Sorry, I have been out for a couple of days. From the looks of it, everyone is doing very well keeping up and pushing play.
I have been working out with a vengence this week. Tonite I will actually get on the treadmill and run 4 miles. That will be my first time. I figured I should see how it feels before Saturday. That way I can see my speed as well. I know I will not be running very fast on Saturday, but I can still do small intervals right? So, tonite I will run in intervals to make it more interesting. I get so bored just looking at the wall in front of me. I read on Active.com to do intervals to make it different. We will see how it goes.
I have to say that Tuesday I did Core Synergistics for the first time in a couple of months and I am still feeling it. Luckily this is my recovery week. Since my run is this Saturday. I sure love Core Synergistics. I forgot how good that workout is.
So, my plan is run 4 miles tonite and then tomorrow rest my legs and feet as much as possible. I think I will do X Stretch to kinda get ready for the morning. Come to find out it is not a 5K, it is a 4 mile run. That kinda scared me a little. I know I can do it, but I am sure I will quite tired afterwards. I am looking forward to it and am very anxious.
Any advice for a newbie would be awesome. Thanx for listening and keep pushing play.

Good luck jjtonic.

Ok.....I am relly struggling. I havent been fora run in afew days and I am finding it really hard to get going again...i hve managed to run inside a few times but nothing like i was..

HELLLPPPPP !!!!

Don't think about it, just get back out and do it!! It'll take a couple days to get back to where you were, but your body will adapt.

It may be time to invest in some cold weather gear if that's what's preventing you from going outside!

Hi everyone - I just finished C25k - just now. Week 9 Day 3 !!!!

I am officially a graduate!

Yayyy, congratulations!



Whatcha gonna do now?

Voluntary, or involuntary dismount? I hate when that happens!

Bumping this for when I finish C25K.

i originally thought it was the cold weather, but I suffer from some depression issues and its mainly making myself get out of bed at 6am and run like I was before. I am actually going to the running room tomorrow and going to look at the winter running clothing.

i want a wind breaker slo that i can run in the damp weather up here in canada as well!!!!

@ maddiebabe - Yes, some winter running gear may make a big difference! I just bought a couple of cozy long sleeve shirts and some light running gloves and they help a lot. I'm hoping to use running to keep the winter blues away - but sometimes it becomes a "chicken or the egg" sort of thing. Meaning - I have to have the motivation to get out the door, but I'm too depressed to get out the door, but the running will help me beat the depression so I can get out the door, BUT..... you get the picture.

So, Monday's run - am I doing "One Hour Runner" or "Gateway to 8k" or Hal Higdon's "Novice 10k"?? Every time I think I've decided, I change my mind. I think I'll just re-run wk 9 of the C25k next week while I decide. What is everyone else doing?

I just finished (my own variation) Friday and am a little lost as to what to do now! I also just started the shred so I think I'm going to do 3 days/wk of running and 3-4 days/wk of shred and that should whip me into shape :) I'm going to try doing some intervals with my running to get faster, my knees are bothering me some so I really don't want to run longer-time wise until I sort that out. But I would like to get further. I did the 3 mi at 6.0 and would love to do it at 6.5 soon.

Maddie, try taking a vit D-3 supplement. A lot of winter depression is caused by vit D deficiency, and D-3 is most easily absorbed by the body. A startling number of people in the northern hemisphere are D deficient. Something crazy like 80%. I have been taking it for a couple of months now, and I have noticed a big difference in how I react and feel about things. Mind you, I still hate to get up in the morning, but that is just me being lazy! It is easier though.....

So the C25K really works I see. I've found a few different plans online and haven't ever really known which one to use. Does anyone have a website I can visit with the plan they used?? I really want to run a 5k and always seem to fall off my schedule.

Just google "couch to 5K." It is a good plan. I builds on your progress each week. I have a couple of weeks left and I love it. I couldn't run 10 yards when I started! I am up to 2 miles!

It's great to hear from so many runners and C25K grads! I graduated from the program earlier this year and went on to complete my first 1/2 marathon on Oct. 18th. I never considered myself a runner, short, stubby and top heavy. So for me, completing that race really was to prove to myself that all the limits I previously set for myself were self imposed. It was also great to track my progress in a way other than lbs and inches. Finishing that race was a great feeling and I can't wait to enter the same race again next year. In the meantime, I have decided to take up spinning at least once a week during the winter. Spinning is another activity that really intimidated me so I figure might as well tackle it too. I just went to my first full hour class and boy I don't think I have ever sweat that much in my life. But I did it and I plan to do again this week.

It is really amazing what we are capable of and how quickly our bodies adapt to new things.

My other goal this winter is to concentrate on weight training again. Something I got away from when training for the marathon. I would love to have a back that looks like your songbyrd.

I finished in July and I've run 3 5ks so far...supposed to run again this weekend. I am now in week 6 of a half marathon training program off of Runner's World.com....I may have to repeat these weeks.

Today is cross training - strength for me...maybe elliptical for 15m after strength - it was a long weekend of not so great choices so I have to work it off!

I couldn't agree more! There is something so empowering about having a running goal. I don't really feel empowered by losing 2 lbs (although it does make me happy ) - but running 30 minutes without stopping -

I think I have decided on the "Gateway to 8k" plan for my next training schedule.

G28k
Wk 1, D1 - DONE!

Yay, another G28ker!
I wanted to start week 8 Sunday, but I was SO sore from leg day Friday that all I could do was 30 min on the elliptical. I had to take yesterday off. Today I can actually walk so I am going to lift and do an intense 20 min cardio intervals class and do the running tomorrow. I wanna get to week 10 so bad!

Yeah, congrats to the Grad!!! Now what are you going to do?

Wow, that is great. I have not gotten up to that speed yet. Last week I was able to get up to 5.5 for 45 secs. I don't know how you do it, keep up the great work.

Congrats on your 1/2 marathon. That is amazing. I do know what you mean about saying that you would not run. I was the same way. I refused to run for various reasons and during my first round of P90X, I got up the courage to start Couch to 5K and now I just finished my first 4 mile run and am signing up for 2 5k's in the next month. It is amazing what we can do without telling ourselves we can't, because we can. Keep up the awesome work. Can't wait to hear more about how you are doing.

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy to find some of you again - thanks Maddiebabe for starting this new thread. I found that it really helped to have a group to report back in to - and cheer for - and then we all graduated! LOL!

I lurk on the "wanna be runner" thread sometimes, but it's huge! Anyway - thanks again for starting this thread - consider me a regular. I'm here for good!

Since completing the 9 weeks, I've continued to run e/o day. I have increased the distance and time - and have made it to 40 mins... but could really use some structure and goals. Gateway to 8k sounds AWESOME! I found where I can subscribe to the podcast - but is there a written schedule anywhere?

You all ROCK! Finding this group has totally made my week!

And did I see something about Kansas? :)

The nice thing about the Gateway to 8K is that there's no set schedule. You just repeat the run 3-4 times a week. You can repeat it if you need to, or move ahead if a week is too easy. I run either MWF or TThSat, and just move ahead each week. Pace your steps to the music and your speed will increase along with your time each week.

Here is a link to the printable schedule for G28k

http://www.djsteveboy.com/gw28koutline.html

@songbyrdsweet - do you run (but just run slower) the intervals, or take a walk break for the short intervals? Are you running only 3 x a week?

I'm thinking about walking the 1 min intervals for a while. I only have one running speed - slow - so not sure running "slower" on the 1 min intervals will do much for me at this point. I'm also thinking of doing 3x a week and then maybe repeating the program with 4 x a week. You've been doing this program longer - any thoughts?