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

[PAdisMOM]

I just found this thread and I'm so glad I did! I did this program the whole way through about 2 years ago. I have never been athletic and would never think of myself as a "runner". But by the end I could run for 40 minutes straight- no problem! I loved not only the weight loss but how running seemed to "shape" my body. So good luck to all of you-- I know you can do it if i did.

I fell off the wagon (or treadmill you could say). I started the C25K program again at the beginning of the year. I have faltered a bit. I've been up to week 3, quit for a while, start week 3 again, lather, rinse, repeat...

So this thread has inspired me to keep on track. Tonight I'll go home and do a week 3 workout again. Maybe by Monday I can move on to week 4

 

[katerkat]

...one more gripe....am I the only one that can't get the podcasts to work? Maybe it's because I don't have an ipod, just an MP3?? These next weeks are so jumbled with walk/run segments...the podcast sounds like it would be SO much easier. Anyone technical enough to help me??

I used the podcast on my computer (dreaded treadmill runner!) for the first two weeks, then stopped today for week 3. I could keep track of the distances easier (it was just one lap or a half lap for everything) and honestly, I prefer my own music. Silly, but I had it set up so my first run started at the crescendo of the Top Gun theme - gets me moving!! I haven't checked ahead to see how much harder the walk/run segments get.

I started Week 3 today and MAN! I feel good, though. For now, at least - let's not ask me tomorrow!

 

[kimwim8]

Thanks guys! I'll give it another shot & see if I can get it to work. If not...I'll just stick to my music.

Good news - finally ran W4D1 tonight! I conned my sister into coming over after work to stay with my kids, so I went on out!!

I was definitely sluggish in the beginning. I certainly run "better" in the mornings before I eat anything or have worked all day . But I did it and that last 5 minute run felt the BEST out of all of 'em (yes, I know, I'm weird). It felt so good I didn't want to stop...so I ran a little longer!

I usually go into work a little late on Fridays, so I might be able to get another run in on Friday and then again on Sunday. Don't wanna get too far off track.

Keep up the GREAT work, all!!

And welcome to PAdisMOM!!

 

[Texa]

Hey everyone! I'm on week eight and my concern is that I don't think I'll get to 3 miles by next week in 30 minutes. I've been following the times rather than the distance and I'm at a little less than 2 1/2 miles in 28 minutes. I guess we can work on our speed after we've accomplished the time but does anyone else follow time instead of distance?

 

[plgrn]

Yes, I go completely by time. The 5K I'm running isn't until May so I should have some time to work on speed after completing of the C25K program. Week eight! Wow! Keep up the good work!

 

[Texa]

Thanks! My first 5K is the end of April Now I'm wondering if I should wait a little longer until I'm faster. I'm hoping it's more casual than competitive though!

 

[Fitswimmer]

I go completely by time too, because I'm mainly working on endurance. Once I get my endurance level where I want it, then I'm going to start working on upping my pace which will increase the distance.

I seem to have hit a wall with W5D2. I can't seem to get through the 8 minute sets without grabbing the rails..grr. I did better on Tuesday than I did on Saturday, so we'll see how today goes.

One of my friends at the Y suggested increasing more slowly from 8 consecutive minutes to 20 consecutive minutes. She suggested adding 30 seconds to each "end" until the middle walk break was simply gone. I may try that to ease the transition.

 

[plgrn]

I seem to have hit a wall with W5D2.

Ya'll have me scared about that notorious W5D2 workout!

 

[daisylou]

I used the podcast on my computer (dreaded treadmill runner!) for the first two weeks, then stopped today for week 3. I could keep track of the distances easier (it was just one lap or a half lap for everything) and honestly, I prefer my own music. Silly, but I had it set up so my first run started at the crescendo of the Top Gun theme - gets me moving!! I haven't checked ahead to see how much harder the walk/run segments get.

I started Week 3 today and MAN! I feel good, though. For now, at least - let's not ask me tomorrow!

I'm doing week 3 and that 3 minute run was very intimidating to me. But, I got through it all right. It just felt like the longest three minutes of my life.

I can't believe that by week 5 we are running 20 minute intervals It terrifies me.

Anyone thinking long-term about doing one of the Disney races? I would like to be able to do the half-marathon next year. I think it is called the Minnie? Many hours of training are in my future!

 

[katerkat]

I'm doing week 3 and that 3 minute run was very intimidating to me. But, I got through it all right. It just felt like the longest three minutes of my life.

I can't believe that by week 5 we are running 20 minute intervals It terrifies me.

Anyone thinking long-term about doing one of the Disney races? I would like to be able to do the half-marathon next year. I think it is called the Minnie? Many hours of training are in my future!

I know! I was desperately holding onto the handles of the treadmill on the first day, watching that little ticker move slowly around the "track." Heck, even Week 4 terrifies me!

I thought about doing the half-marathon in 2008, but we're going on a cruise in mid-January, so I can't really afford (money and sanity!) to fly to Florida twice in two weeks. I'm thinking about Disneyland, depending on DH's deployment schedule.

 

[kimwim8]

Ya'll have me scared about that notorious W5D2 workout!

