C25K! Anyone else in?

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

This came from John Bingham's website www.johnbingham.com (he defines a penguin as someone who loves to run for the joy of running rather than for winning awards or competitions):

You might be a penguin if...
•you have to politely (for the third time) tell the men in the police car moving behind you that No you do not wish a ride.
•you wear your jog bra on top of your singlet. This is especially true if you are male.
•during a race, you keep turning around to see if there is still anybody behind you.
•the rest of the pack is out of sight before you've run 100 yards.
•you meet both the hare AND the tortoise running back towards you doing their cool-down after a race.
•the only reason you don't drop out of a race is that you're embarrassed that the police in the car behind you (closing the course) will see you.
•as you're rounding the corner onto Main Street and the finish line, you overhear the announcer on a microphone to the crowd of 500 saying "we are ASSURED the young lady IS coming in!" (Oh well, at least I was young).
•you recognize all the regular runners on your favorite route from behind.
•you get passed on the uphill by a runner pushing a double baby jog stroller.
•you shoot a 24-shot roll of film during a marathon.
•you make arrangements for a late checkout at the hotel.
•you are more worried about the porta-potty lines than the start line.
•your support crew talks about meeting you for supper, not lunch.
•you have to memorize the route because you know that you will lose the back of the pack.
•the truck picking up the cones is pressing on your behind. (Don't laugh—this actually happened to me!)
•as you pass a course volunteer they ask you, "How many are behind you yet?" and you say "Behind me? Behind? Gosh ... I think two ... Unless they turned around!"
•the awards ceremony is over before you cross the finish line.

 

[ezacoo]

Welcome to the thread!

Good luck in your 5K race tomorrow. I wish there was one right about now in Sacramento, even though I'd be pulling up in the rear. I have to wait until April for my 5K.

And, I didn't think Week 4 was all that bad, actually. Just listen to your body and go at your own breathable pace. There are quite a few people on the WISH boards who swear by John Bingham who advocates the benefits of slow but steady running. I just ordered his book, "No Need for Speed: A Beginner's Guide to the Joy of Running" and I'm really looking forward to reading it.

Thanks, hopefully it's not as bad as I'm imagining! I already run pretty slowly, I took DH with me on W3D2 just to prove that I could run for 3 minutes (which is huge for me!) and I don't even think he was sweating! I'm just trying to be able to run the allocated times - I can get faster later.

 

[carissanboys]

This is such an inspiring thread, it is great to read for a beginner.

I'm starting W4 on Monday, but I'm a little scared by all the comments that say it is one of the harder weeks.It might be be my first week to repeat a day.

I'm actually entered in a 5K race tomorrow, it was a last minute decision (only decided this week!). I'm planning on listening to my W3D3 podcast (I use podrunner: intervals) and following it, then seeing how I go for the remainder. Hopefully all the other runners around me will give me a huge boost of motivation!

Where in Australia are you? I lived in Alice Springs for 3 years. Loved Australia! Great country and great people.

Sometimes I get nervous or worried about doing a certain week or day and then I remember that the program is just a guide. All I can do is my best and keep plugging away until I can get through each day. It's not a race to reach the end. You can do it.

Good luck in your 5K!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Finished W6D1. It was harder than the 20 minute run, most likely because I ran 20 minutes two days ago. Hopefully it'll get easier.

Keep up the good work everyone!

That happened to me too. Day 2 was a little better. Then Day 3 was hard but doable. Dont let it scare you like it did me. Hang in there.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

W7D1 in the books!! It was hard but easier than going back to intervals for some reason. I just keep pushing and I am doing it. After I gradute the program I am getting new shoes as my reward. Whoot!

 

[carissanboys]

W7D1 in the books!! It was hard but easier than going back to intervals for some reason. I just keep pushing and I am doing it. After I gradute the program I am getting new shoes as my reward. Whoot!

Awesome!

I'm supposed to run today and have tomorrow as a rest day, but I'm switching them around.

 

[flipflopmom]

Holy cow W4D1 is TOUGH!!!!! I added about 5 mins to my cool down, because I had walked to the park, and it is alllll uphill! I did a 1/2 mile in the first 5 minute run... Didn't realize I was going that fast. I probably only did 1/4 mile the last 5 minute run. Did NOT give up, but I sooooooooooo wanted to! Keep me up, b/c I am now feeling that I will NEVER get any farther than this!!!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Holy cow W4D1 is TOUGH!!!!! I added about 5 mins to my cool down, because I had walked to the park, and it is alllll uphill! I did a 1/2 mile in the first 5 minute run... Didn't realize I was going that fast. I probably only did 1/4 mile the last 5 minute run. Did NOT give up, but I sooooooooooo wanted to! Keep me up, b/c I am now feeling that I will NEVER get any farther than this!!!

