# C25k--come run with us
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [October 27, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802 "2008-10-27T18:12:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/1 "2008-10-27T18:12:33Z")
Our [previous thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=483342) was getting giant-sized and maybe intimidating for newcomers, so here’s a new thread dedicated to Dopers who want to try the [Couch-to-5k running program](http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml). Go from sedentary to running a 5k in 9 weeks, give or take a few.
I’m on Week 6, and if I can do it, so can you. Seriously.
So, come on in, the running’s fine!
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### Author:  [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/2 "2008-10-27T18:14:45Z")
I did couch to 5k last fall, and completed my first ever 5k in November of last year. I just finished the Columbus 1/2 Marathon last weekend! I’m in the best shape I’ve been in since high school, and it all started with the C25k program.
Good luck to all of you who are getting started!
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### Author:  [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/3 "2008-10-27T19:16:25Z")
From the previous thread:
> [@C25k (Couch-to-5K) starting week of 9/21--who's in?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/744):
>
> **Nutty Bunny** , do you think you might be having a little “post-marathon let-down”? I’ve built up this “run 20 minutes no walking” thing in my head to the point where I’m a little bit afraid I might lose my motivation once I’ve done it - like, I took that hill, everything else seems more like little increments, what more do ya want? And since I’m about to go out and do it… anyway, do you think that might be a factor?
Yes, I think that’s part of it. The other part is that I didn’t feel the transition from 3 minutes to 8 minutes was nearly as difficult as the one from 8 to 20 minutes. After about 10 minutes, I thought “I’m only halfway through the 20 minutes?” and my next thought was how am I going to 40 minutes at once, since my speed for a 5k will not be any better than that, I fear.
I’ve had to skip 3 days in a row. With the colonoscopy today and back pain for a couple of days, I have to wait until tomorrow to run again. I think I’ll rerun Day 1 of Week 6 and see how it goes. I’m also going to cut out alcohol and modify my diet and see if I feel any better physically, which will keep me motivated, I think.
> [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](#):
>
> I did couch to 5k last fall, and completed my first ever 5k in November of last year. I just finished the Columbus 1/2 Marathon last weekend! I’m in the best shape I’ve been in since high school, and it all started with the C25k program.
What you’ve just posted helps so much. It’s exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you!
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### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/4 "2008-10-27T19:44:09Z")
> [@Nutty\_Bunny](#):
>
> I’ve had to skip 3 days in a row. With the colonoscopy today and back pain for a couple of days, I have to wait until tomorrow to run again.
Just want to point out to anyone planning on doing this program that the colonoscopy is not part of the deal.
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### Author:  [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/5 "2008-10-27T20:58:59Z")
Damn, I was looking forward to the colonoscopy.
I don’t really know what to call what I’m doing, here. I did Week 1 and Week 2 without any problem, but day one of Week 3 nearly killed me. I have dropped back to Week 2, and I’m going to continue to do it until I feel I can progress to the next week.
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### Author:  [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/6 "2008-10-27T21:06:23Z")
I also will mention that my knee feels like burning death due to the weather (drizzly and rainy) but I’m pressing on.
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### Author:  [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/7 "2008-10-27T21:17:07Z")
Be careful of that knee. I haven’t run for a week (a week!) because it got to the point where both my knees were just filled with outrage and pain.I’m going to try to get back out this Friday, but I’m not sure if I should pick up where I left off (Week 9 Day 2) or move back a week.
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### Author:  [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/8 "2008-10-27T21:40:36Z")
I hobbled around for almost 2 weeks. The knee pain gets better.
_this is me subscribing to this thread too so I don’t miss anything._ 😉
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### Author:  [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/9 "2008-10-27T22:01:25Z")
Every time I go to to do Week 5 Day 3, I’m crippled with leg cramps.
Dammit, I _will_ do this today. :mad:
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### Author:  [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/10 "2008-10-28T01:02:02Z")
I guess I should mention, I did an extra 2 minutes run during my ‘cool down’ time, then walked the two minutes longer. So I know that I can run at least two minutes without death, and in a few days I’ll try for three, then five, independent of the plan.
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### Author:  [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2008, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/11 "2008-10-28T01:12:52Z")
I believe I have been infected with some kind of madness, perhaps fungal in nature. I did week 5 day 3 yesterday, and I had today off for weird circumstances. Intended to go absentee-vote-in-person, saw the line around the block, went home, and almost had to physically restrain myself from running another 20 minutes! Even remembering how much it sucked! I had to keep telling myself that the program scales back for a few days and has rest periods for a reason, and that I’d regret it if I tried it, and that you only get better at it when you’re not running, etc., etc., etc. There’s definitely something wrong with my brain, because when I’m actually doing it I hate the hell out of it.
