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

[Nanabug02]

Wow!!!!!

After reading through this thread last night, I went on the site and printed out the Couch to 5K plan. I've always wanted to be a jogger but wasn't sure if I could do it. As you can see below, I have quite a bit of weight to lose and have never jogged before.

Well, this morning I did my first day on the plan and it was awesome! I was so worried I wouldn't even be able to do Day 1, but I did it!

Even if it takes me longer than the 9 weeks, I'm gonna stick to it! Its such a high to exercise so hard like that! Yay me! And Yay for everyone else out there doing it!

 

[Fitswimmer]

Good for you! It feels SO good when you can complete that first workout. I remember thinking-"hey, I can DO this!" Good luck and keep us updated!!

 

[plgrn]

Do some of you have 5ks planned?

I'm pre-paying for a 5K in May so that I won't back out of the plan. I know myself too well.

 

[plgrn]

Its such a high to exercise so hard like that!

Yes it is! I'm not liking the side stitches and exhaustion, but that way I feel afterwards more than makes up for it. I've always admired people who could run long distances (i.e.more than 1/8 of a mile! ) and am excited to think that I could be among them in a few months!

Keep up the good work Nanabug! This is such a great place for support.

 

[LightBurnsBlue]

I did W4D1 yesterday. I'll admit it...it was pretty tough. I did it on a treadmill with a 0.5 incline and walked at 3.5 and did the runs at 4.9/5.0. I did it by distance, instead of time, and it took me around 34 minutes (if I remember correctly). The second 1/2 mile was really challenging, but I stuck with it.

I too am getting side cramps, right under my right rib. I work out in the morning before eating or drinking anything because someone told me both eating and drinking can cause them. Yesterday, I got the beginnings of a side cramp just walking across the parking lot to the gym! Sheesh! I'm able to control the pain fairly well on the treadmill by regulating my breathing. I read about using this pattern:
Right foot: inhale
Left foot: keep inhaling
Right foot: keep inhaling
Left foot: exhale

and it seems to kinda work.

I think that the workout was harder than any workout I've done in quite some time--my face was sooo red! I'm guessing I should take this as a sign that I need to slow down. If I do that, I think I will go by time instead of distance for the rest of the plan.

Hope things are going well for the rest of you!

 

[stacy6552]

Ok I'm in. Took my first "run", yesterday.

 

[plgrn]

Week two begins today. We shall see if I survive!

 

[daisylou]

Hi all! What a fun thread. I have used the couch to 5k program before. I made it until week 4 I believe, then stopped because I got pregnant with baby #2. I am starting again this week to lose that stubborn baby weight.

I finished w1d2 yesterday. Today is a rest day. I will do day 3 Friday morning. I work nights on Thursdays, so I am going to pack a gym bag tonight and make myself go straight to the gym tomorrow morning. Should be a shock to my lazy system!

I am working out on a treadmill at my gym so far. I will take the hint that someone posted upthread about setting the incline at 1% to better simulate real road conditions. I am worried that once spring hits and I get moving outside it will be much harder.

What kinds of distances is everyone posting in week one on the treadmill? SO far I getting about 1.6 miles in 25 minutes. Yikes! I think there are slugs that clock faster mph!

Looking forward to chatting with all you other wannabe runners!

 

[Fitswimmer]

I'm in week 5, but I've had to adjust a little. Instead of doing the workout for the week as printed, I did three days of the first one, and I'm on the second of 3 days of the second one. I couldn't go from running 5 minutes straight to running 8 minutes to running 20 minutes in ONE WEEK!!! That was just too much for my old bones to handle without getting injured.

The cool thing was I realized that I am now doing more running than walking! Of the 30 minutes I spend on the treadmill, 16 of them are at a jog!!! Ok, so it's only a teeny, tiny bit more, but it feels good to me!

 

[LightBurnsBlue]

Way to go everyone...glad to see there are a couple more people on board.

I also switched workouts...after doing W4D1 by distance and being totally, utterly exausted afterwards, I switched to time doing W4D2 this morning. It was much, much better. Definitely still challenging (walking at 3.5, jogging at 4.8/4.9 -- down from 5.0 from beginning weeks, but oh well) but not nearly as discouraging as Monday's workout.

I'm scared about week 5 -- that W5D3 20 minute jog still seems like a doozie. Overall, I'm feeling positive about the program and am looking to move forward with it. Since I plan on going by time, I don't thinnk that I'll be 5K ready by the end...because I'm not running 10 minute miles, but I think doing 30 minutes of jogging at a pace right for me will be enough of an accomplishment!

Anyone else find it tough to maintain the pace that the program suggests of being able to hold a conversation? I find that SOOO hard to stick to...

 

[kimwim8]

I am working out on a treadmill at my gym so far. I will take the hint that someone posted upthread about setting the incline at 1% to better simulate real road conditions. I am worried that once spring hits and I get moving outside it will be much harder.

