Hey everyone, haven't checked in for awhile because law school is kicking my butt... however, I'm still keeping up with y'all!  I'll be doing W6D2 tomorrow, the last official day with walking O_o.  During week 4 I had to repeat a day because I was sick and my body just refused to let me finish the last interval on D2.  But I've kept up with the workous, despite the frost in the mornings, and I'm hoping to run a 5k at the beginning of December.

I couldn't BELIEVE the feeling I had when I finally finished the first 20 minute run.  It was truly incredible.  I think I ran about 2 miles (I do my running in a residential area so I'm not sure).  But it was AMAZING, I looked back at the last few weeks and thought... wow, I just DID this!  I'm in shape now!  I've never done this in my life and I finished!  It was so cool .

One thing I realized doing this C25k... once your body starts to get in shape, the rest is just a mental game. I do have some pain while running, mostly from my knees (yay runner's knee) but also in my shins, just from extending the workout.  But really, if you get your mind to keep your breathing under control, and you keep pushing yourself mentally... that's all running takes.  The physical flows from the mental.  How cool is that?

I've been wanting to answer some people but I haven't had the chance yet, so...

- to the lady who had teenage boys jeer at her... I'm also 5'6" and 145 lbs and you know what, we have a great body size We're healthy, despite what America says about women being tiny and flat bellied with no rolls... don't let those boys get to you, don't let them win, because you're getting in shape just like me and we're going to be so much healthier than them in the end!

- I'm glad the knee brace worked.  I also don't like depending on it, and I'm hoping some day to wean myself off of it, but for now it keeps me comfortable. And I'm only using it 30 minutes a day right now, three times a week, so I guess that's not terrible.

I think that's it... keep up the GREAT work, everybody!!  Your stories are SO inspiring and I think about you every time I'm out there running.  We can do this!! We're over halfway there, let's do it!

Finished W5D2 today. Did anyone else find it hard to restart the second 8 min run after that long walk between? I think I am going to like the continuous runs better, but 20 minutes still makes me really nervous. At least it looks like the weather should be a lot better for that run! Rest day then 20 minutes on Wednesday

I did it!  I did the 25 minutes!  Onto week 7, and no more walking!  Woohoo! 

I ended up skipping my Thursday run because my knee was bothering me and didn't get back out there until this morning. I had an AWFUL run, if I can even call it a run...  I didn't even make it around the track once.  Everything felt like lead and I just couldn't get going.  I'm guessing this has to be some strange mental thing since I know I can run for at least 5 minutes!  This is making me want to quit!!! I am PMS so that also might be contributing but it was so discouraging.  I'm hoping I can get up enough motivation to attempt it again on Tuesday.  How is everyone else doing?

So I took my son out of town to visit a University he is thinking of transfering to. I was forced to do my runs on the hotel's treadmill. BTW the workout room at this hotel was awesome. Anyway I found out I do NOT like running on a treadmill! I hated looking into the mirror in front of me and seeing myself as I run. I tried closing my eyes and concentrating on the music, lost my balance and almost fell off....

I guess now I really have to get some clothes that will allow me to run outside through the whole winter. Maybe if I used a treadmill more I would get used to it. Anyway I am looking forward to getting outside again for my next run. Not liking these long intervals. Thinking of doing another 20 min... should have one more interval run then the 25 day. What do you guys think? It seems hard to start running again after walking for more than 2 minutes...

hike2run - I am having a hard time busting through the 25 minutes also.  I have been doing two 60-90 walks in there.  I think I will hover at W7 for a while and see if I can break through.  Have you read any of Jeff Galloway's books?  He advises walking intervals.  I need to research it a little more though.

As for people dropping off a thread....every thread I have posted on has people that disappear.  In fact this is my second C25K program.  I had an injury, was off 6 weeks and started over.  My first time I joined a thread that had a about 20 people on it, they were all gung ho, and I know of only one person on that thread that finished the program.  The other 19 just disappeared!  Instead of posting they are having issues and need help or support, they just quit.  It's just too bad....

Melinda

sanandkids Your hip problem may have surfaced now because you are running for longer time periods with out a rest. If you are in week 6 then you just completed your 20 min continuous run. Not knowing where your pain is it could be sciatic, bursitis or even IT band pull. I know you don't have insurance but if the problem persists you really need to see a sports therapy doctor.

For now I would use ice and rest. Don't worry about getting behind, you won't loose all the fitness you gained in one week. But you will need to start at intervals again. Good luck and keep us posted.

I'm still lurking here. I had a MRI and they found  3 compression fractures 1 old and 2 new. I have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon to find out how/why they happened and what I can do about them.