Wow I have the exact same feeling! I completed W5D3 this morning. I told myself I couldn't look at the app while I was running, but I broke down and looked and only had 2 1/2 mins left-I was shocked. I HATED W1D1, thought there was no way I was ever going to run past 1 minute, but look where we are! Kudos to us-haha! I agree-take your time, follow the program, repeat if you feel like you need to and it will happen. I promise-if I can do it, anyone can!

folks, I can tell you that it ABSOLUTELY gets easier-a  LOT easier.

Here is my back story- I did the C25K in october 2009-went on,over time to do several 5k's,10 ks and in 2010 a Half marathon- I ran pretty consistently untill  January 2012 when  a kidney stone situation put me out of commision  for 3 months

I  am 50- a pretty big guy and I work an active construction trade-----so coming back from the kidney situation  I decided to conserve my energy and make sure I could work---- so I didn't run for  8 months or so

I am redoing the C25k---and I am doing it with absolute confidence  because I know it works.

Please believe me- it DOES get easier- both physically and mentally.

I would say about 80% of it is mental because what you are really doing is learning to controll yourself-to PACE yourself- to push when you need to----but more importantly to RESTRAIN yourself when you need to.

most of you won't know it yet- but most of the physical issues you may be struggling with will be greatly eased is you slow down just a bit.-speed will come later.

any time you are trying to achieve a new distance-slow down!--after you have run that distance a few times you can bring the pace up----- but at first just slow down and run the distance.

some of you may be looking at that first 20 minute run with a bit of dread-just slow down a bit and run it-it will be OK

in fairness- I really didn't have any problem my first time with the C25K------- but a few weeks later I was trying to  hit 4 miles for the first time on an unfamiliar trail. I pushed to hard and ended up giving up late in the run and walking.  I rounded a bend on the trail and realized I had quit about 200 yards from the end and man was I mad at my self.

48 hours later I went back and ran the same 4 miles on the same trail---and I CRUSHED it, because I absolutely knew I could do it.

just take your time and work the program as designed. A few weeks from now you will be able to run 3 or 4 or 5 miles at a clip-at any time!--a few months from now you may find that you are looking forward to that sundays long run which is 10 miles and you will laugh at yourself for ever dreading ANY week during the C25K

Best wishes,

stephen