I am soooo happy to get your messages.  It is encouraging.  After we 'wrapped' it up, somehow I thought I could continue to increase my speed and mileage as quickly as we had over the time we were together.  WRONG!  My body hadn't yet adapted to the 3 miles so when I pushed it, I got discouraged.  My knee hurt and the bottoms of my feet hurt.  I cut back majorly.

I am looking back with hindsight that I should've just kept doing intervals at a really slow speed and stayed at under an hour for a couple more months.  I had signed up for a 10k on March 14th thinking that BY THEN, I can run a full 6 miles.  It's humbling to be patient with my body. 

You have all made me feel really really good and motivated to get your messages.  I can do it.  I can do it.  I can do it.  I am going out today and running intervals of 5 minutes or less for an hour at a really really slow speed.  Huggs to you all!

Pee Wee!

I know exactly what you mean.  I was so discouraged when my hips kept hurting.  Once I let go of the thought of adding mileage in a set time limit, and I focused on fitness, it made me feel much better.  I set my watch for intervals of 3 minutes running 1 minute walking.  It keeps my heart rate up the entire time, and every time, I add another interval.  I am doing about 7 right now.  Each time I run, I evaluate how my hip feels.  If it is good, then I can add another interval.  If it is tight or feels like I will have a problem, I keep it at the same interval. I have noticed that I am able to run faster than I can run when I am running for longer times.  I thought I would try a program, but I felt like that was pressuring me beyond what my body could do right now.  You may want to try something like this as well.  I just keep reminding myself that every person is different, and that fitness is the main goal.  You can do it!

Kendra

congrats on your accomplishment!

keeping track of your times is GREAT-and in a way I feel sorry for those folks our age who have been running for 20-30 years-all THEIR p.r.'s are behind them-while as new runners  OUR p.r.s are ahead of us!!!!

I had a milestone myself this morning- one I have thought about  EVERY day since I started the C25K on 10-3-09.

the big deal for me-was that this morninjg I took my young Lab. out for a 3 mile run. I have run consistently indoors all winter on an indoor track-and my times have been OK- but for a variety of reasons I have only run outside 2 times since Newyears Day.

It was just a super experience-and a MUCH anticipated one. we ran along the same trail I started the c25k on just 5 months ago-and it was great fun to  remember sloogging along counting out every second of walk/run intervals last fall.

Annie ( my young La)0 LOVED it it-but of course she is wiped out now and sleeping it off!.

stephen

Great job! You should be proud!!!!

Goodluck this sunday, you will do great!

I am starting Today! I have been thinking of this for a year. I ran track in HS but stopped. Once I married and stayed home with my children, I became even more out of shape. (No time it seemed.)  I want to get in better shape for them and for myself. I am 36 with 4 year old twins and an 8 year old daughter.  My husband is a great help but works A Lot!

OK, I DID it! I did the first workout of Week 1 of the CP5K, and I am staggered at how good I felt afterward! Also I am amazed at how far I was able to run before walking... baby steps for most human beings, but way better than I dreamed of doing. Good start. Mood improved for a few hours after but faded. Maybe that will improve over time, too?