@geo You are right, I should have specified the H+ portion of the lactic acid was building up (acidosis).  Have you had your headaches checked by a doctor?  If it isn't migraines, do you have high blood pressure?  If you haven't already, you may want to look into a CT scan to rule out anything life threatening.  It is NOT normal to have a consistent headache for 4-5 days! 

Time for my update:  I ran W8D1 today which on my program is the beginning of the final week.  It was a 28R.  I feel it went well, although I went a little slower than I did Friday because I figured I may have pushed myself a bit then, causing me to walk a bit.  This time I merged my old route with my newer one to get the extra distance needed for the 28 minutes of running (tacked on the 1 mile portion on the left before heading to the ~2 mile slightly truncated portion I had been doing on the right).  Technically, it is supposed to be 2.75 miles at that amount of time but I came in a little short before the timer ran out.  Still averaging ~11-12 min miles. 

Now I need to decide what to do after the end of the program.  I think I will continue the 5k distance for awhile (sans program) until I confident in my speed, then might try one of those bridge program to ramp me up to 10k.  I really like the program pushing me so I don't want to lose that.  I also don't want to jump into another program before I am ready either.  Decisions, decisions!  What are all of you thinking of doing after "graduation?"

Haven't heard from some of you in a long while.  Still with us?

@Anne   Awesome job getting your first 20R out of the way!  That was a the big hurdle that I was worried about when I got to it in my program.  You should try some different routes sometime.  It helps to shake things up sometimes for your enjoyment and also for your muscles.  Won't it be awesome when you get to the point where your dog gets tired before you do!

Did my W7D2 run today--another 25 minute run.  Felt really good throughout the run!  I ran part of the 5K route for Saturday's race.  Yes, I am crazy and doing a 5K before I finish the program!  But, it's for our town's annual jamboree and it's only 1/2 mile over what I've been running lately.  I KNOW I can finish it--I feel like I can run for another 8 or so minutes in order to do the full distance.  And this way, my 2 boys can see me run a race.  They know momma runs, but they've never seen me yet.  They are very excited for this weekend!

Good luck to everyone else & keep up the good work!

Camaro - Nice going!  I'd be thrilled if I got to that point and was running that far.  I do like the idea of doing a 10K someday but that's my limit and I think I'll wait until I have a few months of 5K before I decide if I even want to go further.  Much as I love to run at this point, I just don't have this huge desire to do it for a long time when I have so many other things I love to do. 

Anne:  Great Job on that 20 min. run.  It's amazing to realize that you did that one isn't it? 

MB:  Look forward to hearing how it went today. 

Kristi:  Wow a 5K already, have fun!  I'm hoping for one in late Aug or Early Sept.  Once I get to week 9 I think I'll have a better idea of when I might be able to do one.  But you're right you are so close that it should be pretty easy to add in the little bit of distance.  Good luck Sat. 

Edited to add:

I haven't done my jog tonight yet.  Been feeling hot all day, but my headache seems to be gone.  It's funny that this week I have now been asked about both high and low blood pressure.  No I don't have high BP.  It's actually been on the low side for the most part.  It does go up some when I get stressed or after a jog, but we are talking about a little above normal as opposed to 103/69 which is one that I just happed to rember from this past week.  I had an MRI late last year after I passed out and it was clear.  I'm waiting to be tested for seizures.  Wondering if this could be an ear infection or something else.  My ear on that side feels a little full I guess, but I didn't notice it until my headache started going away sometime last night.  The pain is in my temple.  The only other headaches I've had this long were sinus headaches and they were more in the front not the side.   I will check in later.  I need to get ready to run. 

Geo - I look forward to your updates.  Keep them coming.  You've had a lot working against you but you keep on trying.  It's awesome.  And thanks for keeping me accountable.  Daughter and I did W7D3 yesterday - a 25 minute run.  I'm amazed.  It wasn't easy but we did it.  We have three runs left to go - 28, 30, 35.  We won't be able to do any this weekend so I'm trying to figure out when to schedule them.  Hopefully we'll be done by next Wednesday at the latest.

Kristi - we'll be thinking of you this weekend.  Can't wait to hear how you did!

I need to find a way to stay motivated after I finish the program.  I definitely need to work on running outside and my speed.  A friend recommended the runtastic app but I'm having trouble getting it to load.  Any other suggestions?

ikki - I don't think you should worry about your speed.  I think I am running between 10 and 11 min miles but keep in mind I'm trying to keep up with a ten year old.  Think about what your are accomplishing.  Yesterday I was so tired by the end.  But once I got past twenty minutes, I kept saying to myself "This is further than I've ever run."  Are you running inside or out?  For me, inside is so much easier.  I know I'm going to have to backtrack a little once it cools off and I move outside.  Just think back to where you were eight weeks ago.

