Has anyone here finished Couch-to-5k?

I am going to start this program next week, once my leg injury is sufficiently rested. I was reading this: http://www.c25k.com/finishing.htm and got discouraged. Do that many people really quit? I don't want to start something that I'm likely to fail at...

Has anyone here finished?

Of those, are any of you still running?

Hi there I'm kinda new to this whole "thread" thing.  I actually started the C25K today!  I have done the program before but due to health probs with my gallbladder had to stop half way through.  I want to finish i this time!!!  I'd love to keep in touch with you if you're up to it!  I really enjoyed the program and am excited to start again!

There are LOTS of people in the community who have and are still running.  If you are looking for a running specific support forum try RunningAhead.com -- it's great.

I'm at my one year anniversary of completeing Learn to Run (similar to Couch to 5K) and Im still running -- a lot.  Racing season has started again finally and I have been signing up for everything I can.  I also plan on running my second half marathon again in March.

Running is great fun.  Just keep at it if you are enjoying it or find it a great challenge because it is very rewarding.  But running is not for everyone and that's totally OK! 

If you have to repeat sessions, or even weeks dont get discouraged.  The program's progressions are not aggressive so it's pretty hard to actually fail at it unless you just flat give up.  The great thing is that once you get to running for 30 minutes, longer distances are much easier to accomplish.

Enjoy!

i haven't finished the couch-to-5k, but i have gone from the couch to 5k.  just did 5k this morning, actually. 

i've been running 5k every third day (i walk a lot on my non-running days, and i'm pretty anemic, so i need a little extra recovery time), but i'm planning to move up to 4-8k twice a week and hill work one day a week.

Just wanted to say that I'll be watching the responses to this post too - I'm also planning to start C25K once my cast is off!

Well I'm in week 4....which appartenly means I"m going to quit in the next few days according to some pessimist who can post a page.  F off dude.  (and I know lots of people have finished them on here)

I did the Couch to 5K program this past May-July.  It was awesome!  I am now running at least three times a week adistance of 5K or greater.  I have gone on to do a 10K, and this winter I plan to start training for a 1/2 marathon.  I was never a runner before.  In fact,  I used to tell people "I only run when I am being chased or there is an immediate goal (like running to 1st base in softball)".  I found the C25K program very do-able.  Sure, there were weeks that I would look at what I was supposed to run (like the first time I was supposed to run for 20 minutes straight), and I would get very scared, but I always managed to be able to do it.  And if one week seems really tough, you can always repeat that week to feel more confident.  Good luck and happy running!

I actually just finished the Couch to 5k Program yesterday!  I'm so proud of myself!  I was never a runner (or even remotely liked running), but this program got me to actually like to run.  I feel so good when I'm finished.  I'm actually hoping to find a 5k event to run in and I'm hoping to continue to run.  I've heard that there's something called 'podrunner' or something that you can download and run along with to work on speed and endurance.  I may look into that.  Good luck with your running!  =)

I started as a couch potatoe then a friend of mine wanted me to start running with him. We started out running a block at a time. Then two blocks. Then a mile, and slowly increased until we ran our first 5k. That was over 5 years ago. Now I run all of the time and feel great. If I dont run for a day or two I can def feel it in my body and mood. So far I've ran numerous 5k's a 10k, 2 full marathons and 1 half marathon. Its an addiction that once you get to a certain point you begin to enjoy it. Sounds crazy and its a hard ride to that point forcing yourself to run everyday but once you get there its great! Good luck! I know you all can  do IT!

I'm in week 5 and I am so excited about running that I can't imagine stopping at this point.  My best advice is to sign up for a 5K pretty soon so you have a goal date.  Mine is November 9th and it feels good to have a date to get ready for.  Give yourself enough time to repeat weeks or a few days here and there and get going!  Also, go to http://www.ullreys.com/robert/Podcasts/page6/ page6.html to download podcasts for the runs.  It makes them go by faster and it's great to have the motivation in your ear.

Good luck!

I just finished C25K myself.  I initially started in March, but, due to injuries, I had to stop and re-start again.  I am now consistently running 5k at least three times per week.   As others here have said, don't rush the process.  As the program instructs, don't skip ahead and definitely repeat weeks if necessary.  Also, you can download the podcasts for each week of the program. 

Good luck to you!

I started off with a learn to run (same program) about 5 year ago and I am going to run my first half marathon in 2 weeks. I would encourage anyone to try the program since you will learn to actually enjoy running by following a C25K program. Also, I encourage you to do some strenght training in your legs regularly and don't be shy about going to see a physiotherapist if you start getting achy (if you can find someone who does 'Active Release Therapy' I find it works the best) - when you start to move your body you can expect that you'll likely need a 'tune up' from a professional. Just avoid the temptation to tell yourself that your knee/hip/feet/insert body part here hurts so that must mean that you shouldn't run. It simply means that you should go see a professional.

I completed the Couch to 5K at the end of January '08 and have continued and become fully addicted to running. 

