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

[katerkat]

I'm repeating Week 5, Day 1 - you should never take a week off due to traveling!! Ugh! Plus, this was my first time out on the road with a jogging stroller to boot. It's hard to keep going without the treadmill! And the little man did NOT apparently enjoy the wind in his face. I guess I need to get up and run before DH leaves for work.

 

[corinnak]

I'm repeating Week 5, Day 1 - you should never take a week off due to traveling!!

I am sure this is good advice! I hope your travel was pleasant, though! My greatest fear with the jogging stroller is that I'll run us to someplace far from a bathroom and my 3 year old will need to go. Or that he will get sick of riding halfway through. I am a jogging stroller wimp!

 

[corinnak]

I got my act together yesterday at last and took myself to a running store to buy shoes. The salesman watched me walk in bare feet, asked what size and brand of shoes usually fit me best (Nike) and grabbed.....the perfect shoes for me! Or so it seems. I tried on three other pairs and none of them made my feet smile like the first pair. They were under $100, too, which was nice! I think I am in love with them.


I skipped my run yesterday because my knees were just aching (I know, whine, whine, whine - it's all I do!) and had been since Sunday when we struck the set of a play I had been working on. I unfortunately knelt on a screw at one point, and that played a role, I think. Also playing a role - the weather has suddenly changed back to WINTER here! So I think that pressure change made my knees extra grumpy.

So I made up that run today. It throws me off my usual schedule, but given that I had already had Sunday and Monday off, I figured I'd just run Wednesday, Friday and Sunday this week.

It went OK, too - Week 5, Day 2. I can run 8 minutes at a stretch! It is nice, but a bit of a shock, somehow. In fact, the 4mph I had been doing feels kind of.....uncomfortably slow at this point. I was between 4.3 and 4.1 most of the time, going up to 4.5mph for that last minute, don't ask my why. It's not actually running FAST, but I do seem to be hauling my way away from the transition between walking and jogging, which for me is right around 4mph.

I also officially registered for the Twin Cities Race for the Cure on May 13. It is such a large event, I am not sure what kind of a "running" experience it will be, but it does give me something to be pushing towards, anyway.

Whew - long one! How's everyone else doing? (Now that we know the inner workings of my feet (much better) and knees......

 

[contempory4me]

I know this is only week 2 for me but I actually think that I might be able to do this. I've never ever been able to run, not even as a kid so this is cool. This thread has been a great support. Thank you! My new sneaks have worked wonders and I also use an AceWrap, that has alleviated my knee issue.
My question is... I walk at 3.4 and run at 4.9, is that about where I'm supposed to be or should I try to go faster? My total pace for the entire workout is always in the 16. range.
What do you all walk and run at?

 

[corinnak]

My question is... I walk at 3.4 and run at 4.9, is that about where I'm supposed to be or should I try to go faster? My total pace for the entire workout is always in the 16. range.
What do you all walk and run at?

From what I can tell, this is a very personal thing, based on everything from height and leg length to previous experience to how much extra weight a person is carrying and probably several other factors I just don't know, being a novice and all....

You are going faster than I am at this point - doesn't mean I should be going faster or you should be going slower. It doesn't even mean you shouldn't be going faster, I bet! The main advice out there seems to be to run at a pace where you can still talk, but not sing. Cause singing and running don't go well together, apparently??? I am guessing that pace is different for everyone or they would just say "running is 4.5mph and walking is anything less than that."

It's great that you are finding success with this program. I think for me it has made such a difference that I can't even imagine how I could have made so much progress without a solid plan. Not to mention the support on this thread! Nice to see you again!

 

[katerkat]

I am sure this is good advice! I hope your travel was pleasant, though!

Oh, heck no! It was six hours on a plane with a two-year old - nothing about that is pleasant!! But it's over and I'm getting back into the swing of running after almost a week off... Tomorrow I'm repeating Week 5, Day 1 for a third time, but I'm confident that after THAT I'll be able to move forward. I ran yesterday without the jogging stroller and it was a lot easier, and my legs don't hurt as much as they did on the treadmill.

Good luck with the Race for the Cure! I still have another week or so to register for Bloomsday, which is the first weekend in May. Huge thing in Spokane, but it's over 7.5 miles. Quite a bit more than a 5K.

What do you all walk and run at?

