Couch to 5K running plan...has any tried it?

[nettii]

OK I just finished my first work out from the couch tater to 5ker (I did week 3) thought it would be abreeze but was surrprised by the last 3 min jogg! Cant wait to do it again!
Does any one do it every day? Ive been going on the TM every day for a 1/2 hour to an hour for about 2 mo now just walking.

Thanks for the input you might have Nettii

 

[PajamaNut]

Me too....had my first day and it went well. I'm psyched about this...sounds perfect for me!

 

[Maherae]

It is so EXCITING to read all of your posts!!! Oh, I hope you keep with it! I did want to put in...YOU CAN WALK the Minnie, Donald, Mickey, or Goofy. I was a couch potato last January and I finished my 2nd half with a Donald. I am a walker, not a race walker, just a walker. Just wanted to let you know. You all are doing such a great job at starting this adventure!!

 

[nettii]

Thanks for the encouragment, I havent felt this good about anything in a long time!

 

[Fitswimmer]

After reading this thread I looked up the site and started this morning!!! One thing a friend of mine at the Y said was to be very careful not to try and run too fast. Run slower than you think you can, so that you don't get shinsplints or really sore muscles that will keep you from coming back for the next session.

Now I want to look for a 5k in April to try!!

 

[nettii]

Welcome
I just did my second work out yesterday! It was a lil hard I didnt stretch! So I guess Ill start.

Did your friend at the Y say not to run every day?
I also need to loose a few (20lbs) and I thought running would be great cardio.
Keep up the good work every one!

 

[chimera]

Congratulations to all of you doing this program! When I started a couple years ago, it was too hard for me!

Well I tried it at the gym tonite. I got the first 30 sec run in and the last but had to walk inbetween. I lasted 30 min though mostly at 3.2m/hr except when I ran at 4.0. It was hard for me.

Try turning your pace down a bit on the runs. Running a little slower usually helps with endurance.

Someone asked about running every day. You do need to take days off (rest days) to allow your muscles to recover. Recovery is just as important as running. Usually the day after your longest run of the week is a rest day.

 

[nettii]

Ive decided to just walk on my off days, I hope that counts as a rest?

 

[Fitswimmer]

Day two and I still feel great!! I started with 4.6 on my first running minutes then I got up to 5.0 on my last two minutes of running!
Tomorrow is a swimming day, then day three on Wednesday!!!

If you go to the coolrunning.com site, you can register and log your workouts every day. They keep track of your mileage for you too. They even keep track of my swimming miles!!

 

[NYcpa]

I just downloaded the couch to 5k podcast from Itunes. It has fast paced music and tells you when to switch speeds. I have not tried it as I am currently following a walking program only.

 

[o2bacelt]

I'm doing week one again, I got in one workout last week and then got sick again. bummer. So I've back in the gym today, it was my water day, tomorrow is my upstairs day so I'll do the program, do my weight training, and then cooldown a little on the treadmill.

Hope everyone else is plugging along. I'm working on downloading my podcasts for the next couple of weeks. I missed week one for some reason and only had week two so I'm trying to get one through four on there now.

It felt good to be back in the gym today. I've been sick off and on for two weeks and I've really been itching to get back.

 

[Zoesmama03]

I want to do this. I did a walk/jog program before and got pretty good endurance for running. I was happy when I ran for 10 minutes straight. I know I could do it again.

I am however a little over 270 right now and just don't think running at this weight is a good idea. So goal is to start that training when I hit 250 or so.

 

[o2bacelt]

Okay, I'm back from the gym and did week one workout one again, hopefully the sickies will stay away this week so I can really get started doing some good.

Stopped at the used bookstore today and found a copy of Marathoning for Mortals! Woot! $4 too. Not bad. Looks brand new.

I've managed to get in the gym two days in a row and have jogged a little more than a mile each time, once in the pool and once on the elliptical. I have to say that the podcasts are great it's easy to zone out and just run and not have to worry about time changes.

