Couch-To-5k Motivational Thread

Hey everyone!
So, i set this up mainly for those in my weight loss challenge, but anyone (runner or run-phobic) can join up for extra motivation to get out there and move!

Here is a link to the website for C25K:
http://www.c25k.com/

Which also has pod casts for Ipods which will tell you when to start and stop jogging/running.
But, you can count in your head if you don't have an ipod, or you can just set small distances.
Perhaps, run to the next letterbox, then walk for two?
Or, run to the next power line if you live in the country like me! lol.

And here is a link to the program... I find its good to print it out and keep it on your wall, then you can put a tick on the runs when you have completed them:
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.s html

I will be running on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and plan to begin next Monday (7th July) because i like the "orderly-ness" of starting on a Monday lol.

However, feel free to start which ever day you like!

Everyone needs motivation to work out sometimes :) so lets support each other to reach our goals!
Happy running everyone!

Today was the second day I dragged my lazy butt out of bed and went for a jog while it was still cool outside, yay!  Hopefully I can keep this up...

You guys say I shouldn't run more than 4 times a week - now my question is, would it be a bad idea to make those four days Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and then take Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off?

I am NOT a role model, but I jog dang near every day of the week.

Sounds like a plan to me, carrie.............

carrie, even though you should let your legs rest inbetween, i suppose it should be ok. Dunno tho, I'm not an expert!

Right, i did walk 2 mins, run 4 mins yesterday. wow. 34 minutes.

Tomoz is a big one that I'm not looking forward too becuase i know I am gonna have to seriously PUSH myself hard!

walk 2 mins, run five mins. So.... that'll be different, we'll see how I cope with that one becuase If i find it too hard then I'll more than likely repeat it another week.

I would spread it out a little bit more - your body needs recovery time from the running for the muscles to heal and thus grow (as you probably know exercise results in micro tears in the muscle, these are repaired and healed and that increases muscle mass), if you run every day or on consecutive days your body can't do this and so you won't feel the benefits as much. A couple of days consecutive is fine but you need a break somewhere in the middle and a day off or two after your long run. I go Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, sometimes Saturday, and Sunday. Olivia, jogging every day is not giving you adequate rest time. That's not to say you can't do cross training on those rest days (I go kickboxing, do weights, yoga and swim when I can or go for a bike ride).

The other thing is that if you over do it, especially at the start, you are very likely to end up with an injury that stops all exercise (and so weight loss) or losing your motivation early on.

Hey guys, I just have a quick question...I have very very flat feet and I think some my moderate ankle/achilles tendon pain is coming from overpronation (thankfully it goes away in a day or so and seems to be lessening as I continue to run)...anyway, does anyone know a good pair of shoes that offer stability or motion control that isn't insanely expensive?

Hope everyone has a great day and enjoys their run/swim/bike ride...whatever!

Julie

Tried something new today. 

Realized I have maybe never jogged without a dog along.   Did one of my normal loops today alone, and boy, was that weird.   Then I took the Sugar dog too and that felt better.  LOL  --  I am addicted to my doggie. 

I am varying the intensity and distance almost every day, I do ride the bike too, and I use J;s Bowlfex, so hopefully I am getting enough variety.  ( :

Okay...so my right ankle/achilles (how do you spell that anyway?!?!) really hurt when I tried to jog today so I ended up doing some very vigorous walking (5 mins at 3.5mph/20 at 4/5 at 4.5...I did 1.97 miles in 30 minutes...is that good enough to build the endurance I need to sustain a 20-25 minute jog/run by October?  I'm a bit upset with myself for not being able to actually jog today...I've got to get a really good pair of shoes.

Olivia...I bet your doggie is addicted to you too...so sad being left alone while you jogged!  Have a great day.

Julie

miss julie!!!  GET NEW SHOES!!!!   (Asics rock!)  I thnk just keep working at it.  Did you get a good stretch before trying the jog this morning??  

I know!  she was sad when I left but overjoyed when I came back and took her after.   ( :

Julie, I wear Brooks Addiction 6's. I have pretty flat feet and all that. Try out the newer Addictions and see how you like them. I got my 6's for about $70, but the new ones might be a bit over $100. I find them well worth it. Just letting you know - motion control shoes tend to be the most inflexible...and heavy. 10-12 oz. - which doesn't sound like much, but 12 oz. on both feet for every stride could take getting used to.

