WISH Biggest Loser 8 - Couch to 5K Challenge

[corinnak]

This thread is for people in the Biggest Loser challenge who are interested in or training with Coolrunning.com's Couch to 5K program. You may join the thread at any time and work through the program at your own pace. Use this thread to report your victories or challenges, ask questions of more experienced runners or share your experience as you train your body to run for 30 minutes!

This is a plan that has helped many, many people (including myself) go from a sedentary lifestyle to being able to run for 30 minutes.

Some people find that Week 1, Day 1 is not the best place for them to start:

For some, the first week of the program will be far too demanding - that is OK too. You can start from where you are and first build a base of walking with the program. You'll be surprised how quickly your body responds and you are able to walk farther and faster.

If you are already somewhat active, it may be too easy. That's OK - you can start the program at week 2 or 3 or 4 if that makes more sense for you.

Welcome to the Biggest Loser Couch to 5K Challenge!

 

[corinnak]

C25K resources:

The Original:

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

A website with many, many resources for beginning runners using the C25K program:

http://www.c25k.com/

Robert Ullrey's C25K podcasts:

http://www.ullreys.com/robert/Podcasts/

magic2go's favorite podcast:

http://chubbyjones.libsyn.com/index....egory=podcasts

Map your run - a great way to find the length of your course:

www.mapmyrun.com

Runners World - my go-to resource for any running question:

http://www.runnersworld.com/


John "The Penguin" Bingham's thoughts on Getting Started:

http://www.johnbingham.com/get_started.html


Feel free to PM me or post other resources and I will add them to this list!

 

[Colleen27]

I'm in. I'm not sure how well I'll do to start, because my current walking routine is pretty taxing for me without running (alternating 1, 3 and 4 mile routes, pushing a stroller at about 18min/mile pace), but it sounds interesting and I'd like to give it a try.

 

[FLAngie]

Thanks for starting this. Perfect timing. Tomorrow is the first day of my c25k training I have been looking over the coolrunnings.com site and have been ready to go for about a week and a half. I tried one day last week, but I think that I spent most of my time looking at my watch to see if I needed to switch yet!

Today I found some podcast, so tomorrow I am off to try again. I am really excited to have everything timed for me. I looked at Robert Ullrey's podcast and they seem well done, I just really don't like the music. I found another site that the music is okay, but I am still on the lookout. So if anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

 

[magic2go]

Thanks for starting this. Perfect timing. Tomorrow is the first day of my c25k training I have been looking over the coolrunnings.com site and have been ready to go for about a week and a half. I tried one day last week, but I think that I spent most of my time looking at my watch to see if I needed to switch yet!

Today I found some podcast, so tomorrow I am off to try again. I am really excited to have everything timed for me. I looked at Robert Ullrey's podcast and they seem well done, I just really don't like the music. I found another site that the music is okay, but I am still on the lookout. So if anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Hi There! We are new to running as well - We're on our third week. I've found so far that I like this podcast the best:

http://chubbyjones.libsyn.com/index.php?post_category=podcasts

My husband and I are running together. We've already decided that if we make the 5K goal that our reward will be going to the Expedition Everest Challenge 5k in 2010. Hope we make it!

Good luck to you too!

 

[FLAngie]

Hi There! We are new to running as well - We're on our third week. I've found so far that I like this podcast the best:

http://chubbyjones.libsyn.com/index.php?post_category=podcasts

My husband and I are running together. We've already decided that if we make the 5K goal that our reward will be going to the Expedition Everest Challenge 5k in 2010. Hope we make it!

Good luck to you too!

Hi! Hopefully I will see you at the Expedition Everest Challenge! That is my goal too. That is great that you and your DH run together. My DH is already a runner, he is doing his first triathlon next month. I think that it will be a while before I have a running buddy....

Thanks for the podcast link. I will check it out.

 

[JanuaryF]

Hi all!

I started the C25k back in June, but its been a slow process. A lot of the weeks were longer than the 3 runs, just to make sure I could handle moving on to the next week.

My experience was that I was literally a couch potato when I started the C25K, so each week was a challenge. But now when I look back, I think its amazing to see how far I've come. I know you will feel the same when as you progress! I also found that having a goal race is a great motivator to keep me running. I'm running in a 5k on October 18th, so I need to keep pushing myself with the running.

