C25K- week 5, day 3-UPDATED!!!!!

Posts: 76
8/21/11 1:55 A

Well done!

I've only done week 5 day 3 a few days ago too. I was so worried that it was too much of a jump, so I went at a snail's pace too (probably could have walked it ), but I did it. I figure it's better to work on the endurance first, and speed comes later. By the time I finish C25K I'll probably only be running 3.5k in 30 minutes, maybe 4k if I really push it, so I'll be working on speed after that.

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8/20/11 6:32 P

That is AWESOME!!! :)

I knew you could do it! It looks a lot scarier than it ends up being I think.

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8/20/11 12:51 P

OK- I am proud to report that I did it!! I ran the straight 20 minutes, (at a snail's pace, but hey!) and I am still alive to give you this report.

Thank you all for the encouragement! It helped a ton...I kept it in my mind the whole time..it truly makes a difference.

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8/15/11 1:41 P

Great advice- thank you!

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8/13/11 10:56 P

I used C25k about a year ago and found several of the progressions caused me worry. Then I did the Bridge to 10k. Worries again on some of the progressions.

Now I'm doing a similar program to get a better 10k time. Same thing with the worry from time to time.

This seems to be a part of running. The dread of "can I do this" or "what if I get hurt" or "what if I come in last place".

I've learned to not obsess and just keep going!

Jeff

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8/13/11 9:19 P

I can run 30+ minutes straight now. I'm not fast, but I can do it. If I can, you can too!

When I run my next race, I may try to warm up a bit more, as I must admit it takes me a good 5+ minutes for my body to get running and moving correctly, too!

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8/13/11 9:27 A

Again- you guys are awsome! thank you for all of the encouragement!! :)

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8/12/11 12:56 P

I agree with Michael. It takes my body a good 10 minutes to realize what I'm asking it to do, then it starts cooperating. :) And I found later as I was running more often, it was harder on my heart to stop and take walking breaks. It was easier to just slow down my pace and jog slower if I needed a "break".

Can't wait to hear how it goes next Friday!

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8/12/11 12:08 P

When I saw that the first time, I just about freaked out. It isn't so bad though.

Honestly, I find that the first ten minutes of any run are the hardest. After that, I don't know if endorphins kick in or what, but it gets easier after that.

I've been told (by people who do not run) that this is impossible and that the second 10 minutes can't possibly be easier than the first, but I've heard from folks who do run that they have experienced it. I found out that if I can run for 10 minutes, I can run for 30. The longest I have ever ran was for one hour, and even on those runs, the first ten minutes was the challenge.

You can do it. Give it your best and pace yourself. There's nothing wrong with going slow.

Best wishes,
Michael

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8/12/11 11:05 A

I plan to do "the BIG RUN" next Friday as that will be my day 3 of week 5....I will let you all know how it went and will probably blog about it :)
Keeping a record of my achievements via blogging has been motivational for me...it's fun to see how far I have come.

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8/12/11 9:30 A

The last time I did C25K that run scared me too- but I did it!! At that point, so much of it is mental. Once we know we can do that 20 minute run, more and more becomes possible!

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8/12/11 7:56 A

Check back in next week and let us know how you do.

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8/12/11 7:36 A

How did it go?

To all who repeat the program- how does it go, easier the next time you do it, or do you speed the pace at each week?

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8/12/11 5:40 A

I have repeated the program 3 times and the first long run always freaked me out...slow and steady...you will have no problem.

Posts: 247
8/11/11 2:03 P

What great comments and encouragement- thank you all!! I am glad to hear that it went better than thought.

I hope it goes as well for me. I will give it my all!

Posts: 342
8/11/11 1:34 P

Just give it a try at a slow and steady pace. You might surprise yourself. Making it through that first 20 minute run is so empowering, don't sell yourself short. If you do need to take a walk break, don't worry about it. It's perfectly fine to repeat weeks if you need to. You're still doing a lot better than all those people who never left the couch.

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8/11/11 1:15 P

This morning I completed Week 5, Day 3, and it was not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I was terrified leading up to it. But I did it!! (my blog spells all the details out - lol)

I had two pretty scary hills to climb during that 20 minutes too - one at the beginning, and one at the end - and I survived!

You can do it!! You'll be surprised at how far you can go.

Next week will be back to some shorter intervals (8 and 10 min I think?) then a 25 minute run on day 3. I'm not nearly as afraid of that one as I was of the one this morning because I have proved to myself that I am stronger than I thought.

Good luck!! Don't psych yourself out - just start the run and do your best. I bet you'll surprise yourself too!

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8/11/11 12:02 P

That is a big jump. I started running several months ago, loosely following the C25K program. I had to adjust some of the intervals a bit because I felt like I was just pushing myself too hard. I am up to jogging 3 miles at an 11 min/mi pace. I can do an 8 minute jog / 2 minute walk interval, but I find that I get better times if I do a 4min/1min interval.

I think the biggest point of the program is to always push yourself to improve. If you can't make the preset intervals they have, no sweat, adjust and keep chugging. I started jogging at around 260lbs and it has really helped to burn up the pounds. Not to mention my knees actually feel better & my stamina is greatly improved. Good luck!

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8/11/11 11:07 A

I started running with the C25K program a year and a half ago, and let me tell you, that 20 minute run freaked me out too!! I was over 200 lbs when I started the program, so I was carry extra weight too.

But something very crazy happened.

I remember the first 5 weeks being really really tough. I had a hard time keeping up with all the run intervals. A lot of workouts, I'd have to walk the last run interval because I was exhausted. But when that 20 minute workout arrived, something clicked!

I started out nice and steady, not too fast, and about 5 minutes into the run, I realized I was going to do the entire 20 minutes, and I did! After that, the rest of the workouts were still challenging, but not impossible.

You tackle that 20 minutes, Girl! Just start off nice and easy, jog a good steady pace, make sure you keep your shoulders down and relaxed, and breath nice and deeply.

Good luck!

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8/11/11 9:53 A

I have to admit that i did not follow this program. Does it say what speed/pace you should attempt?

if not, then maybe just running, but at a slow pace, will show you have far you've come and give you some confidence for the next phase in the program?

Good luck- you can do more than you think!

Posts: 247
8/11/11 9:51 A

Oh my goodness- the plan says you are to run for 20 minutes straight this day or two miles with NO WALKING!!

I think it's crazy to try to take ME from running 8 minutes with no walking to 20 the next day.

Did anyone else go from 8 minutes to 20 minutes the next day with no problems?

I am curently on week 4, day 3 tomorrow. I read up on next week's plan and just about fell over. I had to add a few days on certain weeks along the way and I am starting to feel like another few days added is coming soon.

I am seriously starting from the "couch" with lots of extra weight.
I am trying not to panick..lol.

Edited by: JLSPARKLES at: 8/20/2011 (12:49)