# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/101 "2008-09-21T16:18:56Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Yay! Did the first run about an hour ago and it went pretty well. My lower legs were definitely telling me about it by the end, but I made it. Congratulations! I’m feeling it in my thighs, not my lower legs, but definitely feeling it. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/102 "2008-09-21T17:17:06Z")
With regards to the treadmill incline thing, it might have to do with balance instead of just wind resistance. I recall reading in some running book that jogging outdoors was better than using a treadmill because compensating for various surfaces, external stuff helped to build one’s balance in a way treadmill running did not. Or something. Count me in for the couch to 5K, even though I’m not quite couch. I used to run, but I can never seem to start up again and maintain a consistent schedule. I do Tae-Bo, and I know I can go 14 minutes cold, so I think I’ll start with Week 5. I like tracking by time, mainly because I live in the city and my jogging route is a little crazy (I pass through 2 parks and a forest preserve). ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/103 "2008-09-21T18:03:26Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > I am bribing my daughter a bit to keep her on-board: new running shoes yesterday, and I told her if she sticks with it I’ll get her an iPod Nano for the runs. You are an evil genius! 😃 Can I participate in this thread even if I already finished C25K? I did my first interval run today, and ran a .25 mile interval at 2:14. The two intervals together evened out at 2:30. I didn’t know I was capable of running that fast (trust me–for me, it’s fast. I started out running 16 minute miles, and am now down to about 14 minute miles.) I am signed up for another 5K on October 12th (my 6 month running anniversary) and my goal is to beat my fastest pace/mile by 30 seconds. I’m going out to get my Garmin Forerunner today! I’ve wanted it for months. Now I’ll be able to track exact distance, pace, intervals, heart-rate, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/104 "2008-09-21T18:16:34Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > I’m going out to get my Garmin Forerunner today! I’ve wanted it for months. Now I’ll be able to track exact distance, pace, intervals, heart-rate, etc. While I’m possibly the world’s greatest advocate of the Garmin Forerunner (I honestly don’t know how I ever trained without mine), you should not expect _exact_ distance. There is a margin of error. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/105 "2008-09-21T18:31:10Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > While I’m possibly the world’s greatest advocate of the Garmin Forerunner (I honestly don’t know how I ever trained without mine), you should not expect _exact_ distance. There is a margin of error. Well, yeah. But more accurate than using GMAPS (um, I _think_ that’s the tree I stopped at…) And one HELL of a lot more accurate than the stupid #@&! Nike Plus. ---
**Author:** ![moi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@moi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moi)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/106 "2008-09-21T19:34:23Z")
So **tdc** mentioned this thread to me last night, and I wanted to say we’re tentatively “in.” Meaning, I’m tentative, and he’s making a playlist for tomorrow morning’s run as I type this. He likes running, but has icky knees. I probably ran a mile once in high school. We both would like to be more active and fit. I hope I don’t pass out tomorrow morning at 6:05 am. ---
**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:** [September 21, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/107 "2008-09-21T19:56:57Z")
Has anyone else started today? Some people didn’t say which days they were planning on. I want to be encouraging without anyone feeling I’m calling them out! ---
**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:** [September 21, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/108 "2008-09-21T19:58:15Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > Can I participate in this thread even if I already finished C25K? Absolutely! Cheerleaders, voices of experience, and general calls for/offers of support are extremely welcome. I consider all of the people who have finished to be my role models! ---
**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:** [September 21, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/109 "2008-09-21T21:42:06Z")
For those who have done this plan or any similar plans, what did you do on the off-days? ---
**Author:** ![svrider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@svrider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svrider)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/110 "2008-09-21T21:46:50Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > For those who have done this plan or any similar plans, what did you do on the off-days? I rest 🙂 I know many will do some other activities though, biking, elliptical trainer or similar. The important thing is to not run on the rest days, that is the fast road to injury. Even experienced runners will be cautionary when adding running days or mileage to their schedule. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/111 "2008-09-21T22:26:35Z")
Can I ask a completely idiotic, newbie, go-away-kid-ya-bother-me question? (Without being roundly mocked for it, I mean. :p) I’ve never done any running or jogging, partly because I’ve always heard that they’re terrible on the knees and ankles. Is that a function of bad shoes and too-hard surfaces, or is it an inevitable consequence? Also, what makes running a superior exercise over something else? ---