I used Robert Ullrey's podcasts, which got me through the first 6 weeks. The music isn't great, but it got me through them. It was great to not have to look at my watch - i found that my watch is actually my enemy. I look at it too often, and convince myself that I can't keep going when I have so much further to go...

One thing to keep in mind with this program is that you can run for Time or for Distance, you don't need to do both - especially in the later weeks. Week 7 is 25 minutes OR 4k. I found that my pace was getting me nowhere near the 4k in 25 minutes, and was really frustrated, so I've focused back on the time. Once I get the time nailed, I'll worry about running the distance.

If I can do this, you can too!

January

[Phew - that was a lot of info. Sorry!]

 

[MickeyMagic]

My DD17 and I have been pondering giving this a try. We're going to join in after our October trip. Up until then we will concentrate on our walking by increasing the speed and distance. We have a long-term goal of participating in the January 2011 WDW half-marathon.

 

[FLAngie]

Well I did it! I thought I might die at the end, but I made it through my first day! I am actually really proud of myself. I didn't think that I would make it 20 minutes.

 

[magic2go]

Well I did it! I thought I might die at the end, but I made it through my first day! I am actually really proud of myself. I didn't think that I would make it 20 minutes.

WAY TO GO! You know - the hardest thing to do is to Start! Now you've done that and know you know you can do it!

 

[JanuaryF]

Well I did it! I thought I might die at the end, but I made it through my first day! I am actually really proud of myself. I didn't think that I would make it 20 minutes.

Way to go! It will get easier, I promise!

Jan

 

[corinnak]

Hi everyone!!!

Congratulations on finishing W1D1, FLAngie! You're on your way now, and you will be amazed at how quickly your body adjusts to the fact that you're asking more of it on a regular basis!

Mickey Magic Welcome to the thread - your plan of working on your walking until you're ready to start C25K is a great one. The 2011 Half Marathon is a fantastic long-term goal. You can definitely do it!!

January - thanks so much for sharing your progress and experience. It's so amazing how far you've come already. I agree on the Ullrey podcasts - not the most inspiring music but very nice not to have to watch your watch.

magic2go thanks for sharing your podcast link! A Disney race is a GREAT incentive to persevere and the EE race does sound like a fun one!

Colleen27 It sounds like you've already got a strong aerobic base and with a jogging stroller as well! The great thing about this program is that it builds a little at a time. It is so nice that you already have some regular routes, too.

January made such a good point about the running for time or distance. It does seem like like the program implies that you can run 10 minute miles by the end of the program. I'd be surprised if that were the case for anyone who didn't start out as a relatively fit 20 year old in the healthy weight range! I know for me, I've been running 2 1/2 years now (which still makes me a beginner, incidentally) and have run exactly one 5K under 30 minutes. It was a fluke, that day, it seems. 6mph is pretty fast for most of us adult onset athletes.

I personally think that running for time is easier than running for distance on the intervals. It's easier to keep track of and generally speaking, you'll have fewer minutes in each "run" segment than if you run for time, which is a gentler way to learn to run.

Here's a question: Are you running or planning to train outside or on a treadmill?

 

[Rafiki31]

Hi everyone! I am interested in trying the c25k program! I am not very familiar with all of the technology, so although I am interested in trying a podcast, I kept getting site invalid error so I am going to try a different one when my DF gets home.


I am really out of shape and have not been working out for quite a bit. Should I just try walking for a few weeks before I start this or do you think I am ok to just jump right in? I did 40 minutes on the elliptical today, but at a low level like 4 I think. And it wiped me out


I used to love running, I would love to get back there!

UPDATE:reading over the forums on the c25k, I am getting excited!

 

[corinnak]

Hi Rafiki! I hear ya on the technology - sometimes it can be so complicated!! I hope your DF is able to help, because that is one thing that baffles me all the time, too.

As far as starting with the C25K program or walking for a bit beforehand, if I were you, I'd probably start with week 1, day 1 and see how it goes. Don't try to be speedy - just walk comfortably, then jog slowly during the run segments, then walk to recover. You can decide when the next interval comes up if you want to keep walking or do another jog. If the run segment is too long to start, you don't even have to finish it. This will give you some idea of where you are right now. If you only managed a portion of the first run segment and walk the rest of the time, no problem - you will be able to do a little more the next time! I don't know much about the levels on the elliptical - is it 4 out of 10? If that's the case, I bet you'll be just fine to start with the C25K program!


