Timb113

Mavster, I hear you! With my schedule, waking up early and running in the morning is the only way I can get my workouts in consistantly. Once the time changed and it was really dark, and getting colder, at 5:30 in the morning, and the bed was nice and toasty warm, I had a lot of trouble getting up and actually slipped out of my routine. It took a while, and signing up for my next race, to get back into the groove. Good luck pushing through!

Missy, I started using MapMyRun because I was planning on running a 5K at some point, and that way I could get my distance. It's also great at the end of the month to be able to look back and see that I ran 50, 60, 70 or more miles in that time. I went over 420 miles in 2014 which sounds amazing and just gives me another goal, as I shoot for 500 this year.

Missy, great job! The first step is often the hardest. Sorry to hear about all the pains that you have had to deal with, I've been battling back pain for about 15 years on and off, and I know how hard it can be. Hopefully, this program will help to strengthen those areas for you, and will diminish the pain in other parts of your life as time goes on. Good luck, keep us updated on your progess.

Rrodrig, You can repeat days as much as you want, but it's very important to take rest days. The plan for the program is to run three days a week, not every day. Those rest days are important for your muscles to get stronger, if you keeping running every day you will find yourself fatigued very quickly.

My goals for 2015 are to increase my distance, completing a 10-mile race and start preparations for a half marathon. I started the C25K program in January of 2013, February 2014 and June 2014. I completed the program (for the first time) in August 2014 and ran my first two 5K races in August. Once I committed, it didn't take long to be completely hooked on running. My next step was a 10K, while I completed on New Year's Day 2015, and have started looking toward a 10-mile race on March 2, 2015. I'd eventually like to get to a half marathon distance. That sounds crazy just typing it here, as I played baseball and golf when I was younger because it meant I didn't have to run. I dreaded running in gym class, or for any teams I ever played for, now, 20 years later, I find myself spending more time than I should researching possible runs near my home, near my family, or for some reason in Alaska. I have loved the journey I've taken and am looking forward to taking it even further. Training starts for the 10-miler on Monday (I hope) after tweaking a knee in my final tune-up for the 10K. I powered through that race, but needed to get a few days off, I'll be starting slow to build back up, and will post here so you can hopefully keep me accountable. If you don't see something from me for a couple days, please ask why? I still need to be pushed! I'm on MyFitnessPal, also at timb113, and I'm on Map My Run, if anyone wants to connect on either of those as well, to help each other.

Shannon, yes I'm planning on many more races. Not that I really want to compete against other people, but it's great to have that next race scheduled and paid for so I know what I'm training for, and have that goal in mind. I'm going to try to take the distance up a bit, with a 10-mile run in two months, and then (eventually) a half marathon. I can't see myself ever running a full marathon, my work and life schedule (I work many nights and weekends, around 65 hours per week) just wouldn't allow for the really long training runs. I never thought I would be a runner, and even told a friend of mine who was competing in triathlons and has completed two marathons that I thought she was crazy. Now, after getting my first few tastes of running in a few races, and pushing myself further, I'm hooked. I hurt my knee just before my 10K and I'm trying to rest it before getting into training for the 10-miler, and not getting on the road for a few miles is killing me! I'm going to go easy tomorrow, with probably a walk, and hopefully be able to run on Monday.

If you double tap the day, it will mark as completed. Great start, keep it up!

Azatol, that's a great way to burn off steam. I'm sure you can see big differences in your fitness and health having started to make those correct choices. Keep it up!

Kelly, you can most certainly do it! I started the program (for the third time) this past June and ran a pair of 5Ks in August, and just this week tackled my first 10K. I've got plans for a 10-mile race in a few weeks and I'm researching a half marathon. 10 months is plenty to train to be able to handle that distance, but remember, it doesn't mean you have to run the entire distance. I've never been to a race of that length, but my guess is most of the people are run/walking 13.1 miles. Take your time, and look at the small goals. Trying to look from W1D1 to 13.1 is a big jump. Just look to get to the next day and the next week of the program, and you'll do great!

Vicki and Casagarber, yes you should be running every other day. Your body needs time to recover from each run. That's how you'll get stronger. You can always do some different form of exercise on other days, like lifting or cross training, but you want to give those running muscles time to rebuild.

Azatol, I agree 100 percent! I've also found that varying my route so that my mind doesn't know how much farther i have to go to hit the next mile marker is good as well. I just run until my phone tells me I've finished that section.