I felt something change with my breathing by the last day of week 4. That was always my problem the breathing. I think the 5min gives the body time to adjust to prolonged jogging/running; after that happened it was much easier. You will notice it happen. Trust me I am not a runner by any means but it does change and become doable by the end of this week. Hang in there. My distance is getting worse for some reason or another but I can make it 25min without stopping. I will work on speed later. I really think this is the best approach. Just make it through the time intervals dont worry about speed or distance.

 

[pittsburghmarc]

Over the hump! W5D3 completed this morning. With one modification...until now I was running on 5.0 on the treadmill. Today I lowered it to 4.5 and it was fairly easy! I figure completing the run on 4.5 would be better than having to stop at 16 minutes on 5.0. My 20 minute jog ended up being exactly 1.5 miles. And I probably could have done at least another 5 minutes.

I also decided to listen to the podcast rather than music. I was able to get fairly lost in the podcast discussion and that helped.

Well two days off. Thanks to everyone on the thread. It's great to keep up with everyone's progress. My goal is my community 5K which takes place in May. At least for today it's looking pretty good

 

[pittsburghmarc]

Holy cow W4D1 is TOUGH!!!!! I added about 5 mins to my cool down, because I had walked to the park, and it is alllll uphill! I did a 1/2 mile in the first 5 minute run... Didn't realize I was going that fast. I probably only did 1/4 mile the last 5 minute run. Did NOT give up, but I sooooooooooo wanted to! Keep me up, b/c I am now feeling that I will NEVER get any farther than this!!!

Way to go! I just finished week 5 and yes, week 4 and 5 were big steps for me too. But I'm keeping up. A half-mile in 5 minutes is fast for those of us just starting out. I think if you follow the program, a 10 minute mile is the goal after week 9! Keep up the good work!

 

[flipflopmom]

Way to go! I just finished week 5 and yes, week 4 and 5 were big steps for me too. But I'm keeping up. A half-mile in 5 minutes is fast for those of us just starting out. I think if you follow the program, a 10 minute mile is the goal after week 9! Keep up the good work!

Thanks for the encouragement, and congrats on your great run today! I think I will try to get on that trail again, and SLOW it down Monday, and see how it goes... Normally I just run on my street, pace back and forth, but decided I might need some visual motivation for the longer run. Looks like more snow coming next week, I might have to break down and go to the gym at our community college and try a treadmill run. I have NEVER run on a treadmill, so I am fairly sure I'll get thrown against the wall off of it!

I am using the C25K app on my ipod touch. What kind of discussion is in the podcast? Sometimes the music helps me. Is it motivating, or informative?

 

[DisneyBoundinDec]

Hello everyone.. sorry I haven't been around much but I have been sick this past week.. I haven't been to the gym to run since Sunday! I have had this nasty head and chest cold that I swear I feel like I am coughing up a lung everyday!! UGH! I am finally feeling better and am going for a run tomorrow!
I was SUPPOSE to start week 4 this past week.. but I think I am going to repeat week 3.. I probably can do week 4, but I would rather do week 3 again and be successful then start on week 4 and not.. YKWIM?

so kudos to everyone who has come so far!!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

W7D1 in the books!! It was hard but easier than going back to intervals for some reason. I just keep pushing and I am doing it. After I gradute the program I am getting new shoes as my reward. Whoot!

What a great idea! I've been thinking I need new shoes and I like the thought as getting them as a reward for finishing the program.

My distance is getting worse for some reason or another but I can make it 25min without stopping. I will work on speed later.

This has happened to me, too! On weeks 3 and 4 I was easily finishing two miles during my 30 minutes of intervals. When I did my 25 minute run (only counting my five minute cool down walk, not the warm up walk, so 30 minutes altogether), I completed just under two miles. So, is my running speed slower than my walking speed or have I slowed down the overall pace withthe longer runs? I'm not sure, but, frankly, I'm not worried. I want to get the distance under my belt before building up speed eventually. I don't feel like I need to win races, just want to finish them!

Hello everyone.. sorry I haven't been around much but I have been sick this past week.. I haven't been to the gym to run since Sunday! I have had this nasty head and chest cold that I swear I feel like I am coughing up a lung everyday!! UGH! I am finally feeling better and am going for a run tomorrow!

