Thank you Kendra, Aprillilly, and Jasmine. You all have the gift of encouragement. I would love to join your thread one day, Jess. For now I'm planning to finish the last two weeks of C25K. Then I will work on covering the 3.1 miles.

W8D1 completed this morning. This is my first run since the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot.

I  won't be joining you on your 10K thread Jess. While running I was able to think more clearly. I am way too slow and I have to work up to covering 3.1 miles. If I try to increase my mileage I am afraid I will get hurt. It doesn't feel like the right time for me to move up. As you've  told us you had been hiking before you started this program. I've only been exercising regularly since May 09 and I was walking from May to September.

I would love to run a 10K one day but I better take things slow and steady. I'd like to run for the rest of my earthly life. I don't want it to be something I was only able to do for six or seven months.

When the time is right and when I am stronger I do plan to increase my running mileage.

Our 10 y/o son and I are signing up for another 5K in January. The proceeds will help to build an orphanage in Africa. Our other two children will run a 1/4 mile fun run for kids.

~Karen~

Hi Kendra,

I'm sorry you are hurting. Good idea just to walk/run. Have you been doing your stretches, eating enough protein,  and getting enough sleep? Maybe you should stop running completely for two or three days. I couldn't run at all after the race. Today was my first day since the race. My hips were burning. I thought it was because I'm turning into an old bag but my son said his hips were hurting too.

I am going to finish the C25K. I am signing up for another 5K in January. After I complete the C25 K I'm going to run the mileage instead of the time.

I'm also thinking about contacting the coach of a local running club.  The fee is cheap. The focus of the group is on increasing speed for 5 Ks. They have one meeting that is on 6 AM once a week. I could make that one before my husband goes to work. That will fit right in with my homeschool schedule.

Besides that, I bought subscriptions for Runner's World and Running Times for dirt cheap on eBay. I used a 25% off coupon for them at Barnes & Noble and I will read those slowly  until my subscription begins.

Get well soon!

~Karen~

P.S. I had a scare. My husband picked up my Singulair RX and lost it after paying for it. We called the store a few times and no one had turned it in. I called a few pharmacies and they all would charge me $140 to replace it. I have insurance but they won't cover the cost of your RX early if you lose it. Well, my husband found the medicine in his trunk on Saturday. We were elated. I was feeling too cheap to pay $140 and I was feeling very sad about possibly not being able to run without the medicine.

Thanks for the link Pearson Flyer to measure my distance

I guess I'm running 15-20 minute miles covering 2.5 - 3 miles.  You know... as I'm typing this... my mind is switching from "I'm so slow." to "That's amazing!!!"  Two months ago, I could barely make 60 seconds!!!  Yesterday I ran a full hour.  Who da man?  Who da man?  I gotta get out my white Pee Wee Herman boots and dance on the bar, eh?

I swapped over to the new 10k thread and got really cranky with all of the 'new' people.  I'm one of those folks that take a while to warm up to an internet group.  It was about a month before I stopped lurking and started posting - where I got to trust you all.  As a group, you all are neato kind folks, not the typical internet people.  I'm thinking that it's time for me to venture out into the 'real' world and find a group that runs once a week.

I did a bit of research and Fleet Feet has three runs each week: 

One Co-ed that goes 3-5 miles - This would be future for me.

One Women's that goes 40-45 minutes - This is the one I'm gonna check out and if I like it, commit to joining every week.

One I didn't write down cause it was way over my current ability.

Fleet Feet also has a training program that starts sometime in the next couple of months for training for a 5k that I think I'd like to do as well. 

But for now...  I've reached my previous goal of being able to run 45-60 minutes.  I am way happy with my determination.  Remember how many people started with us?  I wonder how many of them are back sitting on the couch?  I feel stronger.  I feel taller.  I feel thinner.  I feel happier.  That's what I wanted to achieve and I love when those endorphins kick in and give me that runner's high

So...  how to I segway into the future now that I've completed the program?  I'm confident that I will continue running, the benefits have been awesome!  Rather than move onto another program, I'm going to focus on enjoying my one hour runs for the next few months.  Maybe my distance will increase, maybe not. 

One thing I do know for sure, is that now I look forward to my runs!!!

Congratulations, WetSneakers!

PeeWee, I've also looked at the Fleet Feet programs here.  Unfortunately, the only thing they do that's even remotely close to my skill level is a weekly 4-mile run, and I don't think I can regularly do 4 miles.

I'm preparing for the 5k run this weekend by doing a 3.1 mile circuit around my neighborhood.  Tonight, I did it in 29 minutes.  If I can meet that during the race, I can achieve my goal of "under 30 minutes".  But it was tough to do, and I'm going to need a couple of days' rest.

I think I'm going to have to start plotting out another route, because I'm getting bored with this one.  Variety is the spice of life, and keeps me interested in running, I guess.

Kendra, running on the treadmill sounds like a great idea. Have a great trip.

Shell, thanks for mentioning the One Hour Runner program. I checked out the schedule. That looks like something I might be able to handle after the C25K. It looks fairly gentle.

PearsonFlyer, that's a great time you ran!

~Karen~

Long time lurker first time poster. Just wanted to say congrats to everyone who has completed the program.

I actually started on 10/5 of this year along with 3 other friends. At the time, I weighed around 320 pounds and thought I was going to die after the first day. Thank God for my friends as they really encouraged me to continue. Around the middle of the program we switched to distance based running rather than timed running. As of yesterday I finished W9D1 and ran the entire 3 miles in a little over 37 minutes. I am now down to 292 pounds. I ran (had to walk a little) my second 5k a couple of weeks ago and came in at 42 minutes. I have another 5k scheduled for New Years Day which I hope to finish in under 40 minutes.

The biggest challenges have thus far been all mental. I know I can do it, I just have to tell myself that I can. This program really works and I look forward to graduating this Friday.

If I can do it then I know anyone can do it.

Peace,

Mike