# C25k (Couch-to-5K) starting week of 9/21--who's in? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 14, 2008, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600 "2008-09-14T21:16:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 31
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/601 "2008-10-13T14:11:12Z")
> [@svrider](#): > > I ran my first 5K after completing the C25K yesterday. I finished with a time of 29:35. Not bad for someone who almost couldn’t run for a minute 2 months ago. Fantastic! Congratulations! Now I know for sure there is hope for me to finish this. I was supposed to get up this morning and run, but the body was having none of that after I stayed up till midnight last night. (I had a lot of TV to catch up on. :p) Will run tonight. I promise. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/602 "2008-10-13T14:56:26Z")
Being as I got off of the damned couch yesterday, on Thanksgiving day (Canadian), and RAN, I think I’m going to reward myself (?!) by doing a day four and perhaps even day five of week two before I go on to week three. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/603 "2008-10-13T16:32:37Z")
> [@svrider](#): > > I ran my first 5K after completing the C25K yesterday. I finished with a time of 29:35. Not bad for someone who almost couldn’t run for a minute 2 months ago. Wow, right now I can’t imagine this. Congratulations! Week one, day one. running is nothing, _absolutely nothing_ like walking ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Contrary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/604 "2008-10-13T16:37:29Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > running is nothing, _absolutely nothing_ like walking ☹ It’s better because it’s over faster 😃 Five Kleenex run today and hurrah, I brought all five! ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/605 "2008-10-13T18:37:24Z")
> [@svrider](#): > > I ran my first 5K after completing the C25K yesterday. I finished with a time of 29:35. Not bad for someone who almost couldn’t run for a minute 2 months ago. That is very inspiring. It’s really good to hear that from someone who was a beginner like the rest of us here. Congratulations! > [@jsgoddess](#): > > There’s no shame in repeating a week, but I would advise anyone considering it to go ahead and try the next week. If it doesn’t go well, no harm no foul right? And if you make it through you’ll be very pleased. I completely agree with this. I tried Week 4 after considering redoing Week 3 and found I had no reason to and it was easier than I expected. ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/606 "2008-10-13T19:34:48Z")
I AM AWESOME!! I just completed Week 8 Day 1, and it felt _good_. No, seriously, whenever I ran before (especially last week), I was all achey and tired and huffing and puffing during the run, but today for some reason it was all falling into place! I even had a faster pace than usual. And this was _with_ the steep-ass, slippery hill that leads into the forest preserve (a portion I just decided to add in). I think part of it was the podcast (a very nice music selection this week, whereas last week’s really did suck), part of it was I listened to another song before starting the podcast and by doing so, my warm-up walk was more than 5 minutes. I think a third part, however, is that my body is finally resigning itself to the running, and has decided to make the most of it. Yay me! On a side note, it seems like a lot of people found Week 3 to be very hard. Well, I started with Week 5, so Week 7 was my third week, and I found it really difficult as well. Maybe it’s just something about this temporal point in the program that makes the running seem like an ordeal, even though people may be running different times/distances. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/607 "2008-10-13T19:45:33Z")
> [@Nutty\_Bunny](#): > > I completely agree with this. I tried Week 4 after considering redoing Week 3 and found I had no reason to and it was easier than I expected. ☹ not me. Gave week 4 day 1 a try today. Just couldn’t get through it. I cheated a bit on the 1st 5 min run, with a 10 sec rest in there. The 2nd 5 min run however, was a no go. On a brighter note: those 3 min runs don’t seem quite so bad anymore. What I’m going to do for the rest of this week is week 3.5 I’m going to do 4, 3 min runs. Next week I’ll try week 4 again. I’ve been working out now for about 2 1/2 months, and I think I’ve reached a “fitness plateau”. (at least I hope it’s a plateau and not a peak because my fitness still isn’t where I want to be). Up until the last couple of weeks, I’ve been able to slowly increase my workouts… time, distance, speed, resistance.. whatever. But the last couple of weeks I haven’t been able to increase, it’s all I can do not to regress. I’ll keep plugging away though, I’ll break through eventually. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/608 "2008-10-13T19:51:27Z")
> [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](#): > > I AM AWESOME!! I just completed Week 8 Day 1, and it felt _good_. No, seriously, whenever I ran before (especially last week), I was all achey and tired and huffing and puffing during the run, but today for some reason it was all falling into place! I even had a faster pace than usual. And this was _with_ the steep-ass, slippery hill that leads into the forest preserve (a portion I just decided to add in). Hooray for 1-2 3-4-5! ---
**Author:** ![Contrary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/609 "2008-10-13T20:05:34Z")
> [@Fugazi](#): > > I’ll keep plugging away though, I’ll break through eventually. You absolutely will. I first tried C25k a few years ago and failed miserably. Then I approached my fitness through a different route, taking up Pilates and then yoga. I added in aerobics about two years ago and got bored when the weather got nice. So I figured I would try running again, and just go until I needed to walk, lather, rinse, repeat. Now I run 4.2 miles three days a week (damn straight I count the point two 😉 ) and do strength training three days a week. So I completely agree with you–it’s really mostly just getting out there and doing it. I’m most definitely not a fabulous athlete but I’m pretty fit now and I do think it’s because I just kept plugging away at it and quit so much worrying about doing it “right.” ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/610 "2008-10-14T00:59:06Z")
