Couch to 5K anyone????

[Lauren Reid]

Is anyone doing this (or done it)?

My new treadmill is being delivered this afternoon (woot!) and i'm trying to figure out a good plan of getting my butt back in gear.

Prekids i use to run/jog at night around Boston (wtf was i thinking btw?!) and got into good habits which are alllllll gone now! ;)

anywho, just curious what you thought of the couch to 5k.....

thanks for any wisdom!

xooxox

[ColleenSwerb]

I tried it, but I HATE running. So it didn't work out for me :p

But I know a bunch of people who hang out here have given it a try. Hopefully they'll pop in with their experiences. :)

[AnnieBananie]

I think somebody linked to these MP3 "podcasts" a while back-- they rock!:
http://www.ullreys.com/robert/Podcasts/page6/page6.html

He times it for you! I did one run with it and liked it a lot. It's hilly around here so it was a beeyotch but good. :) Once we've moved, then I'm going to start it again for good.

[4noisyboys]

I love the idea...but I don't run. I have torn all the ligaments in my right ankle, have had several surgeries on my feet, am way overweight, and my boobs are way too big and heavy to ever try to run! (is that enough excuses? LOL)...but I did just start going to the local parks and rec for water aerobics. It's actually a good workout, and the Saturday one is in deep water, and I'm completely exhausted after the hour. It feels so good to do something...and it makes me want to do a lot more (just not run!!)

[lauren grier]

I'll say.. if you're goign to do it, def use something like that podcast. I found that the timing and crap was really bogging me down. I just started running again a week or so again and I am enjoying it way more just running and doing my thing.

ps everyone jogs @ night in beantown LOL

[newfiemountiewife]

I just run and do my own thing. 9 weeks ago I wasn't running at all, and I run 4-5 km 3-4 times a week now. And where I live it's very hilly, and I have to run outside in the wind. I basically began by running as much as I could, then gradually adding on.

Good luck!

[Lauren Reid]

thank you for the podcast, i'll check that out!

and yay debra to water aerobics, that IS exhausting for nonimpact exercise!

dude, La, i could have been abducted where i was running... alone! i was SO clueless.... ;)

yeah i started running by just doing what i could too.... i use to get a huge cramp in my side and thought i'd never be able to run, but eventually it passed and i was fine... hopefully that will be the same this time around....

my poor body is too crunchy at this point, when did that happen!?!? ;)

thanks for the advice chickies!

xo

[AllieP]

I finished it the end of June and ran my first 5k on July 4. I really love the program- I think it's a good gradual increase so you don't injure yourself, but it also pushes you at the same time.

If you have an iPod Touch or iPhone, there's a great app for the Couch 2 5k.

Good luck! :)

[HeatherKS]

I tried it, but I HATE running. So it didn't work out for me :p

But I know a bunch of people who hang out here have given it a try. Hopefully they'll pop in with their experiences. :)

Umm, yeah, what Col said.

[cheltzey]

I've done it and it's AWESOME!!! Definitely perfect for beginners. I thought I hated running, but I found that I actually really enjoyed it. I can run for a half hour solid now, which is a HUGE achievement for me. I recommend it to everyone. And it helped (with some other things, of course) to drop me from a size 12 to a size 8!

[Mandy]

I started it once but didn't really follow through. I'd like to try to start again! I think I'd enjoy running if I could just get into it.

[Tracyfish]

I did it at the beginning of the year and ran a 5K in April. I was definitely impressed at how it gradually got me up to running for long periods of time. After April it was just sooo hot here so I kinda stopped running.

I did run again this week for the 1st time since then and was able to go for 30 minutes without stopping. yay!

[Kat Stokes]

I did it last fall and I LOVED it!!! Of course, once winter hit I quit because I'm a wuss and don't like to be out in the cold. I want to start again but DH keeps lecturing me on how bad it is on your knees, etc. So, I have been walking and starting riding my bike again - which I really enjoy!!! I really do love to run but I don't want to do serious damage to my knees (and large boobs).

[Jenn Barrette]

I just started it this week, and am using the podcasts. I have never ran before, so it is definitely challengeing!

[bderby]

I am wanting to start it once I get a few more weeks away from my surgery!! I have heard great things about it!

