions of technical difficulties (what would be for me disastrous, anyway). You ran a flipping 5K distance!!!!! :cool1:

Getting the hang of your gear will just be gravy and you'll be a master at it soon enough. I love my iPod & Nike+; they've made a big difference in my training. I don't have a "natural" pace, so I really enjoy the data. And having music I like to run to makes a difference for me. But you, you did it without any of the bribes or motivators, nothing but your sweet self! :worship:

As for the racing bra question, another thread I'm on has recommended two styles: Movin Comfort, available at Fleet Feet among other stores, and Gracie's Gear. Both are suitable for women who need extra support, so I assume they might be good for me too. I haven't tried them, and I have a tendency to buy cheapie bras (which I keep saying I won't do...next time), so no personal recommendations.

Casey: Welcome to the thread. I'm super impressed that you run outside, living in PA. I live in Pittsburgh and the majority of my training is on a TM. I'm also another big iPod fan, though I haven't tried books. I'm pretty stupid when run, so following narratives is hard. I'm a big reader, though, and love contemporary fiction (depending on what that is). Good luck with Week 5. You're right that W5D3 seems like a big hurdle; but most of it is mental, I think, which is so much of what running for distance, however you define distance, seems to be about. Good luck & we know you can do it! :yay:

As for me: I took a new yoga class yesterday, and don't let anyone tell you that yoga can't kick butt! My arms and legs were sore today, in a good way, but I wasn't looking forward to W6D1. Especially because I've decided to combine C25K with John Bingham's Marathoning for Mortals Run-Walk (MfM R/W) program for the Cleveland 1/2 marathon in May that I just registered for. I'd like to run the 1/2 but I think a RW is more reasonable. My goal is to finish C25K and continue to add more running into my MfM training and to be able to run most of the 1/2 or at least have long run periods punctuated with short walk periods.

What this means is that AFTER I finish my C25K, I continue with a 3 minutes running/2 minutes walking program until I reach the MfM recommended time or distance. So today, the plan was to run W6D1 plus a 3/2 until I hit 35 minutes. That's not much more than what I've been doing but, as you know, my knee has been sore. :scared1: But I finished it! I was a little tired, my legs are a little sore, and I'm really going to like tomorrow's rest day, but my knee feels okay and I finished the first day of my "new" training program! :woohoo:

And I know this post is getting long, but here's something I've been thinking about recently:

You know, over the course of last year's training and then this year's commitment to C25K, I've been noticing that my body isn't the only thing that's changed. I think that becoming a runner is making me a better person. It will probably sound overdramatic to credit these things to running--and I'll admit there are other things I'm doing in my life that contribute to my changes. But running has made a huge difference in my life, in all its forms (W/R, R/W, R, and even my speed walking).

Running hasn't made me smarter--and I'm pretty sure I've lost some serious brain cells right around the time of my first ice bath. It hasn't made me richer--and may indeed be contributing to my future in a local poorhouse. It hasn't made me a better networker or writer or scholar. But running is helping me appreciate what my body can do and has made me more accepting of my limitations. Running is helping me become more patient and tolerant. It is teaching me to celebrate my successes and to realize that I'm not competing with anyone but me. And in realizing these things about myself, I find it so much easier to see all the good things in other people, to celebrate others' accomplishments, and to want them to enjoy the same peace of mind I'm finding.
 
Welcome aboard, Casey! Always glad to have another c25k'er! :goodvibes

Debra--congrats on your run! Sounds like you have a GREAT goal set! I can't imagine "double training" right now, though! :scared1:

I want a WISH Shirt. How and where do I order one?

On running shoes....ugh! I ran for 40 minutes on the TM this morning ( :cool1: ) and then immediately headed out for the shoe store. I went to THREE different sports shoe stores and everything I tried on felt like some hideous form of foot torture!

I have a really hard foot to fit, I know this. I am usually a 5.5 wide. Very few brands make running shoes this small and very few make running shoes in a wide width. No one makes them in both together. I am sure I can find them online, but I can't imagine buying running shoes without trying them on first. I tired on a lot of 6s today, thinking that it is good to go half a size up for a running shoe. They all felt awful for one reason or another.

For my "everyday sneakers" I actually buy kids' shoes. Kids' shoes are naturally cut wider, so these are usually a great fit for me (and I always save a fortune! :rotfl2: ). So I asked if there were any "real" running sneakers for kids. The guy (not very knowledgeable) said sure and brought me over to that section and showed me some Nikes. He said that they were actually the exact same cut as the adult Nike in that same model. Sounds good. Tried them on. Foot torture!

After trying on MANY brands, I have found that Nike is just not cut for me. I like SOME Asics, and New Balance were definitely the best. Once upon a time I wore Saucony, but the ones I tried today were horrible for me. :sad2:

So...what do you think? Should I chance it and order New Balance in my size from an online place? I am worried about continuing to run without proper footwear. All comments and suggestions welcome!
 












Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE













DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top