It's agonizing when you are SO close and barriers keep getting put in your way.

Last week I was progressing through the last two weeks but something has happened.  After last Wednesday, I had new pains and they were pretty bad.  I didn't think too much of them because I only needed an extra day of rest (to Saturday) before tackling W8D1 - and I made the whole 28 minutes!  Later in the day, after icing my knee down, I noticed a lot of pain coming from somewhere near each hip and shooting down my legs.  Sunday was worse - I could barely get out of bed because of all the sharp stabbing pains in my upper thigh - especially my left side.  At least Monday I could walk a little better (I had to go back to work) and Tuesday was better still.  I thought about running on Wednesday but by the time I got out of work (and had done a lot of walking there) I was feeling the pain and didn't want to push it.  I took Thursday (yesterday) off and, around noontime, though still feeling a *little* pain, took a run around the neighborhood to see if I could run through it.

Almost.  I did about 25 minutes and started to feel my left leg getting weak so I called it and walked the rest of the way home.

Today, the pain is predictably bad.  If it wasn't for whatever is going on somewhere near my hip, I *know* I could have done the 28 minutes and I *might* have been able to go 30 and hit W8D3 a little earlier than expected.

I'm 4 months in to this 8-week program.  I guess at the age of 52 it takes a little more to stretch out the endurance than it does if you're younger.  I'm *so* close to the end of W8 I can practically *TASTE* it - at which point I want to improve my speed a bit before continuing on to the 10K program.  I'm "into" this enough that it really irritates me when I can't go out.  I don't want to backslide and lose all the progress I've made..  I've lost 15 pounds and some people are starting to say that they can see the difference, even if I can't.  I even bought a heart rate monitor to use during these runs to have more stats on my MapMyFitness entries (and my heart rate looks good).

I'm debating making an appointment with a sports medicine specialist.  My right knee still bothers me a bit but the icing and ibuprofen have done wonders for that.

I could *never* have gotten this far without help from so many directions - to say nothing of the support I've gotten from my wife.  Having her say, a few days ago, that she was proud of me for having stuck with this for so long sent my spirits soaring.

I haven't really hit any of my real goals yet.  I haven't really finished the program.  I haven't run any races so, no medals (though I'm signed up for the WDW 5K & 10K in January).  I've lost 15 of the 47 pounds I want to lose.  And I can't maintain a 6:00/km pace (so that 30 minutes = 5K) but I seem to be able to maintain about a 7:00/km.  But in each and every one of those, there has been OCEANS of progress from my couch-sitting days.  Even yesterday while battling the pain near my hip, I was thinking that I would never have been able to run a couple of kilometers WITHOUT pain just a couple of months ago - never mind WITH it.

I guess part of me is afraid of what a doctor might say - even though my GP and PT said my knee was ok (this was before the hip flared up).  This is the only methodology for weight loss that has actually WORKED for me that didn't involve depression or divorce (or both).  I *can't* lose this.

I managed 2x10mins with a 60sec walk mid way, reason i failed, i am currently supporting my first cold of the season, my chest went tight and a coughing fit started, so to walk for 60secs and then carry on to completion, yep definatly proud! I know now, that at full health i probably would hav finished!

I am going to repeat week5, just because i want to know iv hit all targets.

Looking though other posts, its great seeing so many people have suprised themselves on week5day3. Great job everyone!!

Just finished the first day of week 2. I definitely surprised myself by making it through the entire workout without giving up or taking any pauses. I know that I have a long way to go, but unlike last week, I feel like I may actually be able to make it to the end of C25K! essay writer

Then day 2 came along. I didn't want to run. I was scared. I didn't want to have another experience like my last run. Still, I laced up my shoes and reluctantly headed out the door. I had great run! I got into a nice rhythm, and finished strong. Today's run was even better. My pace was nearly 2 mins. per mile faster on W7D3 than on W7D1.

I guess the moral to the story is that we all have bad days, but never let those bad days hold you back from the good days.

So the next question is, do I repeat week 5, or plow on to week 6?

Really loving running again which I haven't done since school so this is the first time I've properly run as a adult. I only pick it back up due to the gym been closed to try keep the weight down. I'm at 110kg so still got a long away to go so the step up in distance should help the weight loss.

Next step is week 9 and the step up to the 10k part of the challenge wish me luck! 

Keep up the great work everyone.

Now that I finished my goal of running a 5K I am starting over and doing it with my daughter. 

I'm 44 and have discovered that I am a runner! I will definitely run another 5K and have already started training to improve my time. 

Never would I have thought that I would run for 30 mins, to say I’m chuffed is an understatement. My next target is to speed up gradually as my pace is slow, I’m running about 4/4.8 mph instead of about 6.2 being equivalent to 5k.

However I’m in my 50’s and at least a stone over the weight I’d like to be and a good bmi so I am so very happy to have completed the challenge. The fact that I’ve taken my time is down to an initial comment I read here saying “I’m repeating week X until I’m not desperate for the walk rests” so that’s what I did and it means that running has been part of my life now for 6.5 months and I look forward to the next one.

Thank you for the comments I’ve read, the admissions that it was tough and the inspirational phrases, my greatest companion amongst them being:

“No matter how slow you are you’re still faster than the person on the couch”

Stick at it it’s so rewarding, good luck!

I have gone back a few weeks and started running for the distance and not the time.  It has kept me going with a steady progression and now I absolutely feel ready to start week 9 of the c210k app!  

My first 5k will be March 23!  I love running!  My husband has also started running and that makes me happy!!

Keep running everyone!!