[Susan Bartolini]

Lauren - I just started it this week! I have an iPod touch, so I use the C25K app that I got from iTunes. It is great because you can play your playlist and then a bell rings and a voice over comes on to tell you when to run and when to walk. That way, you aren't staring at the clock or anything. I am hoping to lose about 20 lbs of baby weight that I never dropped after Madeleine. So far, it seems like a totally doable program and I am looking forward to getting back into shape.

Susan

[Tracyfish]

just a warning that week 3 was the toughest (sorest) week for me, but it DOES get better soon after that!! stick with it!

[scrapperjade]

I want to do it so bad!!! I just need to get myself some good running shoes!!!

[cheltzey]

DEFINITELY get good shoes. It made a world of difference for me. You don't have to drop hundreds, but don't go with the cheapest pair, either.

[rachaelsscraps]

I would love to start a running/jogging program (totally controlled by myself) since I'm past the 2-week after the c-section point... but the only time I'd be able to do it is during the day so I'd have to take my kids... I've decided on walking instead (since I can't run with my baby) and I'm starting my own program next week! Yay!!!
I'll have my 4-year old in a stroller (he's too slow and wants to stop too much on walks otherwise) and my 3-week old in a sling carrier... which is what's holding my program up- I just ordered it and have to wait for it to ship! I can't wait!!! :p

[Nettio]

Well I've started the program a few times now (I think 3?) and never managed to make it all the way through. I made it through week 3 each time but week 3 was so tough that the idea of moving on to week 4 scared me. :blink: Although I see that Tracy said it gets better after week 3 so I guess I should have just pushed through, haha.

I know a huge problem for me is I live at high altitude, almost 6200 ft above sea-level, and so the progression of the program was just really really intense. I usually would end up doing two weeks at each level (so getting through level 3 meant I had done 6 weeks) and that helped a lot except for the fact that I'd get really really bored of the podcasts, to the point where I dreaded going. The podcasts in general were difficult for me as one of the reasons I like going to the gym is to listen to my own music or podcasts, watch tv, etc and I couldn't do any of that while doing the program. But I have an iPhone now so I'll have to look into the C25K app and see if that helps.

There were other things I didn't like about the program but I don't want to write a novel here. :D I do think it will work, I'm just not sure it was the right program for me.

[rachaelsscraps]

I really do love to run but I don't want to do serious damage to my knees (and large boobs).

Lol! Doesn't it suck trying to run when you've been, um, gifted by God!?!?! hehehe! :p

[cheltzey]

So supposedly this is supposed to be the ultimate no-bounce bra. I think I'm going to order one, since I have to wear two bras when I run.

http://www.titlenine.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=2166

[sczos911]

I'll have to check out the pod casts (ummm...how do you get those onto your iPod? clueless!) cause I hate the timing thing when it comes to C25K.

But I started running again this week. And I am actually LOOKING FORWARD to it when I get home tonight. How crazy, huh? I thought I hated running, but I hate structure in all actuallity, so if I can do my own thing & not worry about times and so on - I'm cool. :)

[robinforman]

So supposedly this is supposed to be the ultimate no-bounce bra. I think I'm going to order one, since I have to wear two bras when I run.

http://www.titlenine.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=2166

I have a large chest, and am a runner... I wear the Enell Sports Bra, and now can wear nothing else! I used to have to wear two, and definitely do not have to do that now. Thanks for the link to the other one- might have to try that :)

[Lauren Reid]

dude... do i hear a bunch of chicks whining about having BIG boobs!

you know there are men turning over in their graves right now don't you!!!!

thanks for the feedback, yeah i'm not very good at sticking to programs either... i'm good for about 2 weeks then slack. so we'll see about this...

i loved having the "me" time on the treadmill when i was good about going to the gym though, so i'm hoping that if nothing else, i'll use it even if not the program.

i'm off to get the image of all your boobs bouncing, out of my head! bwahahhaha

teasing, mine bounce too much too... or maybe they just flop.... i dunno, but i'll be checkin out these sports bra recommendations fo sho!

ox

[Jenn Barrette]

I have a large chest, and am a runner... I wear the Enell Sports Bra, and now can wear nothing else! I used to have to wear two, and definitely do not have to do that now. Thanks for the link to the other one- might have to try that :)


Word. Enell Sports Bras rock. I wouldn't even be attempting to run without one.