Shannon, I think you'll find a lot of great motivation on these forums. I started the C25K program (for the third time) this summer and completed it for the first time, running my first two 5Ks in August. I moved on to the 10K program, and though I did not complete it, I used some of the principles to build my own training program for my first 10K, which I completed yesterday! I like to come on here to see the success stories, and see where people are struggling, because we all did (in the C25K program and in life). I'm quite an introvert, but I feel like I have a different voice here, and I hope you find yours and all else that you're looking for. Best of luck!

hyanddl, I usually ran the time period, instead of distance. For one, I never knew exatly what the distance was that I was running, and didn't want to constantly be looking at my phone. I'm also taller and have long legs, so my running pace was fater than the 10-minute mile that the program suggests, so the one time that I did run specifically to the distance and I still have two minutes left in time, I felt like I shorted myself. So, I guess, my advice is to do what feels right for you, but if you want the best workout you can handle, do whatever is longer. I hope that helps. Good luck!

Noah, like Azatol said, you'll be surprise by what your body can do if you put your mind to it. If you've made it through the program to this point, your body is ready to run 20 minutes in one stretch, you just need to get your mind on board. Will you be tired? Sure. Will you want to walk at some point? Sure (and if you do, that's fine), but you CAN DO IT! We have faith in you. Let us know how it goes.

Heather, good luck. Try to make a schedule to keep yourself on track. I work at a university and started the program during the summer, when things were much lighter. Once school was in session again, it made it much harder to keep on pace. If you can set exactly which days you are going to run/lift/cross train/etc., and work it into your schedule, that will help, I think.

I've been using MapMyRun to track pace and distance and that synchs with My Fitness Pal, which I've just been using for a couple weeks. It has always synched, though sometimes it takes a little while to get through.

Oh no! I hope you recover quickly, but take your time getting back. The last thing you want to do is try to get back to quick, compensate for a sore ankle and injure something else. I just tweaked my knee this morning on my final training run before my first 10K on Thursday. I'm hoping I just need a day and a half of rest of be good to go!

Jay, it happens quite a bit. Getting started can be the hardest part, but it's like any exercise, your body needs to adjust and grow stronger. Keep doing day one until you can complete it, then move on to day two. This might happen during a number of the weeks throughout the program, but there is nothing wrong with that. Just keep working at it! Good luck.

Christine, those days of rest are important, but you can get away with skipping some early in the program if you're in pretty good shape. You'll really need the rest days as you get to week three and four and beyond. Your body will need that break. Keep up the good work.

Jess, After trying a few different things, I determined that my only time I could be consistent with the program is waking up early and doing it in the morning. I am not a big fan of waking up 60-90 minutes early and sacrificing that sleep, but as I've become dedicated to this process, I've realized it's best for me. I work a lot of nights and weekends, so even when my wife and I are both home in the evenings, I want to spend that time with her and our kids instead of being out on the road. I've I wake up at (gulp!) 5:30 to get a 45-minute run in before getting ready for work, I'm only sacrificing sleep. On the weekend I'll sleep in a little later, and I only run two-three times during the week, so a few early mornings have not been too bad. Good luck.

Graeme, that is awesome. It's stories like your that keep us all going!

You guys can all do this! I never thought I could get to the point I am, but I'm so excited about each next step! Abigail, how much time do you have to train before the half?

Soculese, congratulations! W5D3 is the biggest hurdle in the program, in my opinion. It was more daunting to finish that day (with no run close to that time), than it was to run the full 30 minutes and the 5K a few weeks later. You said it best, that's the step that takes you to "I can do this" and any run that comes my way with a little training. I'm set for my first 10K in three days, and I'm very excited about it. Six months ago, I never would have thought I could run for 54 seconds, nevermind 54 minutes, and I've done it twice this week in training. Keep up the good work!

Azatol, Great job so far. The program does an amazing job of having you ready to take the next step, and W5D3 was something I was dreading for about three weeks leading up to it, but it's also the most accomplished feeling I've had in the running I've done over the past six months. I felt more proud of finishing that 20 minutes than I did my first 5K. It's a huge milestone, and one that I will not forget. Keep up the good work!

If you commit for a little bit and have a goal in site (your first 5k is a great one) you will be hooked. I'm a competitive person, and having that goal to complete the next week of the program, or that 5k (or now, my first 10k -- just six days away) is what drives me. I will continue to sign up for races, simply to complete the distance, or compete against my own best time at that distance, because the next goal is what keeps me going. Good luck!