Well, I did the dreaded week 4 day 1. (I didn’t plan on it today - it was really dark this morning so I didn’t want to do it without a reflective vest or something, but I was having dinner at my mom’s and got a call from my alarm company that there was an alarm event - it was nothing, but I thought the cops had already been there so I checked out the house, and then came out and they were just showing up - no signs of forced entry, but you know. So I had all this extra energy and I went running by myself at night like a moron. I did tell people I was going, though.) It was… not great, but I did it. It helped, I think, that I made my own music track for this one and I put the most motivating stuff in the last five minutes (Sex Bomb and Dancing With Myself, if you’re curious.) That did help. I’m not saying it’s easy, but it’s very possible. Honestly, I think the weeks get easier as you do the days, but you don’t notice it. I think that in my brain in the heat of the moment, today was probably as hard as the first day of week 3. There were times when I had to look down to make sure I was still actually running instead of walking, but I didn’t stop and I didn’t walk and I was actually a little surprised when “Dancing With Myself” became “Bring On the Wonder”, which was my cue to cool down. So my advice is to _don’t not try week 4_. Week 5, I guess we’ll all have this same conversation all over again. 🙂 ETA - and my dad said “Hey, you’ve lost weight!” at dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/611 "2008-10-14T01:29:12Z")
In the morning. I promise to go in the morning. After work tonight I just didn’t have the energy and I was hungry. I made supper instead. ---
**Author:** ![Kerrigan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/49beb7/32.png) [@Kerrigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kerrigan)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/612 "2008-10-14T01:36:51Z")
Week, 3, Day 1 finished. And it’s a good thing I have this thread to hold me accountable… Because I really don’t want to do that again! Oh, the stitches. All over. But I did it, all the way. I bet this won’t be one of those weeks where I finish my 3 days early in the week. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/613 "2008-10-14T03:05:08Z")
Okay. So I’ve been skimming this thread since it started and trying to motivate myself to do it. Today was week 1 day 1 for me. As always, late to the party. I’ve even challenged one of my friends to do it as well, and she has taken up the gauntlet. I’ve weighed in and taken all of my measurements. One question, if I may, and sorry if this has been covered and I missed it, but is it okay to do aerobics and/or lifting dumbells on the days off? I don’t want to overdo it, but I want maximum results. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/614 "2008-10-14T03:26:05Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > One question, if I may, and sorry if this has been covered and I missed it, but is it okay to do aerobics and/or lifting dumbells on the days off? I don’t want to overdo it, but I want maximum results. Welcome! I’d say just don’t run on the days off. Otherwise, whatever you feel up to doing. I was going to do day-off pushups. I kinda haven’t been doing that. There should be a sheepish smiley. Fugazi, Kerrigan, I know exactly how you both feel. Ow! 🙂 Everyone else, way to go! ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/615 "2008-10-14T13:27:07Z")
Well I knew something like this would happen. Yesterday was my day of rest and I had the worse menstrual cramps I’ve ever had. I packed my gym bag last night hoping that I would feel better today, but I don’t. So if I don’t improve by the afternoon, I might have to have 2 days in between. I don’t want to lose my motivation or the endurance I’ve gained, but I feel awful today. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/616 "2008-10-14T13:31:02Z")
Well, it’s probably better to take a few extra days off if you need them than to have a really disappointing run. Success breeds success and all that. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/617 "2008-10-14T14:52:57Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Well, it’s probably better to take a few extra days off if you need them than to have a really disappointing run. Success breeds success and all that. ☹ I wish I could have taken a day off. Had a terrible run this morning. Tired; could only do 4:1’s, didn’t run for 20 minutes (ran for 18). I am getting tired of it not getting better. I did run 1.9–that’s just going to be my base run from now on. I’m disappointed in myself. I have stopped swearing at myself and calling me names in my head, though-that made for a fun last few minutes. :rolleyes: And I did 10 “push-ups” (can’t go all the way down) once I got home. Ain’t much; t’will have to serve. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/618 "2008-10-14T15:26:00Z")
Am I the only one who doing physical activity and moving around actually improves whatever she may feel from period (I don’t get a lot, anyways)? Not only that, but I’m on my best shape (faster, stronger, resistant) during those days. Then it all comes crashing down as soon as it is over. ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/619 "2008-10-14T15:33:24Z")
Well, I find that when I work out on a regular basis, my periods are shorted and less crampy. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/620 "2008-10-14T17:00:26Z")
> [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](#): > > Well, I find that when I work out on a regular basis, my periods are shorted and less crampy. Spoiler box for TMI: I wish this were a normal period, but I haven’t had one since my D&C 3 months ago, when I was diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia and I’ve had severe cramping for over 24 hours with no flow yet. The ‘lying flat on my back on a heating pad, softly weeping’ kind of cramping that I had in my high school days. Plus, my current gyno is retiring next week and I have to see someone brand new today. I was lucky to get a canceled appointment at least. My retiring gyno is conservative about treatments and I’m afraid this new one will say I need a hysterectomy. I just hope it’s nothing serious and I’ll be running tomorrow. That way, I’ll only have missed 2 days. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600.md?page=32)