WISH Biggest Loser 8 - Couch to 5K Challenge

[princessbride6205]

So I committed to starting this a few weeks ago - then got swine flu.
After 2 weeks, I'm finally back to good workouts. I can jog for about 1 mile so far. I think I will start back in Week 4.
I've always liked running but thought "I can't." When I would try to run in high school and middle school, I would get chest pains and have stomach problems. So I would give it up for 6 months, then try again once or twice, then stop. Later my problem was finding a good enough sports bra (TMI? ). The one that works is one step away from duct tape, I swear.

 

[iluvtig2]

Good music can make it feel easier, for sure! Other than that, it's time and practice. You're training your body to do something amazing, and when you challenge it like this, that makes it get stronger. In that way, it does get easier over time. Of course as soon as you are stronger, the program ups the ante and challenges you again.

The first few weeks, you may be sore the day after you run. That does go away after a few weeks, thank goodness!

Once we get situated, I was going to try the music. For now, I have to keep encouraging DS9.

He's got some great music on his ipod. I may have to ask Santa for one....

iluvtig

 

[iluvtig2]

iluvtig - it has been getting easier for me. I struggled the first few weeks. I had been a walker, but never a runner. I actually repeated W2 for 2 weeks because I just wasn't ready to move on. I think that helped me a lot, because it gave my body a chance to get used to running before I turned it up another notch.

Just take it at the pace you need to. I am doing the program by time not distance, and I think that has made it a little easier too. I don't run as fast as I think the program thinks I am. It says to run 5 minutes or half a mile. Great, but my 5 minutes is not half a mile, and I am totally OK with that. I am just glad that I can go 5 minutes. I will work on speed later! I am on W5D2 today - I think that has me running 8 minutes! Crazy. 5 minutes was enough to kill me a week or so ago (I think I was whining about it on this board actually) but I am pretty good at 5 now. We will see how well I transition to 8.

But good luck. Keep checking in, and hopefully we can help each other reach this goal!

Everyone on this board has been wonderful. It's great to hear that we can extend week 1 if we need to. We're trying, but I'm not sure if we're quite ready for two. Plus, it's hard for us to get more than 2 runs a week in, and I don't think that helps. We're gonna move the treadmill in this weekend, and I think that will help, too!

Thanks again, to all!

iluvtig

 

[princessbride6205]

Tonight I did W5D1 - I'm feeling good. It was a little challenging, but not difficult. I tried one of the podcasts, but I just couldn't take the style of music. I was thinking of creating my own, but this week and next are different each workout. At the very least, I need to create a runner's playlist for my iPod.

 

[mandac]

i finished week 5 - which was 20 minutes of running. I know I get slower the longer I run, but at least I am running (jogging) for 20 minutes. Can you believe it!?! 20 Minutes! I have probably never in my life run for 20 minutes straight before. It was awesome.

My weeks got a little mixed up and I am actually going to start W6 today even though it is Wednesday. Oh well. As long as I get them in I am happy. Hopefully the intervals I run today will seem super easy compared to the 20! minutes I did on Monday.

Keep it up everyone. This is amazing. You are amazing!

 

[Tiggs14]

Glad I found this thread...I'm a newbie to the program. Started earlier this week. I've been doing my running at night, taking my 2 year old lab with me using the Robert U poscast.

I did my first run Thursday night and my second was done tonight (Sunday). I've been able to keep up with the podcasts but find my shins are really sore...I think that has to do with my running shoes. I'm wearing my normal Nike's...wanted to hold off on getting a fancy expensive pair of running shoes until I know I'm going to this. Anyone else have really sore shins after running in the beginning that went away without new shoes?

I'm looking forward to completing week 1 on Tuesday night just hoping my shins are up to it!

 

[jennz]

Later my problem was finding a good enough sports bra (TMI? ). The one that works is one step away from duct tape, I swear.

I've been looking for one too - I totally relate! I just ordered one from Nike.com, we'll see how it does. What did you get?

i finished week 5 - which was 20 minutes of running. I know I get slower the longer I run, but at least I am running (jogging) for 20 minutes. Can you believe it!?! 20 Minutes! I have probably never in my life run for 20 minutes straight before. It was awesome.

