Beginner C25K Questions

pennstated912

I just started C25K today and I wanted to ask about a few of your experiences with it. Sorry in advance for the barrage of questions. I ran my first exercise today and these were the things I thought about when I got done:

For those that have done it, were you doing it to maintain or lose weight? How well did it work for you? Also, if you were running on a treadmill, what speed and incline did you use? 

Also, did you supplement on your off days with strength training of any kind? What was it?

Did you actually run a 5k at the end of the program and did you improve your time?

I am truly excited about starting this! I think this is going to be a great motivation for me given all the health problems I've been having lately. There is a 5k in September that I plan on participating in. 

TIA for all the advice! 

SoSaysTara

When I started Couch to 5K, I was unsure of my fitness goals.  I was at the beginning of this journey, though, and really unsure of what I wanted out of it.

 It took me from June to November (2010) to complete the Couch to 5K program.  I repeated weeks a lot, I needed to.  I was also so out of shape that I had a few weeks of "Week 0" before starting the program officially.  Ultimately, I did lose weight through Couch to 5K, but I was also majorly changing my other fitness and nutrition habits.

I did not do strength training initially, but should have.

 I did not use a treadmill initially -- only in the winter, and my program took me through summer and fall.

 By November 2010, I ran a 5K in about 40 minute.

 

I kept running after finishing Couch to 5K.. I have practiced a lot and improved since then!

 

 This last April (2012), I ran a 5K in just under 33 minutes.  I want to get my time under 30 minutes soon.

pennstated912

Thanks for the response! I've decided to do some at-home strength training (push ups, crunches, leg extensions) on my days off that way I'm still moving. Hopefully this will finally be the push I need to get in to shape.

Congrats on the weight loss! That take some true commitment and you should be extremely proud! I'm looking to lose around 20 lbs and finally keep it off!

 

ajetter

::  came from the bump to lurk over here and felt compelled to respond ::

The C25K was the start of my journey to getting in shape, losing weight, and just being happier in my own skin.  It sparked quite the journey and a surprising love for running.  Since starting I have run several 5Ks, a couple of 10Ks and two half marathons.

I started on the treadmill because I was terrified of running outside.  I think my starting walk pace was between 3.5-4.0, and my run pace was between 5.2-5.6.  I rarely used an incline in the beginning.  After a few weeks I ventured outside, which I much preferred, and probably would have liked better in the beginning, simply because I was using an app and it was nice to just go with the flow and follow the prompts.

On off days I either walked or did one of Jillian Micheal's workout videos (30 Day Shred and 6 Week Six Pack).  Eventually I joined a gym and started doing weights and fitness classes as well.

I did run a 5k at the end of the program, and finished in 33:31.  It was the first 5k I had ever run without walking so I had no time to compare it too.

Honestly starting that program was one of the best things I've ever done for myself.  I've included  links to some of my blog posts about my journey, but if you go to my blog and click on the 'mcfatty monday' and 'move it monday' labels, you can see pretty much everything I've done health and fitness wise since starting.  Good luck on your journey!

the post that started it all

progress photos

meeting my weight loss goal

reflecting on a year's journey

one year after my first 5k