I started last night but I cut it short, it was a 10 minute walk with only 90 seconds of running total. I didn’t have any idea how long my route would take me so when I ended up back at my house after 10 minutes I decided to stop, I wasn’t worn out but it was getting late so I decided to stop. I’ll start a little earlier next time and go farther before I turn around to head back to my house. I did about 25 minutes on my wii later so I still got a work out. I feel pretty good today.
Next time don’t do a round trip, just go straight out until you’re halfway through the program then turn around and come back. That way you don’t need to know in advance how far you’ll go, and once you’re out there you have no choice to come back, so you can’t stop halfway through.
Today was week 2 day 1 for me. I was a little nervous because I thought it would be too much but I handled it easily! Very proud of myself. This definitely feels very doable and I’m looking forward to going again tomorrow. I’m doing my runs 3 days straight this week since I’m going out of town again this weekend and probably won’t get a chance to and I really don’t want to miss any days.
I have really crappy form though. I wobble when I run on the treadmill. I’m hoping that fixes itself eventually.
Week 4 day 1 is in the book, but damn it was by far the hardest run yet. About halfway through the first 400 I didn’t think I’d make it but I just kept running slower and made it through. This thread helped me get there because I didn’t want to come in and admit failure. But I can see how I’ll be running 2 miles non stop in two weeks.
The highlight for this week will be my day 3 because I will get to do that run at sea level so breathing should be much easier.
Oredigger, you shouldn’t have said that - I just finished week three ten minutes ago.
You might consider getting a heart rate monitor. It will make it easier to adjust your effort/pace at varying altitudes.
If it makes you feel better it doesn’t hurt any more. 
Pat - Thanks, I might have to pick one of those up. My original plan was just to run at my normal pace and just not be as tired. Should I be running harder to try and keep my heart rate where it is normally?
Ran week 7 day 1 yesterday in pouring rain. Seriously, I’ve been less wet getting out of the shower. But I succeeded in running for 25 minutes without walking, for a total distance of 2.03 miles. So I’m a bit under the 2 1/4 I was supposed to run, but I still feel like I achieved a lot. I covered a little over a mile in my first 12 minutes and felt fantastic. As my shoes and clothes began to get more waterlogged and the wind kept whipping into my face, things got a bit harder, but I’m proud of myself for not stopping!
Wow, Judith, that’s fantastic.
I’m a little nervous thinking about running for 25 minutes in 6 weeks, but if you guys can do it, so can I. I just finished week 1 day 3 so I’ll be moving on to week 2 on Friday.
Today wasn’t bad at all, and I haven’t been sore the past few days, yay. I just need to find a better time to run, it’s so effing hot in Florida and I’m drenched with sweat. I look horrible and of course I ran into some friends of mine as I was stopping by the corner store to get a drink after I finished.
As your fitness improves, you can run faster at the same heart rate.
I was thinking more of adjusting pace for different altitudes.
Run the same heart rate no matter what altitude you’re at and you get the same workout though the distance will be less for higher up.
Ok, I’m going to be dropping 4500’ in elevation for my Day 3 run so I need to be aiming at running as hard so I’ll be covering more distance instead of taking it easy and running the same distance
Week 2 Day 2 is in the books. I can totally see where I’ll be able to get better at this and run for longer distances. I can already tell I’m feeling better when I’m jogging and eager to start it again while I’m doing the walk portions.
Yay!
Well, I just finished day 2 of week 4. I still wanted to quit but it wasn’t until half way through the final run. Over all it was better then day 1 so don’t worry too much you’ll survive.
I’m not looking forward to my day 3 run but I think I’ll make it once I get through next week I think I’ll be on the downward slope.
Did Week1 Day2 this evening instead of yesterday evening (due to work) and BOY, IT WAS ROUGH!
I can’t believe I’m admitting this, but I couldn’t finish it. I only got halfway through and just HAD to stop. I walked the rest of it. I didn’t have this happen the last time I did the C25K, so now I’m worried. Hopefully I’m not going to keep myself awake tonight worrying myself to death over what the hell has happened…am I getting OLD (yep!)…or am I just FAT(yep x 2!)? I think my worst problem right now is that I am just suffering from major lardass.
But I’m so disappointed. I mean, this is the 90 second runs. And I’m going slooooow. “Running” at walking speed. So, easy peasy, right?
I guess not for me. I feel like the dorky fat kid on the playground who can’t figure out how to work the jump rope and always gets chosen last for teams. And first for dodgeball. For the “dodging” part.
OK. Will anybody think I’m totally hopeless and pathetic if I just stay at the W1D2 level until I can complete the damn thing before moving on to D3?
Somebody please hold my hand while I cry. And maybe give me a cookie. 
Clothilde
Don’t worry about it. C25K was intended as a guide only. Most new runners try to progress too fast. Move up only when you feel ready but don’t be afraid to challenge yourself a bit.
You can do this.
I started the program in August last year, 60 pounds overweight and a smoker. I completed the program, quit smoking, dropped the weight, raced my first 5K (29:35) and several more (best in 20:28), completed a half marathon, currently training for my second one and will run a full marathon next year.
Changed my life.
If I should give one tip, it would be: If you can’t breathe you’re running too fast.
Clothilde, ya gotta stop beating yourself up so much. Instead of thinking: “I suck, I can’t even do this easy run, what is wrong with me?” (and trust me, I sympathize, because I have had similar thoughts myself), think, “Dude, check me out, I am jogging/walking while the vast majority of America is sitting on the couch watching TV.” Every time you get out and exercise, even if you don’t finish the official program, you are building your body into a stronger and better machine. There’s nothing wrong with redoing a day or a week of this schedule! Like runner pat said (btw, thanks a trillion for your contributions to this and other running threads, runner pat), C25K is just a guide. Don’t let one bad run torpedo your efforts!
I am on vacation in Seattle this week, and while my caloric intake has gone, um, quite a bit higher than it had been pre-vacation, I’m still sticking with the program. I will admit that it is easier to do exercise on vacation when it involves going outside and enjoying the gorgeous Puget Sound weather and scenery, as opposed to, say, doing an aerobics video inside or whatever. I am actually looking forward to W3D2 tomorrow even though I suspect that it is going to kick my ass.
Just finished Week 1. I feel like the 3rd day was harder than the first, but that may be because it is fresh in my mind. Looking forward to seeing how difficult Week 2 is going to be.
I finished my first official day today. Rather than trying to do it in my yard or my neighborhood, I drove over to a local trail. Having the C25K program on my iPhone worked great- it even told me when I was at the halfway mark, so I knew when to turn around.
My lower legs were my major impediment, but I expected that.
The wife and I finished our first week yesterday. That was definitely harder then Monday. I’m guessing it’s because we had a moderately sized dinner consisting of Pasta 30 minutes before…Not an idea we will have in the future…
In any event, I was thinking of throwing in some cardio (like 1/2 on the bike) once a week or so. What are people’s thoughts on that?