Welcome Angel. Why not aim for a half marathon this time next year? Plenty of training plans to get you there. Glad to have you aboard our growing group.

Lane-You are a brave soul!  I don't think I could have made it with a chest cold.

Jess- Good for you!  You are a finisher!!

MominMN - Welcome!!  So glad to have you here!  This is such a great group!

JoggerLegs - What a cool goal to work toward!  Maybe some of your fellow finishers will eventually be able to work toward that goal with you!!

Drew - I'm so impressed that you push though this after working 16 hour shifts.  That is AMAZING!!

Eric and Dimplz - Congrats on the weight loss!!  Definitely inspirational!

SML - Take care of yourself!!  You don't want to get injured and take yourself out of the game!!

SlogOn - I think of you when I run, when I feel like quitting.  Your dedication keeps me going. 

Angel - So glad to have you here.  Welcome!

I finished W4D3 today.  It was tough, but not too terrible.  I did NOT feel like doing my strength training after, but got it out of the way while I was there.  I have a DATE tonight, so I won't have time to go back to the gym tonight.  Woohoo!

I'm a little nervous about week five as well, but knowing we are all in this together will keep me going I'm sure. 

Good luck to everyone on Day Three.  You can do it!!!

Lisa 

Thanks for the welcome everyone!  Some of you asked for a bit more info - so here goes.  I'm training to run one fourth of a marathon this May in Fargo.  The marathon route gets split into four sections for people who want to run as part of a team.  That means I'll need to run a little over six miles.  My husband keeps reassuring me that I don't have to "run" all six miles, I just have to "go" six miles (easy for him to say - he's finished 11 marathons!  ).   I live in the suburbs of Minneapolis, work as a teacher (part-time), and am mom to three great kids aged 10, 5, and 2.  Unlike some of you, I haven't been able to go in a notch yet on my belt, but I keep telling myself that 30 minutes on the treadmill is so much better for me than 30 minutes sitting on the couch.

Thanks again Finishers!  MomInMN

I don't care what anyone says - that 20 minute run is looming large! I'm goig to have to do some mental mud wrestling with that one this weekend & force it to submit - LOL. I think I know what I'm going to do to wrap my mind around it. We have a wicked storm moving in tonight - it will start with a nice 4-8" of snow layer, then follow up with a 'filling' of ice pellets & freezing rain, topped off by the same amount of snow again. A winter cake! Did I mention brisk easterly winds to go with it?

So I'm going to go out & do W4D3 in that. IF, (big if), I can manage the last session of what I've found to be a tough week in that weather, then I can handle next week & most importantly, that last big run. The route I'm using tomorrow may not be well ploughed but it's a wide & open road that still manages to provide some shelter from the worst of the blowing stuff. It has great visibility for drivers who don't use it much in daytime anyway So from that standpoint, it will be safe. If I get discouraged, I can look over to the old harness track & think of the trotters & pacers who spent so many hours jogging THEIR laps.

I'm going to pay special attention to eating this evening & early tomorrow. I'm wondering if part of the reason I've not had great runs is what and/or when I'm eating before my runs. I wouldn't expect it to be a huge issue at this stage but I should probably eat more complex carbs in the evening before & make sure I eat something with more readily available fuel shortly before a run.

Hey folks, just think. By late Saturday, maybe Sunday for a few, we'll be FOUR weeks into this 9 week program - almost halfway there! By midweek, we ARE halfway there. I keep think that by the time I do my last C25K run, we'll be in the earliest stages of spring here & I'm thinking that I'll be, in keeping with the seaosn, 'born' as a fledgling runner who's earned the right to say, (out loud!): "I'm a runner." Right now, I consider myself a conditional runner at best. I've never stuck with anything in terms of a physical program for anything close to 9 weeks so if I do... yup, I'm a runner.

Even better - a finisher!

Let's all finish this week well, those of us who're not quite there yet.

Jawja- don't dwell on it- I have the same problem.  My 5'8 large frame at 178 pounds can run, no pains, but my lungs are struggling.  I have resigned to just keep going and ignore them.  Its getting better week by week.  I got some advise to exhale thoroughly a few times during the runs to get rid of the carbon dioxide that builds up and that seems to help some.  Just blow out hard till you feel your lungs are completely empty.  Then return to breathing as  you were.  I'm right there with you!  Keep going and it will get better.

I just did W5D1 and it was good!!!!  I'm so surprised because W4D1 scared me.  I actually got in the "groove" during the second 5 minute run, (there are 3) and didn't want to stop when he said stop!  It felt smooth.  I was ready for the last 5 minutes before he said go.  I waited, and think 8 minutes on Sunday is going to be attainable!  I'm not nervous anymore about the end of next week.  I really do believe this program is building us each workout to be better for the next.  Don't worry about Week 5 guys, its a smooth transition from week 4!  You are ready and can do it.  The weather is the problem I know for a lot of you- and I don't have that to deal with.  Its 41 here this morning.  I was inside today on TM, but think I'll go out and do W5D2 on the high school track.  By the way- when people post "my DH said..."  what does that stand for? Dear Husband!?LOL

Thanks for the welcome everyone!! I am so glad to be here!

Hey Alcesalces, Mominmn and Beachbum I live in MN too Wayzata I love it there wonderful place to run in the spring/summer/fall.  I am not a pro so winter running in our lovely below zero weather just makes me wanna cry.  

Anyhoo I am too pumped about running 20mins.  I really love to run. Sometimes I dread it like getting out of the bed warming the car and thnking of the burn that is coming but once I get going I am all good!  My last run was wonderful!  I am looking forward to my W4D3 looks like I will have to do it Sunday instead of tomorrow. No worries though I am gettin it in. (I bought new shoes so that makes a world of differnce) Oh and I will be focusing on running a 1/2 marathon by next January I think I was just scared to make it a goal I mean its a little scary 13miles !!!  I know with help from you guys I can do it!

As far as my eathing is concerned I am doing gradual life change type things and adding the one week at a time.  Like last week it was to drink 10oz of water before each meal.  This week was to add flaxseed to my breakfast every day.  Next week I will add in eating slower and not eating while doing something else, watching tv, reading etc.  I figure if I do them gradually I can gauge what is helping me to loose and keep it up.  This far for the month of January I have lost 5 pounds.  I am a big girl and want to loose like 30 pounds by June so if I keep up 5 pounds a month I will make my goal.  I keep telling myself slow and steady wins the race.....

Oh so after this is done the C25K what is the next move for everyone?

Jawja and Beachbum-- me too.  My legs are okay, but it's the breathing.  Sometimes I just can't get enough.  I'll try the exhaling a few times to get everything out.

Today's my final fun in W4, then on to W5!  I'm trying to think of that 20 minute run as a great goal but maaaaan 20 min u t e s. . .

We'll see how it goes-- maybe we'll all surprise ourselves!!