**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:** [September 21, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/112 "2008-09-21T22:42:49Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > Also, what makes running a superior exercise over something else? I’ll let someone more knowledgeable handle the injury question. What I like about running (this is mostly theory for me so far) is that it’s pretty portable, doesn’t require extremely specialized equipment, can scale up or down depending on fitness, and it just seems more _useful_ than most exercise (meaning that it can improve my ability to do other things that involve getting from A to B on my feet–like outrunning chainsaw-wielding maniacs!). ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/113 "2008-09-22T00:29:44Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > For those who have done this plan or any similar plans, what did you do on the off-days? Well… During the Christmas of 2006-2007 I realized I had gained some weight (after having been stable at the same weight for about 4 years)… So I signed in for aerobics and started walking more in the treadmill… Fast forward to this year, more aerobics, increased in running in the treadmill (I can do the mile in 8 mins if I use it), increased in using the weight machines… Doing good… So when I moved this summer to Athens, I started again from scratch. Since I couldn’t add aerobics for a month or so, I started the program. I’m now finished with week 7, I’ll start week 8 tomorrow. Like I said above, sometimes I run 4-5 times a week instead of the 3 it mentions. When I’m not running (and sometimes the same day that I’m running), I do: Aerobics (mostly interval training, body sculpting, abs, glutes, steps) BodyPump class (strength training, I’m slowly building up weight) Beginning belly dancing class (I’ve taken belly dancing on and off for the last 5 years, I hope to make it stick this time) Capoeira (I took it for 2 months 2 years ago… now I’m again taking it) And I rest when my body says “HELL NO!” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/114 "2008-09-22T01:03:03Z")
Okay, guys, I’m in again. I don’t know if I’ll actually get up early and DO it, but I’m downloading some of those specially done podcasts and I’m about to hunt up my running shoes. I’m telling myself I’ll be out there even if it rains. (If I don’t post tomorrow, be gentle and pretend I didn’t post tonight.) ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/115 "2008-09-22T01:36:10Z")
I went ahead and started last week, so I’m on week two now. Had no trouble with week one, but didn’t expect to–it was a hair below my current fitness level. I’m also doing this[six week one hundred pushups program](http://hundredpushups.com/about.html) if anyone wants to give that a go with me. Does anyone know of a website where we could all check in in an orderly fashion and keep track of our progress? There are so many fitness sites out there, there has to be something. I think I’d be better at sticking with this if people actually noticed if I skipped a workout. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/116 "2008-09-22T01:45:21Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > For those who have done this plan or any similar plans, what did you do on the off-days? Sometimes I ride my bike, but not with fitness in mind. I ride it to save gas and get errands done. And sometimes I just rest as well.. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/117 "2008-09-22T02:42:17Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > I think I’d be better at sticking with this if people actually noticed if I skipped a workout. Yeah, the single thread thing is a bit unwieldy, and I definitely don’t want to call out anyone who doesn’t want that close a tab kept on them. If anyone has suggestions, please holler! 100 pushups? Eek. I don’t think I can do _any_! ---
**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:** [September 22, 2008, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/118 "2008-09-22T02:53:05Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > 100 pushups? Eek. I don’t think I can do _any_! I lied. I can do five knee pushups. I’m in for the pushup program on my off days from running, so that’s MWF. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/119 "2008-09-22T10:19:02Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I lied. I can do five knee pushups. > > I’m in for the pushup program on my off days from running, so that’s MWF. Cool! I’ve got pretty decent upper body strength, I can do about 20 real pushups without stopping right now, so I’ve got a good start. I’m running MWF, pushups TThS. In a few weeks I plan on being absurdly in shape. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2008, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600/120 "2008-09-22T10:59:10Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > While I’m possibly the world’s greatest advocate of the Garmin Forerunner (I honestly don’t know how I ever trained without mine), you should not expect _exact_ distance. There is a margin of error. You can’t be the greatest advocate of the Forerunner - I am 😉 It is such a great tool. I use it with [MotionBased.com](http://MotionBased.com) and getting stuff like [this](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/kml/episode.kml?episodePkValues=6811675) (my 10km charity run on Sunday) out of it is awesome. It is so good to see how my pace and heart-rate relate as well. I have the 301 - bigger, older and a bit slower to start tracking, but it was so cheap my wife did not even blink when I got it. Love it. Si [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/c25k-couch-to-5k-starting-week-of-9-21-whos-in/463600.md?page=7)