I swore I was hitting the wall around interval #4 but I just kept telling myself it was downhill from there. I could do it. My last interval wasn't as fast as my first 4 but I still completed the whole workout and managed to get myself into the weight room for some upper body work for another 30 minutes.

How's everyone else doing?

 

[Fitswimmer]

I finished week 1 today!! Still a little sore in the shins, but I got through it and felt better with each interval. Now I swim for 2 days and start week 2 on Saturday. I do a weight workout after I'm done with the treadmill too, I think it helps.

 

[kimwim8]

I started using the couch-to-5K program in January of 2006. I mainly wanted to run to lose weight. It absolutely helped me lose weight, and in the end I found out that I loved running and missed it when I didn't do it. I never ran more than 6 miles as my long run over the past year, and I certainly wouldn't win any 5K's for the fastest time, but for me it was more about losing weight, toning my body and building endurance.

For those of you just starting the plan. Try to stick exactly to what is asked of you (meaning don't try to go longer or harder or faster). This plan works perfectly when followed and I know when you feel good, you want to push harder...but that might end up making the next run a not-so-good feeling run. And on the other hand...if you can't make it through the running segments, feel free to take an extra minute to walk or whatever you need to build up safely. OR, if you start the next week's program and you feel like you're really struggling - there's nothing wrong with repeating weeks again to be sure you're ready for the next increase.

I've been sick the past month off & on with bronchitis, so I haven't run even once. In the next couple of weeks when I'm ready to start again, I'll jump right back into the couch-to-5K program (probably week 3 or 4) and build myself up again.

Thanks for the podcast link. What a GREAT idea!!

 

[Fitswimmer]

I started using the couch-to-5K program in January of 2006. I mainly wanted to run to lose weight. It absolutely helped me lose weight, and in the end I found out that I loved running and missed it when I didn't do it. I never ran more than 6 miles as my long run over the past year, and I certainly wouldn't win any 5K's for the fastest time, but for me it was more about losing weight, toning my body and building endurance.

For those of you just starting the plan. Try to stick exactly to what is asked of you (meaning don't try to go longer or harder or faster). This plan works perfectly when followed and I know when you feel good, you want to push harder...but that might end up making the next run a not-so-good feeling run. And on the other hand...if you can't make it through the running segments, feel free to take an extra minute to walk or whatever you need to build up safely. OR, if you start the next week's program and you feel like you're really struggling - there's nothing wrong with repeating weeks again to be sure you're ready for the next increase.

I've been sick the past month off & on with bronchitis, so I haven't run even once. In the next couple of weeks when I'm ready to start again, I'll jump right back into the couch-to-5K program (probably week 3 or 4) and build myself up again.

Thanks for the podcast link. What a GREAT idea!!

Thanks so much for posting this! It's great to hear from someone that has completed it-gives us all hope!!

One of my workout friends at the Y said: "You're not competing against the clock, or the treadmill or any of us. You're competing against the old you that wanted to stay stuck on that couch, and any step you take away from it is a win."

 

[pigget74]

Starting this one soon. My friends are doing it, but I am way behind them. I plan on running a 10k at the end of April. Hopefully I will be able to run at least half of it. Planning on running the 1/2 marathon in Disney.

 

[kimwim8]

One of my workout friends at the Y said: "You're not competing against the clock, or the treadmill or any of us. You're competing against the old you that wanted to stay stuck on that couch, and any step you take away from it is a win."

I really like that, Fitswimmer! That can apply to so many things in my life!!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I came back to check to see how things are going for everyone. I am so pleased that you are getting yourselves up and moving.

This is great! Keep on keepin' on. You are inspiring.

 

[meghan74]

I've jumped into the weekly training discussion on the events/competition board (check it out - it is full of great and very encouraging people!) but I also want to update this group. I am in the middle of week #2 and it is going very well. I am doing my walking intervals at 3.5 mph and my running intervals at 5.0 mph. I am focusing on building endurance, not speed. The good news is that I usually feel like running on my off days, so I guess I am pushing it enough, but not too much. I am forcing myself to stick to a run day/rest day pattern so that I don't overtrain and hurt myself.

Glad to see so many people using this plan!