I walk between 3.3-3.5 on the treadmill (probably close to the same on the road) and run at about 4.3-4.5. Although, outside, I finished 2 miles in 30 minutes as opposed to 32, so I guess my speed is getting better.

 

[corinnak]

Oh, heck no! It was six hours on a plane with a two-year old - nothing about that is pleasant!!

Ooof - I have been on that kind of trip. It's so great that you are ramping back up. We are at about the same place in the program now. I was thinking of redoing w5d2 tomorrow......just cause 20 minutes, no break is, uh, daunting.

Good luck with the Race for the Cure! I still have another week or so to register for Bloomsday, which is the first weekend in May. Huge thing in Spokane, but it's over 7.5 miles. Quite a bit more than a 5K.

7.5 miles is.....more than 2-5K's....uh, more thank 10K to normal math people, I guess? Is it OK if you walk some of it?

 

[kimwim8]

Just wanted to pop in and say WOO HOO to those of you doing so well! I've fallen off the wagon, but hope to be able to jump back on soon.

Keep up the great work!!

 

[katerkat]

Ooof - I have been on that kind of trip. It's so great that you are ramping back up. We are at about the same place in the program now. I was thinking of redoing w5d2 tomorrow......just cause 20 minutes, no break is, uh, daunting.

7.5 miles is.....more than 2-5K's....uh, more thank 10K to normal math people, I guess? Is it OK if you walk some of it?

I did W5D2 today and it wasn't as bad as I expected! And my legs aren't totally killing me, even though I was on a treadmill again. (And treadmills that expect you to put in a timed run and count backwards suck. A lot!) I'm still probably going to repeat W5D2 on Saturday....20 minutes just sounds scary. I don't know why - so far, they've been accurate on everything else, but that 20 minutes... We're traveling again and we're in a safe area to jog outside, so maybe if I'm not stuck on the treadmill... I'll probably decide on, oh, around minute 8 whether to keep going.

Bloomsday is a 12K. But it's actually not even a real run - you can walk the entire thing if you want. They even have a stroller division if you want to drag the kids! They have a whole staggered set-up so the slower people start after the people who will actually run the whole thing. "They" say that if you walk/jog at 16 minutes a mile, you'll finish in two hours, so my goal is to finish under that. (1 hour, 59 minutes would be good!)

 

[corinnak]

. I don't know why - so far, they've been accurate on everything else, but that 20 minutes... We're traveling again and we're in a safe area to jog outside, so maybe if I'm not stuck on the treadmill... I'll probably decide on, oh, around minute 8 whether to keep going.

I hear you! Really, they ought to know if we can do it, right? I am sure it is just a mental thing at this point. Well, pretty sure. I think I will probably try to decide around minute 10, tomorrow.

I realized today when they weighed my son at the doctor's office (58 pounds) that I am carrying practically a whole extra 8 year old with me when I run. Later in the day, I boosted him up onto a counter and imagined myself running with him on my back. I have hardened my resolve to reduce the load. I'm tracking my food on WW online now, and I think that thought of piggybacking an 8 year old while I run is going to keep me on track for a while.

"They" say that if you walk/jog at 16 minutes a mile, you'll finish in two hours, so my goal is to finish under that. (1 hour, 59 minutes would be good!)

That sounds like a smart and doable goal! That is really nice that it is not that high pressure thing where you could be swept off the course. It looks like a super event - do they time it to correspond to the time when the lilacs will be in bloom (and is that a really dumb question?) - I love lilacs, and they never stay around long enough for me!

Don't put off registering until the last minute - you can do it!

 

[corinnak]

OK - at the risk of totally monopolizing the thread....
I just finished the dreaded w5d3! I actually jogged the entire 20 minutes without too much trouble! I started at 4.3mph (treadmill) and slowed down to 4mph at the 10 minute mark. I could have just as agreeably taken a walk-break at that point, but I decided I was halfway done anyhow, and jogged the whole thing! I decided to use my own music for this one - the podcast seemed like it might be demoralizing, with the breaks being announced which I was not taking. So I set a kitchen timer. I did better when I couldn't see it, so I kept putting it in the cup holder and decided when I would check it based on distance. Somehow, watching those seconds ticking away is the worst. I ended up jogging, I think, something like 1.25 miles and with warm up and cool down, it was 2.5 today. So I am creeping up there in the distance department, too.