YOU are awesome!!! Great job!

I have not done the running yet but am still working up to 30 solid minutes of walking...I got sick in there (tis the season right?) but am back to it.

 

[princessbride6205]

I've been looking for one too - I totally relate! I just ordered one from Nike.com, we'll see how it does. What did you get?

I have the Frog Bra from Title Nine Sports - they have a catalog and a website. They have lots of bras suitable for larger cup sizes, but I keep going back to my "masher."

 

[princessbride6205]

i finished week 5 - which was 20 minutes of running. I know I get slower the longer I run, but at least I am running (jogging) for 20 minutes. Can you believe it!?! 20 Minutes! I have probably never in my life run for 20 minutes straight before. It was awesome.

My weeks got a little mixed up and I am actually going to start W6 today even though it is Wednesday. Oh well. As long as I get them in I am happy. Hopefully the intervals I run today will seem super easy compared to the 20! minutes I did on Monday.

Keep it up everyone. This is amazing. You are amazing!

Thanks for the reminder that Week 6 Day 1 is intervals - I was thinking of repeating Week 5. Like you, I've never run for 20 consecutive minutes in my life either! I also feel like I'm getting slower, which is why I was thinking of repeating Week 5 at a faster speed. You're amazing, too!
I did my own 5k on Thanksgiving on a treadmill. It was my W5D3, so I jogged 20 minutes, then I went in intervals of a few minutes walking, 2 minutes jogging until I hit 5k. It felt great to get that done!

 

[mandac]

Started Week 7 yesterday. 25 minutes. I could feel it at about minute 20, but kept pushing. I am pretty excited to finish this up.

 

[A.Mickey]

I need to get a masher bra!

I am only in the middle of Week 2, but I can already feel a difference in my energy and it is getting easier! I never thought I would be able to run a minute and today I actually accidentally ran for 2 minutes!

Congrats to all of you that have finished!! I hope one day to be where you all are!

To all the finishers, did you lose weight?/looser clothes?

 

[princessbride6205]

A Mickey - I'm not a finisher yet, but I think running has definitely helped my body shape. I was exercising about as many minutes before doing C25k, but not running. I've been maintaining my summer weight loss for a few months now, but after I started running (a few weeks ago), a bunch of people commented how it looked like I lost more weight.

Just wanted to post a little "yay me" moment - on Saturday night I did W6D3, which is jogging 25 minutes or 2.25 miles. This is the first time I have met the distance guideline in my time. Usually I jog too slowly to actually achieve the miles the plan says. But I pushed myself to jog faster, and I felt really great as I was running. I had brand new music on my iPod, which helped too. If you guys are looking for some holiday running music, I recommend the band Reliant K. You can get their whole album on mp3 download from Amazon for $5. I think they may be Christian Rock? I don't know, but I heard their rock version of 12 Days of Christmas on our Sirius radio, and wanted to check out the rest of their stuff.

I should be doing Week 7 this week, but I need some creative ideas. DH is out of town all week, so I don't know how to get in my jogs/runs. I work full time and have to pick up DD immediately after I finish work for the day. The little neighborhood gym I go to does not have childcare. Is there anything I can do in my house that will be similar to jogging? Jogging in place is really hard on my feet - I always feel awkward if I do it for more than a few minutes. Maybe just push myself with cardio (jumping jacks, jump rope, etc) and get in a jog first thing Saturday morning when DH is home?

 

[mandac]

I am not a finisher yet either, but I am getting closer. I am starting my 28 minutes this week. It is getting pretty intense. I can say I haven't lost any weight, but that I have stopped gaining. I really need to get my eating under control. But I am glad to have at least stopped the upward climb of my weight and hit a plateau for a while.

I am so excited to be running 28 minutes! I remember how wiped out I was when I did my first 5 minute run - and now I am running 28! I don't know how far I am going, because I run on an inside track and just don't want to keep track of the laps, but I am excited that I can do the time. Keep going everyone. If I can do this, you can!