Good morning everyone!  This is only my second time posting, but I've been enjoying the inspiration of everyone. 

I just lost a whole week of training .  A few weeks ago my knee started to bother me and I just thought it was another out of shape muscle getting used to all of this, so I kept running.  Bad idea!  Turns out I tore some tendons and it got really bad last Monday when I forced it too much.  I've been ordered to rest it, ice it, and do strengthening exercises.  It's almost completely better now and after seeing the doctor tonight I hope he gives the thumbs up to get back out there.

I was just starting W5 when this happened and now I feel like I need to repeat at least a day of W4 to ease back into it.  So annoying as everyone else is going into at least W6 now. 

Thanks in part to keeping up with this thread though, I'm not going to quit.  I'm still motivated.  A little delayed, but not out of the game. 

Thanks to you all for keeping me on track through this rough patch.  I'm glad to see everyone getting past their own struggles and not giving up!

*** One last thing.  My Display Name isn't showing on my posts.  It wants to show my first and last even though I unchecked the box to show publicly.  Is anyone having this problem?  Know how to fixt it? ***

Ok third time's the charm, right.  I just started W4D1 for the third time.  This time I did it!  I think what's killing me is not the last 5 minute run, but the short recovery time before it - only 1:30 minutes.  I noticed on W5 there are three 5 minute runs, but the recovery time between each is 3 minutes.  I actually think that might be easier.  But I'm going to go ahead and finish out this week at the W4 pace and forge on ahead next week.  Thank you to all of you who keep me on track with your support and inspiration!

Just ran for twenty straight minutes for the first time in my forty years!  I am so pumped.  I'm embarassed how many times in my life I said I just can't run.  With the plan I'm using (5K Runner) there's no going back to intervals.  So this is it - gradually increasing runs until I'm up to 35 minutes.  Technically I could be done by next week.  Amazing.

Thank you so much to everyone in this group.  Please keep posting.

Hi everyone! I'm sorry I didn't respond to several encouraging posts, but I was on vacation and really only signed on the one day. I have been receiving everyone's posts through email and you are all so inspiring! I did W5D3 yesterday and tackled the 20 minute run. However, I am thinking of skipping W6D1 because it seems like a step backwards. W6D2 and 3 look more appropriate. I guess I'll just do day 2 twice this week. I have no idea how well I'm doing for distance, because I'm using my ipod touch (I don't have an iphone-yet! Waiting for the 5). I'm signed up for a 5K at the end of September, so I guess I can work on improving my speed once I'm finished with the app, or do TisforTiara's idea and use the app to jog the walks and run the jogs.

Wow looks like almost everyone checked in.  Hopefully the rest will soon.  Loving all the updates.

mb:  Great job for you and your daughter.   The boardwalk run sounds nice.  You must be so pumped that you did the 20 minutes.  You should be so proud. 

I’ve been seeing Doctor’s about it for a year.  Not migraines as I don’t get headaches with them.  Their best guess is some sort of seizures.  (Those aren’t the only type of spells I have.)  They want to do inpatient testing and I have a 4 year old.  I just don’t trust anyone to watch him for days while they test for that.  Other than a few times when I had to (Maybe 3) I haven’t even driven since last year because of this.  Even if they did the testing they can’t rule out seizures just because I don’t have one.  Rarely I will have it happen twice a day, but most often it’s once or twice a week.   Only there are frequent times when I don’t have one for 2 or 3 weeks.

Lauramom I think when you see the thread you see your real name (annoying BTW) but everyone else sees your screen name.   At least I see my name but everyone replies to me with GeoWolf. 

I’m sorry you got benched.  I know how that feels.   I was going to start a May group after I did my W1D3 jog. but I fell and lost almost a month.  (some of that because of an illness and death in the family.)   I hope your doctor gives you the OK to get back to it.  Don’t worry about a week I know that I’ll be here past 9 weeks even if things go perfectly, and I’m not sure I won’t be repeating weeks.   I will commit to stick around as long as anyone on this thread needs support.  I want to see us all reach our goals.

If it hadn’t been for the injury I’d say that a week is nothing you should be able to pick up where you left off.  But I think with one you are not sure about repeating a day is likely a good thing.  See what your doctor thinks.  Looking forward to your update.

Mom2:  Good for you getting back into it.  It’s hard to run when you are on vacation.  So many other things going on.  I wanted to start C25K back again in Feb but I knew I was going to CO for a week and I was sure that jogging at 8,000+ feet was not going to work even if I found the time to try it.  We went so hard most of the time that I know there was no way I’d have kept up.  If I go to FL to visit family I will keep up with it because I don’t really consider that a vacation.   Even if I did it’s one thing to try and keep up jogging after C25K it’s another to do it in the first few weeks.  We are glad to have you back.

Missouri:  Congratulations on doing the jogs.  When you are feeling winded or your legs are tired those longer walks can be a godsend.  I actually found that after W4’s short breaks they seemed a little long to me.  Held myself back after the 1^st run but when I knew I only had one more I went at 4 minutes and tossed in some extra when I was still feeling good.  For me adding some extra time if I can without struggling too much gives me a boost so the next level doesn’t seem quite so scary.  I’m having trouble keeping track of all the different programs and who is doing what.  How quickly does your week jump?  Or would you rather not look and worry? 

Tiara:  WTG on the run.  As for the time just keep reminding yourself that you are worth it.  This is good for your body and your soul.  My feeling is if you want to step it up start out at your normal pace and when you get to a point that you are sure you can finish then step it up if you want to.  Otherwise just do the speed up after you complete the program. 

Camaro:  25 minutes is awesome.  Don’t sweat the distance right now if you are going for time.  I know it’s hard not to, but if you try to run out of your comfort zone it could cause problems.  I do hope you make the distance by the end of the week, but if you don’t you will soon.  I’d love to get that wave, but I’ve never seen another jogger on my street at any time and I’ve lived here for about 10 years.  I guess I’ll have to wait until I’m somewhere less rural.  Maybe when I’m in FL next time. 

Sunni:  Congratulations.  I’m so jealous of all the 20 minute plus jogs posted tonight.   It’s making me want to go out and try it tonight.  I know bad idea and I have no intention of trying it, but I am dying to.  I agree about W6D1.  I can’t figure it out it seems like such a huge backward step.  I’ve always been confused by week W5D3 thru W6D2.  It just seems out of order and like they should move the 20 minute jog to the end of those days.  I’d say to do what you are comfortable with.  That’s what I do.  Let us know how it works out for you. 

As much as I want to jog now I'm thinking I might not make it past tomorrow night before I go for it.  But I'll wait and see how my legs feel.  They are a little sore right now.  I've been doing some stretches trying to work the soreness out. 

OMG @KristiRPhTX:  I'm glad you are all right!  What a close call.  Definitely take a few days off to recover and make sure you are ok.

Thanks for the encouraging words everyone.  You are all doing so well and it's exciting to read about each day.  The doctor wants me to be pain free for a week (maybe two) before running.  I know it's for the best, but I'm dying to get out there.  I'll follow doctor's orders though. 

I still get to feel involved by coming here and keeping up with all the progress.  It's keeping me motivated and excited to get back on the program.

Keep up the good work!!!  

....oh, and thanks for explaining the display name thing.  That is really odd.

Wow Kristi, glad you are alright!

Tis, sorry about your bad news, hope it all works out for the best for you!