I just ran my first half marathon a couple of weeks ago and absolutely LOVED every minute of it.  I have also run a 5K and a 14K run since completing the program and am already planning what I will be training for next year. And I am even thinking of training for a triathlon for sometime next year.

I have also lost almost 40 lbs in the process!

I did the program a few years ago and let me tell you it really works. If you have access to a descent treadmill you can program it to do the timing for you. That is what I liked. Listen to music that is loud enough to where you can not hear your self sucking air. Focus on somthing else and get to it. It was great. I was loosing soo much weight doing that program. I had more energy as well. I never competed in a 5k because my time would have been slow but it was nice to be able to run 5k a couple of times a week. Thanks for reminding me of this program.

questions for those of you who are now runners - I have been doing my own c25k at the gym (run until I am sucking so much air I think I am going to die) (or the people around me do) then walk a few, then run again... it gets better  but any how, my questions are being otherwise healthy I end up coughing quite a bit later in the day  )irritated my lungs? did anyone else have this issue in the begining? Also I am wondering about foot problems.  I am only having minor issues - and was already have some problems - I walked the breast cancer 3 day (second year) and was already having some arch prblems - but I find my toes goes go sleep and sometimes I get a little click in my arch - I know foot problems are common with runners - and I dont want that to be what stops me - have people seen the foot doctor or recomend certain shoes? thanks for your input!

Michelle

I used to be a religious runner, but stopped some years ago. I started the C25k and got back on the wagon. I run 30 minutes 3-4 times a week now. My goal isn't to run for more time because I don't want to kill my knees, but I have markers along my route to mark how far I'm going each time. Every week I get further. Running gets easier the more you do it. I sort of had a base from before, and I forgot how much I missed running. Now I'd die without out, or I'd kill someone. Eithe way, someone would die if I weren't running ever week.

Yep! I am among those that have done it and SUCCEEDED. I read the program and when I started I had to tweak it just a little for my goals because it was a little too easy. That was only because I wasn't going from the couch though, I just wanted to be able to jog more than a 1/4 mile. I can easily jog 2 miles in about 25 minutes now. I have also gone an hour but I only do that once per week. I make sure to jog a mile every day though. It makes you feel so good when you do it, don't quit, and then before you know it your a JOGGER! I was one of those who never thought in a million years I would be able to jog for an entire hour but here I am!

And Michelle I would be careful not to go until your so out of breath. Just go until your almost out and then walk. You don't want to over do it. Sometimes I do the same thing and then end up coughing too. I used to smoke and when I cough that is what I taste. You don't smoke I hope. As for the shoes. I have soreness in my arch a lot too. If you take a belt and put it on your toes and stretch really good it usually helps. I also invested in Rykas for women. They are heavenly shoes and I would reccommend them to any woman who walks or runs a lot. If you can get a good sale too they arent too bad price wise.

Original Post by meeshellmabell:

questions for those of you who are now runners - I have been doing my own c25k at the gym (run until I am sucking so much air I think I am going to die) (or the people around me do) then walk a few, then run again... it gets better  but any how, my questions are being otherwise healthy I end up coughing quite a bit later in the day  )irritated my lungs? did anyone else have this issue in the begining?

sounds like you may have exercise-induces asthma.  i do, and i cough a little during, and a lot after a run, especially when the air is very dry.  tell you doctor about it; you can get an inhaler that will fix you right up.  as you get fitter, you'll need to use it less and less.

congratulations on sticking with it!

pgeorgian - not a smoker for several years now -  when I cough it is actually hours later - kinda like when you laugh too hard and end up coughing (do you do that?)  I dont think I go too far, I can still walk and get back to jogging in about 2 minutes - so I think I am okay - just wanted to make sure I am on the norm side of getting in the groove - I actually feel good about this which cracks me up because I could never imagine it! I am 5'4" and size 16-18 - ahhh sweet memories of an 8... I think I can get it back! I can already feel tighter in my legs and tummy just from a week of this - and I feel stronger and proud of my self - hubby wants me to wait until he gets home to go the gym with him and it is driving me nuts waiting!! :)  I will stretch my toes first and see if that helps -- thanks!! 

Michelle

carlinj and pgeorg... I got you both now - I think when I first looked at the posts I just saw one... so thank you both! and perhaps you are onto something there pgeorgian - as I said, I dont cough while exercising, but if I exercise hard I will have a slightly productive cough for the evening - and same if I have a very hard laugh over something. Doesn't make me want to quit my new found love and my desire to get to the point of just jogging straight though without having to stop and walk :)

Soon...

Well I have just completed 2 week 4 workouts. While I wont say it was easy, the previous workouts really helped prepare me for it. I actually started just walking a few weeks before I started the C25K program. I could hardly run for 15 seconds when I started. I ended up doing week one twice. I tell you what though when I finished my week 4 workouts it was awesome! I felt so good.

I guess what I am saying is that if it is to much... keep at it and do what you can, because eventually you will work up to the full workout. I think there are other versions too that are like 13 weeks or something.

I'll let you know when I finish!

Audrey

Audrey