Everyone talks about Asics, but try them for yourself. Not everyone is going to like them. I'm personally biased towards New Balance, but never we mind.

I'm about to do W5D3 tomorrow, but I think I'm coming down with a cold. Should I just run through it or rest?

*bows in deference*

I like New Balance too.  Just like my Asics from the supinator part of my feet!

Oh and goddess--  listen to the body on the to run or not to run question!!  ( :

Original Post by olivia77:

*bows in deference*

I like New Balance too.  Just like my Asics from the supinator part of my feet!

Oh and goddess--  listen to the body on the to run or not to run question!!  ( :

Ah, I just meant that everyone's feet is different. :) I know that supinators tend to like Asics because they're really cushion-y, but since Julie and I are blessed/cursed with flat feet, that would cause arch pain! I know there are some Asics with motion control...look into them, Julie!

I'm jealous of those with high arches. I'd like a flexible, light trainer! :P

Thanks! I think I'm going to take it easy and see how I feel tomorrow morning. I really just want to get the 20 minute jog behind me so I know I have done it before! ^^

Keep going everyone!

I hope everyone is doing okay! And enjoying thier runs.

I can't wait to get out tomoz, hopefully the weather will be a little nicer too! It's been raining ALL day here. Horrible. Luckily it's not a running day today. :D

boogy inside to fun old music, lozzle!

I hear you, goddess. running shoes are VERY personal!  ( :

I caught an hour without rain, so, did the walk. My dog hates walking in the rain, he always tries to head back for home, so that was good. :)

Looking outside though, looks like teh rain is gonna come hard - there is one seriously dark cloud hovering over. LOL.

I did my walk/jog yesterday, but couldn't muster the whole 3.1 miles. I did the W6D1 but I was running out of steam so I had to quit right after the program end. Hopefully tomorrow it will be a lot better. Decided to do some weights instead right after to strengthen the legs.

Ah, I miss having a dog to walk with. My current apartment would not let me. :(

Hope everyone has a great run.

Hi all, I'm new to CC, but I started the Couch to 5K program this spring! It sounds like everyone is doing really well with it. When I started, I *never* thought I would be able to make it to 30 minute runs all at once. The first time I did the 20 minute solid run, I had the biggest grin on my face - before that, I don't think I'd ever even run 10 minutes without stopping. I usually run on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

So now I am up to whatever week the 28-minute run is (I've been progressing slowly, doing each week's plan for 2 or 3 weeks), but I had to stop for a week because I tore up my knee (from falling during a run, of all things). Well, now I am having the hardest time getting back to the 28 minute runs! I can usually only run the first half and then I need to go back to a walk.

Has anyone else run into this issue? Should I just keep trying to build back up to the 28 minute run, or should I continue to berate myself for not being able to do something that I could do a couple weeks ago ? I guess I'm just looking for some motivation because I'm feeling a bit discouraged about it.

Mj - just take it slowly, you don't want to agrivate your knee further. you're doing great as you are, but you don't want to push yourself too hard that you hurt your knee. :)

Talked one of my neighbors into joining me tomorrow morning. We're starting at 5:15 am central time. We'll go slowly, because he can't jog or run. He is very heart rate limited due to arrhythmia. I'm going to try to do interval jogs for as long as I can by running out and back to meet him. So I'm laying out a 2.6+ mi route so I should actually cover over 3 miles. I use the street lights as markers. My guess is that they are .05 mi apart. My last run on Tue I did two of them in about 40 seconds without my hr getting to high. I'm hoping that I can jog longer this time, although it may take longer to build up to being able to jog longer.

MJ - I feel for you. I have to take it slow as well. For different reasons, but still a go slower than the full c2k approach.

good going bobev!!!  let us know how it goes!

I went for a 45 min bike ride yesterday to get my blood pumping a bit in preparation for starting my early-morning running routine again on monday.  whee!  im excited to run run RUN!

Good job everyone.

So, today was walk 2, run five. I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!

IT WASN'T EVEN THAT HARD!!!!!!!!!!!!