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### Author:  [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/12 "2008-10-28T02:32:00Z")
I had planned on doing another W5D1 today, but when the time came to walk after 5 minutes, I decided to see if I could to the 8. I did it. And then did it again. 🙂 I really don’t feel like I can do D3 yet, so I’ll do another D2 on Wed then see how I feel about D3 on Friday. I had to talk myself into going to the gym tonight, but rewarded myself with a wee slice of cheesecake that my boyfriend bought me for my birthday. Yes, I’m home alone with an entire cheesecake. This could be bad…
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### Author:  [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/13 "2008-10-28T02:59:09Z")
I Frakkin’ finally did it! Week 4 day 1. I’ve been trying for 2 weeks to make it through. I did the whole thing with no cheating… at 5.6 MPH no less.
My only variation was that the program calls for runs of 3-5-3-5… I found it easier to do 5-3-5-3. Between the run and my shot, I feel like dead man walking. Just took a couple of advil though, so I know I’ll feel good soon.
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### Author:  [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/14 "2008-10-28T03:08:05Z")
Yay **Fugazi**! I got my speed up tonight to about 3.8 mph so you are smoking me!
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### Author:  [@svrider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svrider)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2008, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/15 "2008-10-28T06:58:26Z")
> [@Zsofia](#):
>
> almost had to physically restrain myself from running another 20 minutes! Even remembering how much it sucked!
I’m with you! 3 months ago, I hated running, but today I soo wish I could run everyday, maybe even two times a day.
It’s addicting! 🙂
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### Author:  [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2008, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/16 "2008-10-28T10:52:10Z")
> [@Queen\_Bruin](#):
>
> Dammit, I _will_ do this today. :mad:
I almost made it: at 10min I had to take a break and stretch and walk it out for a minute or so. I was able to continue just fine after that, even sprinting a bit as my husband drove in from work. I’m unsure whether I should go on to week 6 or not. Opinions?
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### Author:  [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2008, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/17 "2008-10-28T11:42:10Z")
Are any of you still doing the push up challenge? I thought about y’all last week during my torture/work-out routine. The teacher had us do 100 pushups, in 4 sets of 25, mixed in with 4 minutes of planks (1 minute each, four of them).
I did them (knees on the mat, though)!! In fact, I was the one yelling and keeping count, lest she decide to torture us more with extra push-ups.
Thankfully she doesn’t repeat the same work-out every week. OTOH, that fact always have me dreading what is her evil plan for that day.
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### Author:  [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2008, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/18 "2008-10-28T13:30:43Z")
> [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](#):
>
> Be careful of that knee. I haven’t run for a week (a week!) because it got to the point where both my knees were just filled with outrage and pain.I’m going to try to get back out this Friday, but I’m not sure if I should pick up where I left off (Week 9 Day 2) or move back a week.
Where do your knees hurt? If it’s on the outside of both knees, then you probably have inflamed your IT Bands. If this is the case, you should be icing them, taking ibuprofen, and–if the pain doesn’t subside–scheduling an appointment with a sports med doctor.
I would also recommend getting [http://www.thestick.com/](http://www.thestick.com/)
I have major IT Band problems, and believe me–you do not want to ignore that problem!
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### Author:  [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2008, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/19 "2008-10-28T13:59:52Z")
> [@Zsofia](#):
>
> There’s definitely something wrong with my brain, because when I’m actually doing it I hate the hell out of it.
Me, too. Yesterday, hurting after trying to run on this one gravel trail, out of breath, tired, sweaty and a wee bit spooked due to running in the woods alone, as I got to my car, I thought–hell, let’s go again.
WTF is wrong with me? I’ll be running my “short” run tomorrow around the neighborhood. Hoping to do 1.9 miles.
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### Author:  [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802/20 "2008-10-28T15:55:28Z")
**Moi** and I did Week 4 Day 1 today. It was 43 degrees, which is a mite nippy for these parts. I felt good about it and felt like I could go further. I’ll pick up the pace for Day 2.
I’m still working on the pushup challenge, but not as hardcore. I suck at pushups and improvement has been slow.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-come-run-with-us/469802.md?page=2)