bstay2

I just finished Week2 Day3 today and I think I'm going to repeat the Week2 workouts again.  Not in a rush to finish the C25K in 8 weeks.  I'm glad I started this because I actually look forward to my running days.
 
From a "non-runner" to starting this C25K program, I found myself checking running blogs and review sites researching on popular running shoes.

Week00 of 7-Aug-2016
Fri - W1D1
 
Week01 of 14-Aug-2016
Sun - W1D2
Fri - W1D3
 
Week02 of 21-Aug-2016
Sun - W2D1
Thu - W2D2
 
Week03 of 28-Aug-2016
Sun - W2D3
Fri - W3D1
 
Week04 of 4-Sep-2016
Sun - W3D1 repeat
Fri - W3D2
 
Week05 of 11-Sep-2016
Sun - W3D3
Fri - W4D1
 
Week06 of 18-Sep-2016
Sun - W4D2
Fri - W4D3
 
Week07 of 25-Sep-2016
Sun - W4D3 repeat
Fri - W4D3 repeat
 
Week08 of 2-Oct-2016
Sun - W5D1
Fri - W5D2
 
Week09 of 9-Oct-2016
Sun - W5D1 repeat
Fri - W5D1 repeat
 
Week10 of 16-Oct-2016
Sun - W5D1 repeat
Fri - W5D1 repeat
 
Week11 of 23-Oct-2016
Sun - W5D1 repeat
Fri - W5D1 repeat
 
Week12 of 30-Oct-2016
Sun - W5D2
Fri - W6D1
 
Week13 of 6-Nov-2016
Sun - W5D2 repeat
Fri - W6D2
 
-----------------------------------------
W1D1  1R 1.5W (8 times)                         1R 1.5W (6 times)  15mins
W1D2  1R 1.5W (8 times)                         1R 1.5W (8 times)  20mins
W1D3  1R 1.5W (8 times)                         1R 1.5W (8 times)  20mins
W2D1  1.5R 2W (6 times)                         1.5R 2W (4 times) 1R 1W (2 times)  18mins
W2D2  1.5R 2W (6 times)                         1.5R 2W (4 times) 1R 1W (2 times)  18mins
W2D3  1.5R 2W (6 times)                         1.5R 2W (6 times)  21mins
W3D1  1.5R 1.5W 3R 3W (2 times)          1.5R 1.5W 2.5R 2.5W 2.5R 2.5W 1.5R 1.5W  16mins
W3D2  1.5R 1.5W 3R 3W (2 times)          1.5R 1.5W 2.5R 2.5W 2.5R 2.5W 1.5R 1.5W  16mins
W3D3  1.5R 1.5W 3R 3W (2 times)          2R 2W 3R 3W 3R 3W 2R 2W  20mins
W4D1  3R 1.5W 5R 2.5W 3R 1.5W 5R    3R 2W 4R 3W 4R 3W 3R 2W  24mins
W4D2  3R 1.5W 5R 2.5W 3R 1.5W 5R    3R 2W 5R 3W 5R 3W 3R 2W  26mins
W4D3  3R 1.5W 5R 2.5W 3R 1.5W 5R    3R 2W 5R 2W 5R 2W 3R 2W  24mins
W5D1  5R 3W 5R 3W 5R                         5R 3W 6R 3W 5R  22mins
W5D2  8R 5W 8R                                     5R 3W 8R 5W 5R  26mins
W5D3  20R                                               8R 5W 8R  21mins
W6D1  5R 3W 8R 3W 5R                         10R 5W 10R  25mins
W6D2  10R 3W 10R                                 10R 3W 10R  23mins
W6D3  22R                                               15R 3W 5R  23mins
W7D1  25R                                               20R  20mins
W7D2  25R                                               20R  20mins
W7D3  25R                                               25R  25mins
W8D1  28R                                               28R  28mins
W8D2  28R                                               30R  30mins
W8D3  30R                                               35R  35mins

There are voices in our mind, talking to us all the time.  They're trying to dissuade us from doing the hard things, always encouraging us to take the easiest path.  You hear them when you're exercising, and they're telling you: you're in pain.  Stop now.  You already did a good job.
 
We all have those voices, but we can learn to subdue them, and we can choose not to react to them.  It's a habit that you can ingrain with constant practice.  Some days when you wake up you feel full of energy and motivated to exercise right away.  Other times you wake up not feeling as good and even before you start, the voices start finding excuses to not run.
 
These thoughts that your mind keeps presenting are just waves.  Like waves, they come and go, they're there for a few seconds then they might disappear.  As you start exercising, these waves will become smaller and smaller until they vanish.
 
When these waves are trying to dissuade you, it's as if they were planting weeds in your mind, trying to absorb your motivation.  However, it's important that you don't avoid or get angry at them.  In Zen meditation, it's said that "Pulling out the weeds (voices), we give nourishment to the plant (exercise)".  So even if you're having some difficulties facing these weeds, be grateful that they are there because this is how we improve: by confronting and winning over our doubts.
 