MB:  You guys are doing great!  Only 3 runs let that’s awesome.  Not the jumps in time you have to do so quickly though.  28 to 30 doesn’t seem to bad, but going right to 35 after that seems huge.  On the other hand I’m thinking that C25K with its 3 days in a row of 25 -28 and then 30 seems a bit too slow to finish out.  If I was going to change the program after 2 of each I want to try and step it up.  So if I did tomorrow’s run at 25 minutes and W7D1 then W7D2 &3 I’d try for 28.  W8 D1&2 would be 30.  The next 2 days 32 or 33. W9 D2&3 I’d try for 35.  If I was anywhere close to 5K well I might try to push it more.  It does seem like a lot of people on these programs can’t do a 10 mm so the fact that C25K calls for one to finish on time is a bit disappointing once you realize that.  Of course being on my 3^rd time I came to terms with it long ago.  And maybe it’s best that I wasn’t thinking of 5K in terms of taking 45 minutes of my time when started.  It would have felt a lot harder to carve that out. 

ikkinikki: I’m interested in what others speed is too.  I’ve mentioned how slow I am.  My last run came in at 15.16 min/mile.  I don’t know why but when I look at my phone to check the speed it always says somewhere around a 10 min/mile.  I thought maybe it was giving it in K but I keep looking and it says mile.  The only thing I can figure is that the thing is wrong on the number.  Either that or I’m speeding up a lot when I look and I just can’t tell that I am.  Just run for the joy of it and work on speed later.  Even if you are always slow it’s still great for you and fun.  Why should I feel bad just because it takes me 45 minutes to do what others do in 30.  Then what I should compare myself to those who are super-fast and feel bad because I can’t keep up.  Hey there is only one fastest person in the world so maybe everyone who can’t keep up with him should feel like they aren’t doing a great job?  I tell my son that you can’t always expect to do everything perfect.  You can’t even always expect to do it good.  But with a lot of things the value is in having a good time doing it.  It’s fine to want to get a strike every time when you are bowling (Wii) but take joy in the game even if you only knock down a few pins.  Yes even at 3 and 4 he wanted to be able to do things without making a mistake and would get frustrated if he couldn’t.  So I keep trying to remind myself of the same thing.  I didn’t start this to win races.  I started it to get healthier for myself and my son.  Not that I wouldn’t still love to be the jaguar.  You are doing such a good job so focus on that instead of your speed.  28 minutes!  That is amazing! 

I hate running on a treadmill.  I try to avoid it at all costs.  There is an old one at my MIL’s (She actually gave it to me, but SIL would have a fit if I took it now, even though it’s just sitting there in her house with no one using it.)  and I’ve used it a few times when Joe couldn’t follow me or the weather was insanely hot.  Only not for a while since she doesn’t live there anymore and the air is off so it would be a pain to get the room ready.  Plus like I said I hate running on one.  I do wonder how switching from a treadmill to outside  works out.  I would think the way you run changes at least it feels like it to me when I do the opposite.  Do you usually run the same speed with the same effort? 

Looking forward to more updates. 

@ Anne  Cool, glad you liked the change!  Also, congrats on another 20R!  I am also in disbelief that I'm just about finished with C25K!

@mb I use CardioTrainer on my phone to track my runs. It tells me time elasped, speed, distance, elevation (climb) and also figures a rough amount of calories burned based on weight.  I am still running ~11mm.  I am looking to running the 5k consistentely before working on getting my speed up.

My update:  I ran W8D2 this morning using the modified 2.9 mile route I ran Monday.  I was surprised when I walked out the door this morning and it was nearly 90F still!  There was also a 13mph wind out of the South.  Today is supposed to be a 28R.  After 18 minutes and a little over 1.5 miles (and the two biggest hills on my route) I did a quick 1 minute fast walk to get my breathing slowed a bit then continued running.  Nine minutes later, my timer ended but I wasn't at the end of my route yet (wind was slowing me down, but was also cooling me off at the same time, so mixed blessing there) so I kept running.  Ended up running through the cool down 5 minutes too, so had over 30 minutes running!  Felt good, but wow was I stiff afterwards!  Keep the updates coming everyone!  We are doing really great!