The great thing about returning to running is that you already have some of the infrastructure in place - you just need to catch the cardio up again, and that is the part that is fastest to improve!

 

[Rafiki31]

Thanks CorinNak! I am getting excited! I am makeing a list of errands to run and then I am headed out to get going! The gym is stop 3 on my list. I hope its not super crowded today since it is so nice outside.


I will give it a whirl! I was only able to get one of the podcasts DL to my ipod, and the music is not my fav but I am going to try it, since it is only for a week and will keep me from having to keep checking the clock.

 

[FLAngie]

Here's a question: Are you running or planning to train outside or on a treadmill?


I will be doing all of my running outside. We don't have a treadmill or a gym membership anywhere, so it is that or nothing.

For those that have been doing this for a while. What speed do you usually run at?

 

[Rafiki31]

Hi all! I made it through my first workout! Barely! lol. I felt kind of crappy after, but I am sure after a few more I will be fine! Then I came home and ate everything in the darn house! I need to plan better so I can have a healthy snack ready in th car or when I get home. The DF was supposed to have something ready but the football game too priority I guess.


FLangie- I am training on a treadmill and I took it pretty slow today, it was my first day back to running in a decade. lol. I did my walking at like 3.8mph and my running at 5.0 and it kicked my butt!

I am excited for day 2! Will not be until Tues.

 

[magic2go]

Hey there, we've been running outside - I think it may be a touch harder than on a treadmill - since we've got some hills to contend with - but I figure that should be good in the long run.

We've also been averaging 4 to 5 runs per "week" of the program. So its taking us a bit longer, but that's ok. Its not a race (yet!) and we're really starting to see the impact of working out.

Good running everyone!

 

[FLAngie]

Hi all! I made it through my first workout! Barely! lol. I felt kind of crappy after, but I am sure after a few more I will be fine! Then I came home and ate everything in the darn house! I need to plan better so I can have a healthy snack ready in th car or when I get home. The DF was supposed to have something ready but the football game too priority I guess.


FLangie- I am training on a treadmill and I took it pretty slow today, it was my first day back to running in a decade. lol. I did my walking at like 3.8mph and my running at 5.0 and it kicked my butt!

I am excited for day 2! Will not be until Tues.

Yea! Aren't you proud of yourself! I know what a good feeling it was to make it through the first time and still survive! I did my second run/walk today. I didn't even come home to eat everything in the house, but that was only because the fridge/freezer/pantry was empty Sunday afternoons are our grocery shopping days

My running/walking speeds are pretty close to what you did today too. I have to agree with magic2go that the hills can be pretty tough. And ours are not that big. My next run day will be on Tuesday as well. Keep us posted on how you do!

Hey there, we've been running outside - I think it may be a touch harder than on a treadmill - since we've got some hills to contend with - but I figure that should be good in the long run.

We've also been averaging 4 to 5 runs per "week" of the program. So its taking us a bit longer, but that's ok. Its not a race (yet!) and we're really starting to see the impact of working out.

Good running everyone!

Are you still running 3 times per week? just stretching out the program's week? I was wondering if I should do that. I know that I am only two days/runs in, but I just can't see myself moving up to week two's schedule with how hard it has been on the first week.

That is awesome that you have been starting to see the impact of your work outs. I would like to lose 10 lbs. and started walking or biking 5 days a week and journaling all my food, but still haven't really seen the scale move. I know that it has only been six weeks since I started, but I would like to see some results I am hoping that by adding in the running, I will start to see a change. That and the EE Challenge that I know that I could never do at this point in time...

 

[magic2go]

Are you still running 3 times per week? just stretching out the program's week? I was wondering if I should do that. I know that I am only two days/runs in, but I just can't see myself moving up to week two's schedule with how hard it has been on the first week.

Yup, we just do each week's workout until we feel like, ok, that wasn't too bad. I can do more... Then we do.

I think its very important to take it slow and listen to what your body tells you. Get a good base for moving forward. Don't hurt yourself - or discourage yourself. If it takes you two weeks, three weeks, or more of week 1.. then so what. Atleast you are out there moving!