Donna, awesome! doesn't it feel great? Just think about it ~ You ran 25 minutes!!!!! That is so impressive!

Great job on your race, Kate!  I did the Gateway to 8K after C25K, and I'm just finishing that up next week (it took me longer than 10 weeks).  I like that program, though I can't say it's made me any faster.  I'm going more for distance though, since I have my first HM in a couple months.  If you're looking to improve speed, try one day of speed work a week.  Even penguins can hope to get faster!

Rainyday,

You came in next to last but third in your age group? Great - don't tell people about the next-to-last...at least that's what the clerks at the running store advised me when I had a similar experience.

My first race, the one where I let the 30-year-old pass me at the finish line so she wouldn't come in last (her fear), I was very last, yes, right ahead of the police car. Actually, at the last block (we ran through downtown), he slowly went drove around me, obviously so bored that he wanted to quit.  Well, I finished last but was first in my age group - no one else that old ran (55-59). : ) 

Another comment - I'm on WW too but mainly watching carbs due to my diabetes. I've lost 26#, trying for much more - another 30# would be great.

I'm new here, and I am an aspiring runner.  After nearly two years of walking/hiking for fitness and sanity, and losing a big chunk of weight in the process, I've decided my next goal is to be able to run one whole mile without a walking break - even if my running is as slow as or slower than my walking.  (My walking averages about 3 mph, but it's on gravel mountain roads with significant hills).  I've gotten to the point where walking on the lesser hills doesn't get and keep my heart rate up and while I do enjoy it, I want to move to the next level to maintain my weight loss and help me drop those last few pounds.  I want to be a runner, even if it's not a fast one.  I want to be more fit.  I've done a lot of reading on proper form, because I want to avoid injury and "do it right."

I started the C25k program on Sunday 8/30/09.   Tonight will be Day 2 of week 1 for me.  I feel pathetically slow and embarrassed when I run (hence the post in the Penguin Support Group), but as long as I run, I don't care.  Of course, it helps that I'm in a very rural area where I don't encounter many people while out.  I remember when I started walking how I'd have to stop and walk back and forth across the road on a hill just to make it to the top - I was embarrassed about that too, but I got over it when I conquered the hill!  When I was in school (15-20 years ago) I hated the days when we had to run in PE; although then I was able to do a mile in about 9 minutes (as a teenager).  I don't (yet) love running, but I love the way it makes me feel afterwards.

Those of you posting about running for an hour or more, even at a slow pace, are heroes to me.  I'm excited that if I stay on track with the C25K program, by the end of October I should be able to run for 30 minutes - something I've never been able to do in my life.

Sherry

Linden, Virginia

So I'm built for distance not speed, I'm ok with that.  Last weeks run was 47 1/2  miles, today another 7 with this weeks expected miles at 45.  My second 5K was last fall.  I was pretty new to running at that point and just in the "please let me finish without dying" mindset.  I was running this race with my sister but I loosely say running with because she is much faster than me.  We were car pooling would be a better term.  So as we're warming up and stretching pre race, we're talking about how we expect to finish.  I see this crunched over hobbling old lady coming to register for the race so very tongue in cheek I say "All I want to do is beat the old lady"....well looks are very deceiving.....fast forward to the start horn.  I'm plugging along doing ok and low and behold there is the old lady.  I catch up to her and start to pass thinking, well at least I'll beat her and wouldn't you know it, she speeds up and pases me.  Well this went on for the ENTIRE 5K and she BEAT ME!  How depressing.  Fast forward to my first 5K of this spring (I've done 2 5K's and a 10K so far this year).  Guess who was there and SHE BEAT ME AGAIN!!!! and yes, you guessed it, the next 5K the same.  I've decided there is either an army of crunched over hobbling old women in my area that look alike or this lady is one quick old broad.  Hats off to her.  I'll be running that same 5K where I first met her this November and my new goal will be to beat her or at least keep up with her......now remember, I'm running LOTS of miles and training for my first HM and I still don't run fast enough to pass a senior.....Good think I have a sense of humor!

cyndi t - LOL  very funny race account!

Just stumbled across this on a slow afternoon at work. I've been using Active.com to get into events near me and will be running a 5k in a couple of weeks. I'm on WW as well and have lost 30 pounds so far. I started running and have noticed that I'm more hungry because of it and this week I've been going out too much. I hope I even out and find a balance soon.

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one out there. It's great to see what you have done. You ROCK!!

Catherine

Just finished Week 7!  now on to 28 min runs. Woo hoo!!!

I am in the 16 min mile mark so still pretty slow but I do see improvement in my speed.