Hello all. I finished W3D3 today. Everything is going quite well. I'm really getting hooked. My question is for those of you who run outside: How do you figure out how far you ran? When I get up to the longer (20 minute) chunks, I'd like to get outside. The treadmill is great for keeping track of the intervals and pace, but I think long periods of just running would get really boring.

Finally I can log in and post!  I don't know WHAT was going on this weekend...

Anyway I did my W2D4 on Saturday at the local community college.  They have a 1/4 mile dirt track but also a shaded trail that's about 2 miles I think.  I want to eventually find out the exact length, but for that day I was just glad to run/walk snake-free.  And I run for time right now anyway.  Today is another move up day, W3D1.  Looking forward to it!

Teresa:  My program is 4 days/week until weeks 7 and 8, then it goes to 5 days/week.  Here it is:  http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-380-381--9397-2-1X5-3,00.html  I want to get a good base, so I'll just see how I feel when after I graduate C25K.  From there I'll probably pick up one of Hal Higdon's programs again unless I find something else I like better.

If you decide to add a day, make sure to begin incorporating them as light running days.  Since I started from W1D1 with my program, I'm already used to 4 days/week.  If you look at the program I'm doing, it might make moe since how an extra day is added (already running 20+ minutes per run since W2D1).  I can totally understand where you are coming from about having an extra day so you can move up, it has certainly helped me!  But iIf you go ahead and add in one day with the same running times, and your knee is already aching a bit, you increase your workout per week to 33.3% and your knee may throw a fit.  I guess just see how you do during that extra run and go from there?

Good luck whichever way you choose!

So I ran my 5k for W3D3 on Saturday.

Actually, I just finished it...it was awful...all hills...blech.

I did finish the W3D3 workout, but I abandoned my race strategy when I had to keep climbing hills...I'm not ready for tons of hills yet.

Anyway...now on Week 4.

W3D1 down!  And I did my usual strength training beforehand.  It went really well today, so I was pretty happy with it.

Teresa:  When looking at my program, check ouy how they are adding a day...that's what I meant.  Then use the same idea with your plan if your plan is more suitable!  Which it sounds like that what you've already done?  Already added a day?

Smashville:  WTG on the race!  I can't do hills either right now, but gosh, you did a race!  I've never done one, so you got me beat!  Don't y'all get goodies and such at races?

rcktgirl:  Cool about the Nike+, I've been thinking about getting something like that or Garmin one day when I have the extra money (after I find a JOB?  lol).  I don't know the differences between them as far as function and all, but they sound useful and fun!

Rcktgirl--Thanks for all of that information. I'm not ready for such a high tech gadget yet, but I know I will be eventually. I'm thinking about putting it on my Christamas list.

I did W4D1 today. I was really scared about those 5 minute intervals, but I managed to huff my way through them. It really is about mind over matter, isn't it!

When I was about to start Week 3, I was nervous about the 3 minute runs and I ended up being fine.  So when Week 4 approached, even though I was denying it, I was a little nervous about the 5 minute runs.  But I've been able to do those too.  what was really hard about week 4 for me was that as the running times increase, the walking parts are also decreasing!  I understand the point of it, but it doesn't make it any easier!  I did finish W4D2 yesterday but I'm realizing that this may be the week that I need to extend.  When I get to Week 5 on Saturday, I'll try it to see how it goes.  I just really don't see myself going from struggling for 5 minutes today to being able to run 20 minutes straight a week from now (W5D3)  that seems like a much larger increase than in earlier weeks!

But then again, that's probably the problem... that I don't see myself being able to do it.  Maybe I'll work on my visualization and positive reinforcement this week!