Once you have some experience with transforming the weeds in your mind into mental nourishment, you will start to make great progress with your goals.  You'll start recognizing these voices, allowing you to confront them and use them to enrich your mind.  This is the key to learning self-control and discipline.
 
Of course, the actual learning comes from experiencing this first hand.  So welcome these voices next time they come at you, try to observe them, and then bypass them and start your exercising session.
 
When you're exercising and a voice tries to persuade you to finish early, telling you that you've done enough, or are way too tired, do this.  Hear it, observe it, and then remember this principle: Strive to the end.  Always complete your routine: if you're tired, run in place.  If you can't run, walk.  If you're too exhausted, rest, and then resume your workout, but stick with it until the end.
 
If you make sure to finish what you start time and time again, you will start acquiring a new mindset: I need to stick with it, even if I have to modify my routine or rest a little bit, but I'll keep going to the end.  Quitting is habit, but so is persevering.
 
Try to exercise, even with these troubled voices.  Breathe, run, and empty your mind.  Next time you feel like quitting, remember to pull out that weed.  Always finish your exercise session.  The way you address yourself will change over time.  Soon those loud voices will become smaller and smaller until they become a little voice you can't even hear.
 
Before and during your exercise try to listen to your mind weeds.  How are they trying to discourage you?  Can you observe them and choose not to react?  Don't abhor those voices, learn to appreciate them and use them to nourish your self-discipline.  Through hardship, we build character.
 
(Excerpts from Letter No. 4 Mind Weeds from the android app Fabulous - Motivate Me!)

Hello! I just finished week 8 this week. I ran 3.12 miles today in 40 minutes and I am signed up to run a 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. Any advice on how to prepare? Like what to eat (or not eat), how long before the run should I eat, etc. Also, how much running should I do between now and then?
I started a healthier lifestyle in March. I have lost 30 pounds and I feel better about myself than I have in a long time. Thanks!

Went into week 5 assuming the workouts would be the same each day, just like weeks prior but I didn't even realize I was at 8 minutes on the second day. In the beginning I was struggling at 1 minute!
 
I was dreading week 5 day 3 so much that I kept repeating day 2, today I finally thought I would try it and even agreed to stop half way at 10 minutes if it was too hard. When I got the half way notification I pushed through as much as I could. I'm so surprised that I only stopped to walk for one minute. I never thought I could run for (basically) 20 minutes straight.
 
I'm so excited to continue today was a definite confidence booster!

Distance or Speed?
 
First I need to build up the stamina and endurance to run continuously for 8mins (W5D2), then 10mins (W6D2).  After that I will keep track of the distance covered in:
20mins (W5D3),
22mins (W6D3),
25mins (W7D1),
28mins (W8D1),
30mins (W8D3).
 
Once I'm comfortable running 30mins non-stop, I should aim for number of laps around the 400m stadium:
3.2km (2 miles) or 8 laps (W5D3),
3.6km (2.25 miles) or 9 laps (W6D3),
4km (2.5 miles) or 10 laps (W7D1),
4.4km (2.75 miles) or 11 laps (W8D1),
5km (3.1 miles) or 12.5 laps (W8D3).
 
Finally, when I can run 5km non-stop, I will aim for speed or pace (6mins/km or 9:39mins/mile or 2:24mins/lap):
6.0km/h or 10mins/km or 50mins/5km,
6.5km/h or 9:14mins/km or 46:10mins/5km,
7.0km/h or 8:34mins/km or 42:50mins/5km,
7.5km/h or 8mins/km or 40mins/5km,
8.0km/h or 7:30mins/km or 37:30mins/5km,
8.5km/h or 7:04mins/km or 35:20mins/5km,
9.0km/h or 6:40mins/km or 33:20mins/5km,
9.5km/h or 6:19mins/km or 31:35mins/5km,
10km/h or 6mins/km or 30mins/5km.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/4/4_1/96.shtml
http://www.runningforfitness.org/calc/converters/convert
 
http://forums.zenlabsfitness.com/topic/3937-distance-or-speed/#entry19112

I just finished Week2 Day3 also, and was breathing hard and almost couldn't jog the last set (6 of 6).  I think it's normal if you start from couch.  Just repeat the previous workout if you need to.
 
Because of my busy work, I can only run twice a week.  I would suggest resting your legs from pounding the roads during rest days and do other strength exercises instead.  Like squats, lunges, or other P90X type exercises to build strength.
 
Regarding the calves pain, I think you need to do proper stretching for your 5mins cool down.  The C25K app suggests brisk walk as 5mins warm up, but did not say about the 5mins cool down.  Search Youtube and you can find many videos on stretching after running.  I personally liked those from FitnessBlender.

It's mentioned in the forum FAQ.  After completing a workout, you tap on the center dial to see calories and distance covered.
 
http://imgur.com/a/QUGgS

Try tapping on the center dial after completing a workout.  It shows the calories and distance covered.
 
http://imgur.com/a/QUGgS