I actually found the treadmill SO much harder than running outside. I think the distractions outside (looking at houses, looking around, etc.) passes the time much quicker. On the treadmill I always seem to be looking at the time, or wanting to look at the time. Outside I tell myself, ok, when I pass that house at the end of the street, then I can look...and when I get close I say - well, maybe at the end of the next street.

And for those of you scared of the 20 minute straight run - it's completely normal. And it's fine to repeat the run/walks building up to it if you don't feel ready. But let me tell you - when you DO run for 20 minutes straight, no matter how slow, you will feel AWESOME!!! It's such a high, to go from not being able to handle running for 90 seconds, to running 20 minutes straight! I know you'll all get there and you'll know what I mean. You're doing GREAT!!

I start back tomorrow morning. (I used this program last year & actually ran 3-4 miles several times a week up until this past Christmas when I got sick) I'll be starting back at week 3 or 4 in this program to build myself back up. I can't wait to get my runner's high back again!

Keep going, guys!!!

ETA: Just wanted to add - don't stress about running a mile in 10 minutes. I used to obsess about my speed, but I got frustrated. So now I concentrate more on distance than speed. I began running to lose weight. Now I run for endurance, health and fun (and to keep the weight off). It's not about winning races for me, it's about the miles.

 

[plgrn]

But let me tell you - when you DO run for 20 minutes straight, no matter how slow, you will feel AWESOME!!! It's such a high, to go from not being able to handle running for 90 seconds, to running 20 minutes straight!

I can't wait!!!
Thanks for the encouragement, Kim.

 

[Fitswimmer]

And for those of you scared of the 20 minute straight run - it's completely normal. And it's fine to repeat the run/walks building up to it if you don't feel ready. But let me tell you - when you DO run for 20 minutes straight, no matter how slow, you will feel AWESOME!!! It's such a high, to go from not being able to handle running for 90 seconds, to running 20 minutes straight! I know you'll all get there and you'll know what I mean. You're doing GREAT!!

I can't wait to do that. I'm going to Vero Beach in 3 months and I want to be doing it comfortably be that time. That's my goal!!!

 

[kimwim8]

Hey guys! Just wanted to stop by & post since I ran today for the first time in 2 months! (now I actually feel like I belong on this thread )

I started back at W3D1 and felt great. Got a little winded on the 3 minute runs, but that's nothing new for me. Even when I had worked up to running 4 miles straight, the first mile or 10 minutes were always the hardest. After that, I'd hit my groove and time would pass SO quickly.

I applaud all of you on this plan for doing it! It's not always gonna be easy, but it's ALWAYS rewarding!

Have a GREAT weekend, and I'll check back in Monday after my next run!

 

[LightBurnsBlue]

Thanks for the tips and encouragement Kim! It's awesome that you used the plan to get you to eventually running 3-4 miles at a time. That's my goal. I'm still nervous from getting off the treadmill and getting outside...but the change of scenery will definitely be a welcome change. I'll be inside at least for the next few weeks...got another snowstorm here in WI again this weekend!

I did W4D3 today (well, it was actually day 4...I'm doing the workouts 4 times a week. I was still nervous for the second 5 minute run...it was a little tough starting it, but once I hit my groove I didn't think it was so bad! I even ran a little extra! I'm looking forward to next week...

Good luck on your runs this week everyone!

 

[plgrn]

I'd hit my groove and time would pass SO quickly.

starting it, but once I hit my groove I didn't think it was so bad! I even ran a little extra! I'm looking forward to next week...

This groove of which you speak is the holy grail which I aspire to!

 

[sap1227]

I just wanted to stop back by this post and say KEEP IT UP!!!

I have finished the program and starting this week I am training for the Minnie Marathon in May. Todays scheduled run was 2 miles and I "ran" the entire time!!! We were not fast (12:46 average pace) but we did it with no walking breaks!! I am hopinig that the speed will come in time, but for now I am still amazed that just a few short weeks ago I was dying on the 3 minute runs!

Good Luck to Everyone who is doing it!!

 

[daisylou]

I finished week 1 yesterday. I'm just pleased that I worked out 3x in one week. I have become so sedentary since baby #2, so I really needed this. I plan to start week 2 on Monday. The third day of the plan was easier. I was still sucking wind though!

How often is everyone working out? Every other day or 3x a week?

 

[Fitswimmer]

I try to work out 4-5 days a week. I've found that my legs need two days to recover, so I swim on the days that I'm not doing my running. I still am struggling through the W5D2 workout, so I'm going to keep it at that level for a few more days. It jumps from 2 sets of 8 minutes with a 5 minute walk break to jogging 20 minutes straight! I'm still having trouble getting through 8minutes!!

 

[katerkat]

I'm doing the first part every other day - I'm only on W1D2, though! I want to go through the "easier" parts fairly quickly because I'm doing Bloomsday (7 miles) the first weekend in May. So the sooner I get to the hard stuff - like W5!! - the better, but I want to do it without skipping a step. So I run every other day.

And I'm also doing Pilates and aerobics every day, but that's a "light" workout.