I'm glad you're feeling better! Good luck with getting your groove back on!

 

[pittsburghmarc]

Thanks for the encouragement, and congrats on your great run today! I think I will try to get on that trail again, and SLOW it down Monday, and see how it goes... Normally I just run on my street, pace back and forth, but decided I might need some visual motivation for the longer run. Looks like more snow coming next week, I might have to break down and go to the gym at our community college and try a treadmill run. I have NEVER run on a treadmill, so I am fairly sure I'll get thrown against the wall off of it!

I am using the C25K app on my ipod touch. What kind of discussion is in the podcast? Sometimes the music helps me. Is it motivating, or informative?

I should have been more exact, it was the DIS podcast. The treadmill isn't bad...but I have to cover the timer.

 

[ezacoo]

Where in Australia are you? I lived in Alice Springs for 3 years. Loved Australia! Great country and great people.

Sometimes I get nervous or worried about doing a certain week or day and then I remember that the program is just a guide. All I can do is my best and keep plugging away until I can get through each day. It's not a race to reach the end. You can do it.

Good luck in your 5K!

I live in Geelong (about an hour from Melbourne), so pretty far away from where you were!

I'm feeling better about week 4 now after doing my 5K today. I probably only ran (jogged) about half of it, but it was great seeing all of the professional runners. And I know I'll never run to their standard, but it was great to see where the c25k is leading me.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

W7D2 done!!! I actually made myself complete the 2 mile loop so I went 26:13 to accomplish that. Man I am sloooowww. But I did it and that is all that matters! Now off to the parks as a treat.

 

[rgrutland]

A 13 minute mile I think is great!! Congratulations on making it this far!! I am only on W2D2 right now so I have a lot of "catching up" to do with many of you on this board!!

I know there isn't one answer to this question b/c everyone is different in their running styles but...what is an optimal speed to be running at? Isn't a 12.5 minute mile average? I certainly have a LONG way to get there! So if you are running at 5 on your treadmill then you should be running a 12 minute mile which is fast, right? Or 4.5 = 13.5 minute mile or 4.0=15 minute mile? Elite runners are around 10 minutes?!? Just posing the question, I certainly don't know the answer b/c I am new to all of this! I am not looking to win any races, but it would be nice to have a benchmark to work towards...

Also, do you all include your 5 minute warm up in your total time/distance? I do, but wasn't sure if I was supposed to be. But I also go over the 20-30 minute total time to make sure I do at least 2 miles since I am only on week 2...

 

[cwnhokie]

I finished the C25K plan last spring. I did the Race for the Cure in DC for my 5K. After that I decided to follow the Galloway plan of walking and running intervals. I've been doing all of my running on the treadmill since we bought it in January since our weather has been so bad. I could not get past doing 2/2 walk/run intervals so I decided to hop back on the plan. I started with week 4 and finished W4D3 today. Now I know what's coming next week. It took me a couple weeks last time to get to the 20 mins. I don't think I can do it on the treadmill. Does anyone have any tips for not watching the time every second?

 

[kcandbella]

Joining in! I am glad I found this thread. I just finished W6D3 today. 25 minute run! It was actually awesome. It felt amazing. I ran the first 10 at 5.0, 8 at 5.5, and the last 7 at 6.0. I have done every interval run at 6.0 and I really think the higher speed helped make the longer runs easier since I have been going at lower speeds. Though the 2 10 minute intervals at 6.0 were really rough!

I am running my first "real" 5K on March 27th and am nervous. I am not an outside runner and am a little nervous about the transition. It's been really cold, so I haven't been able to get out to try it out. Any suggestions?

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I finished the C25K plan last spring. I did the Race for the Cure in DC for my 5K. After that I decided to follow the Galloway plan of walking and running intervals. I've been doing all of my running on the treadmill since we bought it in January since our weather has been so bad. I could not get past doing 2/2 walk/run intervals so I decided to hop back on the plan. I started with week 4 and finished W4D3 today. Now I know what's coming next week. It took me a couple weeks last time to get to the 20 mins. I don't think I can do it on the treadmill. Does anyone have any tips for not watching the time every second?

cover the time up with a towel so you can only see the distance. I dont allow myself to look at my armband but every half mile to see my time only. When I clock watch it kills me. Maybe slow down the pace a bit too. That might help with distance/time. I think I would have trouble with a treadmill because my speed varies throughout the run. Maybe vary the speed according to how you are feeling. That is the best I can offer for suggestions.