Hi Janet!  Thanks for the advice.  I have actually already started the program.  I started 3/8/10 so I am done with the first week.  It went pretty well.  I have been seen for my knee issues, and actually had arthoscopic surgery about 7 years ago.  I'm always going to have to baby my knees, because they hurt sometimes when i do hikes, etc.  When I have kept on a decent weight training and cardio schedule, i have always felt better.  Even the things that i have problems with (knees/back) feel better because i'm working out and keeping them strong.

But when I slack off, my body goes to h-ll!  LOL  And i'm 43, so I cant bounce back in 2 weeks like i used to. So im just taking it real easy and hopefully I will keep going and not allow myself to slack off again.

The toughest part of getting and staying in shape is getting started.  I would encourage you to take the first step and then track your progress on dailymile.com.  This will provide you with an instant support group to cheer you on and provide motivation.  I warn you that there will be days that you feel like quitting and days that you will think that you have found your calling.  That's just how running is.  Hopefully, you will learn to love and embrace your new lifestyle.  Good luck and enjoy your journey to a healthful lifestyle!!

http://runridelive.blogspot.com

I just posted something similar to your question and I found this thread; it helped me immensely.  My biggest fear is being considered a quitter (in my own mind)....there are many things that I've quit over the years and it made me mad at myself for not following through not to mention that it made me physically sick as in chronic anxiety in the pit of my stomach for not being able to meet my own expectations.

My husband told me this morning that the one thing that I had to conquer was the too high expectations that I set for myself.  I have a daughter who runs ultra marathons and more than anything else, I want to stay up with her......the point of making such a statement is absolutely ridiculous because there is a 33 year gap between us and I have no business trying to keep up with my kids.....I need to do my own thing.

So, I'm going to persevere and follow all the good advice on this thread.  It comes from people who are absolutely okay with the fact that not everyone is the same nor do we have to compete with one another.

dubiousrunner wrote:

 

I just posted something similar to your question and I found this thread; it helped me immensely.  My biggest fear is being considered a quitter (in my own mind)....there are many things that I've quit over the years and it made me mad at myself for not following through not to mention that it made me physically sick as in chronic anxiety in the pit of my stomach for not being able to meet my own expectations.

 

My husband told me this morning that the one thing that I had to conquer was the too high expectations that I set for myself.  I have a daughter who runs ultra marathons and more than anything else, I want to stay up with her......the point of making such a statement is absolutely ridiculous because there is a 33 year gap between us and I have no business trying to keep up with my kids.....I need to do my own thing.

 

So, I'm going to persevere and follow all the good advice on this thread.  It comes from people who are absolutely okay with the fact that not everyone is the same nor do we have to compete with one another.

I replied to you on the other thread, but I will reply again here.  First of all, if you are having trouble meeting your own "high expectations" then maybe - just maybe - you have an arbitrary goal that doesn't correlate with your own natural abilities.  Just because a program called C25K says you will be running 3 miles in 9 weeks doesn't mean that is the right goal for every single person.  It is a generality.  Secondly, just because your daughter runs ultras doesn't mean you are cut out to do that.  (On the flip side, none of my grown sons run no matter how much I try to get them go to out with me!)

Keep this in mind:  long before C25K came along most recreational runners like us just learned to run on our own.  I started running in 1996 when I was 34.  There was no C25K - as far as I know of, anyway - and I didn't even have the Internet to look up training plans and advice.  I just went out and started walking.  I walked for months before I even thought about running (running wasn't my initial goal, I just wanted to start getting some exercise.)   I just started running when I felt like it and then followed my own instincts to run farther and faster over time.  I hardly knew anything about running as a sport, but I just did what felt right to me.  When I entered my first 5K I didn't even have a time goal, I only entered it because it was to benefit my son's school.  It was so fun I went out and signed up for a 10K.   I have continued to run off and on for years now and enjoy races for fun.  I am a happy "middle-of-the-pack" runner with no worries.  I have my limitations and accept them because my expectations from running are just to enjoy running!  So if I don't ever run a marathon - the ultimate goal of every runner - then I am still happy just to run.  I am not going to be miserable or give up because I haven't reached that goal and don't know for sure that I ever will (I have run a half marathon, though).  Again, the key is that I love running for running itself.  I can't stress that enough.  Once you reach that place, you can give yourself "permission" to take as long as you need to reach that 3 mile goal.  If you enjoy running for the sake of running, you won't need to beat yourself up for not reaching an arbitrary goal in an arbitrary time period.  I understand that 3 miles is important because it is a 5K race distance.  And I think that it is an attainable goal for most people who can run at all (in other words if you can run, you can probably run 3 miles sooner or later).   For now just try to enjoy where you're at and what your body CAN do.  Don't focus on what it CAN'T do.  Run as far as you can run and revel in it.  When you can run farther, then run farther.  ENJOY THE PROCESS!    Once you truly love running, then you will begin to go places with it you never even dreamed.

These responses are awesome!  How often do you feel this way and just want someone to help... THANKS everyone!  I'm saving this thread for a rainy day!

The only 'failure'  you can have is to stop trying.  Don't worry about speed, pace, walking vs running, etc.   Like a bunch of people here my first experience training was humiliating and painful.  I was close to 50 and a bit overweight.  After the C25K program I ran my first 5K in 39:40.  I felt like I had just cured cancer I was so proud.  That was four or five years ago.

I'm still a 'back of the packer', but my PR on a 5K now is 29:45.  I have three marathons and numerous halfs under my belt.  I am so glad I stuck with it.

Here is a hint most people will agree with.  Whether you are doing a 5K training or Marathon- the first mile or so really stinks.  You go thru a bunch of self talk that is not very helpful - this hurts, it's a bad day, I'll stop and try again later, I had too much to eat before I left.  etc.  Push through that first mile or so and you'll be golden.  I still go through that lousy first mile on at least one of my three weekly training days.