Started Couch to 5k today :)

Hello everyone, I am new to Calorie Count, just joined a few days ago to help lose about 30-40 pounds.  Today I started the Couch to 5K program from Cool Running.  Has anyone else done this?  I am pretty out of shape, so day 1 wasn't easy, but I finished:) 

If anyone else is doing C25k or wants to start with me, maybe we can enourage each other along the way...

~Marcie

I did a program very similar to that, and discovered I LOVE running! Lots of folks around here have done it or are doing it, so you should have no problem finding company.

Just be aware that the program may progress too quickly for you to keep up, particularly in a few weeks.  It did for me.  Don't hesitate to repeat a week before moving on, if you have trouble, but persist, and you can do it.

Thats funny, I'm starting today as well. We should post after we do each day and share our experiences, I think it will be nice to have someone to kind of do it with. Plus it will give me extra motivation

Well I was going to abbreviate your name but it looked like I was calling you names!  So, whoroscope, I'm glad to have found someone who is on the same timeframe :)  I did the first one yesterday (Sunday) and now I'm kind of anxious to do the next day... But I'll be waiting til tomorrow.  I was tired after doing it, but I felt better all day just knowing I had done something!  Good to meet you... Let me know how it goes...

Sharz-thanks for the encouragement :)  I hope I can say the same thing in about 9 weeks.

hey zz... i started c25k 3 weeks ago!  let me tell you, this is the first time in my life i've enjoyed running.  i agree that if a week seems stretching and you're just not ready for the next, repeat it.  that's what i'm doing right now for week 3!  good luck and keep us posted on how it's going. 

do you have a goal to run a 5k when you are done?

I finished c25k in Sept and ran my first runners club 5k yesterday. As many have found I can't believe how much I love running! At 62 you'd think I would have discovered it before now!

I found the first few weeks, ~4/5, to be the hardest. Body is adjusting and we're learning to listen to it, feel out our pace, learning to breathe etc. It took me awhile, after c25k, to finally nail a comfortable "run for ever" or "recovery pace". I used it yesterday after starting the 5k at a pace to fast to complete, backed down to  that pace, then picked it up with a 1/4-1/2 mi to go and was still accelerating at the finish. Felt great.

go slow and remember you are in control. Don't rush it and don't worry about repeating a week. The progressive conditioning is key to avoiding injury.

good luck to yas all! I look forward to hearing about you progress!

Original Post by jesmeeker:

hey zz... i started c25k 3 weeks ago!  let me tell you, this is the first time in my life i've enjoyed running.  i agree that if a week seems stretching and you're just not ready for the next, repeat it.  that's what i'm doing right now for week 3!  good luck and keep us posted on how it's going. 

do you have a goal to run a 5k when you are done?

I am going to do my final week 3 run tomorrow. It has been VERY tough for me so far. I think I am going to repeat this week, or at least do it one extra time before moving on to week 4. That final 3-minute run is rough!

Well, I am back finally... Computer issues, but I did do my second day of C25K yesterday.

I went a little faster than I did the first time I think, I ended up doing 1.5 miles in the 20 minutes plus an extra minute or so of walking... Feeling good about getting it done, my calves are super tight though.  I am definitely feeling those muscles.

How is everyone else doing now?

I think I am going to just go out every other day... Like this week do Week 1 for 4 days, then start Week 2 and do the 3 days, then 4 days for Week 3... 

Thanks for sharing your experiences everyone!