Don't be scared! Fitswimmer, you too! I'm serious when I tell you, that the first 5 minutes of each running segment I am hyperventilating! But shortly after that it becomes mind over matter with my legs and my breathing settles into a rhythym and it just happens! Time goes by and I start actually enjoying the run. I'm still exhausted at the end of it, but it's like I go into a "zone" after I run for a little while. I guess what I'm trying to say is....don't be afraid of it. Just try it! See how you do. Don't think you can't until you try. I think you might just amaze yourself.

]Anyone thinking long-term about doing one of the Disney races? I would like to be able to do the half-marathon next year. I think it is called the Minnie? Many hours of training are in my future!

I was hoping to do the 1/2 marathon in January 2008, but I think financial reasons might hold me back. I hope to plan financially in order to do it in 2009, though. (There is a Minnie, I believe in May. There is also a race in WDW in October. And there is the full & 1/2 marathons in January) I think I'll plan on running a few 5 K's and maybe a 10K over the summer & fall this year...and maybe I can even do a 10 miler in the late fall/early winter. It all depends on how I'm doing/feeling physically and what is offered in South Jersey.

 

[corinnak]

My hope is to run the Disney half marathon in 2009. 2008 just seems to be a tough year, logistically! Maybe we could form a team or a proto DIS team and join onto the bigger team when the time comes. What do you guys think? I don't know the first thing, I must confess.

I was thinking I'd be doing a 5K at the beginning of June, but it turns out one of my best friends from high school is getting married that weekend, and I will go to that if I can. I may need to find another race, I guess. Cause it sure helps to have something to work towards!

I told my kids today that I was running to Disney World, but my 3 year old says "No, you are running to ours house!" Which was true. I was on the treadmill and when I stopped, I was at our house. I do think by the time we get to 2009, I will possibly have run "to Disney World" in mileage anyhow. I guess some people do challenges like that.

I did week 3 day 1 today and was really pleased to be able to run a whole 3 minutes without even falling over once! It doesn't sound like a lot, but when your starting point is the couch, it's kind of amazing! I am trying not to think about what is coming up, but only focus on right now.

I enjoy the podcasts freeing my mind of keeping track of when to stop and start, but I kind of wish I could sub in my own music underneath. There is one point in the first of the 3 minute "longer" runs where it's like there is a little lull in the music. And that isn't the time I am needing a lull, I must say! LOVE the iPod shuffle, though.

 

[sap1227]

I just wanted to pop in and encourage you all to KEEP GOING!!!

I started the Couch to 5K in January and I just got home from running 4 miles!! I am still in awe that just a couple of months ago the 3 MIN runs almost killed me and now I am running for 48 mins straight!!!

I will admit the only time I deviated from the Couch program was on the 20 min run---it took me a couple of attempts to MENATALLY be able to do it, but once I did it I knew I could finish the program!!

 

[corinnak]

Wow Christy! That is amazingly good to hear. Thanks for telling us about your success - it is always nice to hear about how well this program can work!

 

[kimwim8]

Tiny setback for me. I haven't run since Wednesday and it's not gonna happen today either. I will be doing week 4 over again this week. Hopefully the weather turns more spring-like for me.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

Hi All. I saw the Couch to 5K program a while back, but never started it. Now is the time though. I want to run the Air Force Marathon in Sept on Team Gluten Free to raise money for Celiac Disease.

Anyway, the podcasts sound absolutely great!!! For those of you wondering about how to play the m4 files if you don't have an ipod, if you go here Free converter and click on the binoculars next to "Free MP3 WMA converter" you can download a program to convert the podcasts into mp3 format. Very easy to do!!

 

[Fitswimmer]

I just wanted to pop in and encourage you all to KEEP GOING!!!

I started the Couch to 5K in January and I just got home from running 4 miles!! I am still in awe that just a couple of months ago the 3 MIN runs almost killed me and now I am running for 48 mins straight!!!

I will admit the only time I deviated from the Couch program was on the 20 min run---it took me a couple of attempts to MENATALLY be able to do it, but once I did it I knew I could finish the program!!

That's good to hear. I'm having trouble with the 20 minute section too and it's encouraging to know that others got past that wall. Today I jogged for 15 minutes, walked 4, then ran another 5-so I got 20 in total, just not all at once. I have 2 months before my trip to Vero Beach and WDW, so I really have to get motivated!!

I used my tried and true trick to get myself to the Y this morning-I went and tried on clothes yesterday! I was so annoyed by my chubbyness that I was up a half hour early this morning!!!

 

[kimwim8]

How's everyone doin? I'll be the first to admit I haven't been doing well with finding time to run. Daylight savings time really messed up my running schedule. But I'll be getting back into it as soon as I can.

 

[Fitswimmer]

well, I overslept this AM, so I have to go to the Y after work to get my run in. I ran on Monday, swam a mile on Tuesday, took yesterday off and I plan on running today, swimming another mile tomorrow and running again on Saturday.

Now, all I have to do is remember how it felt to try putting on jeans that I couldn't even get over my pooh thighs. That should get me there...

 

[corinnak]

I've been doing OK getting the runs in in spite of a crazy schedule lately - somehow, I have an even harder time doing these things when nothing is going on, though. Very weird.

Today is the first day of week 4 for me and I am a little nervous about the 5 minute stretches and shorter walking periods. However, I am sure that the coolrunning people know what they are talking about and I will be fine. Right? Well, I'm off to find out. I'll report later.