I can see where people talk about running being addictive - it seems like you build up a tolerance. I almost can't believe that I did it.

 

[kimwim8]

I just finished the dreaded w5d3! I actually jogged the entire 20 minutes without too much trouble!

CONGRATS!!! How awesome!!!

 

[plgrn]

I just finished the dreaded w5d3! I actually jogged the entire 20 minutes without too much trouble!

I can see where people talk about running being addictive - it seems like you build up a tolerance. I almost can't believe that I did it.

Good for you! Yes, the tolerance thing is amazing. I still don't really believe it is happening! It's like once you've run 20 mintues, 22 minutes isn't a big deal then 25.... I'm actually beginning to see how tacking on a few minutes to a run will work! Too cool!

Can't wait until my six month "beginner's probation" is over and I can start running every day instead of every other day.

 

[katerkat]

OK - at the risk of totally monopolizing the thread....
I just finished the dreaded w5d3! I actually jogged the entire 20 minutes without too much trouble!

You did it!! Awesome!! I'm attempting it tomorrow - if you can do it, so can I! And once I get past that hurdle, I'm totally registering for Bloomsday.

 

[corinnak]

if you can do it, so can I! And once I get past that hurdle, I'm totally registering for Bloomsday.

That's absolutely right - well, maybe not based on my having done it - but on all your own hard work to get to this point!

 

[Beka]

Hey guys, new here, new to running, marathons and what not. I do pilates on a regular basis and was regular with kick boxing (instructor got fired, then we moved so slacked on that some.)

Anyway, I'm a member of Obesityhelp.com, a website for bariatric patients (I've lost 105 lbs since my surgery!) and one of the members wrote about his experience running the Disney marathon. It sounded like so much fun, that it's now my goal to run the Donald. Not sure which year, since I'm going back to school to get my RN, but it's a goal anyway! One of my co-workers has run it and said her medal is huge!

I'm excited to be here and excited to get started on this program this week. Monday is session #2 with my personal trainer, so we'll see how things go from there.

You all have me really excited about this now!

 

[corinnak]

Can't wait until my six month "beginner's probation" is over and I can start running every day instead of every other day.

I didn't know it was a 6 month probation! I'm not sure I'm actually looking forward to being able to run every day. I am sure that is still the "couch" in me talking.

 

[corinnak]

Hey guys, new here, new to running, marathons and what not. I do pilates on a regular basis and was regular with kick boxing (instructor got fired, then we moved so slacked on that some.)

Anyway, I'm a member of Obesityhelp.com, a website for bariatric patients (I've lost 105 lbs since my surgery!) and one of the members wrote about his experience running the Disney marathon. It sounded like so much fun, that it's now my goal to run the Donald. Not sure which year, since I'm going back to school to get my RN, but it's a goal anyway! One of my co-workers has run it and said her medal is huge!

I'm excited to be here and excited to get started on this program this week. Monday is session #2 with my personal trainer, so we'll see how things go from there.

You all have me really excited about this now!

Hi Beka! Welcome to the DIS and especially our little c25k corner of it! That is an amazing weight loss! I have also heard very good things about the WDW marathon and I know there are a couple of us on here looking forward to running the half.

feel free to keep us posted on your progress with c25k! Have you found the link to the podcasts? They make it so much simpler in the early weeks with the alternating between running and walking.

 

[Beka]

Hi Beka! Welcome to the DIS and especially our little c25k corner of it! That is an amazing weight loss! I have also heard very good things about the WDW marathon and I know there are a couple of us on here looking forward to running the half.

feel free to keep us posted on your progress with c25k! Have you found the link to the podcasts? They make it so much simpler in the early weeks with the alternating between running and walking.

I did find the link in some of the earlier posts in this thread, thanks! Takes the "thought" out of it for us.

How do you all avoid shin splints or whatever they're called? I get them almost every time I'm on a treadmill. Ouch!

 

[sap1227]

I just wanted to pop back in with my run this week

I just did 6 miles in 1 hour and 9 mins!! We ran the whole way and it felt GREAT!!!

It was just 14 weeks ago that I started the Couch to 5K and I am still amazed every run at the progress I have made! Keep it up and I will see all of you at the Half next year!!!!

Beka--Everything I have read about shin splits says take it slow and do not increase your speed and/or distance too quickly! Good Luck!!!