Couch to 5k.....come join me!!

[slinky 0]

Malissa, wow i planned to come here and offer my support too. Congrats on making the decision to get healthy and using running to do it. Im right there with you. The ppl on this site are wonderful as you can see from the support youve been given already! I use several of them for guidance and support all the time.

But....then i saw that you registered for a 5k in July and that you live in FL... Im in FL too. I wonder if we're doing the same 5k. and if you live near me? Im in south FL (boynton bch to be exact). Let me know if you live near me. Im only a few weeks ahead of you if you decide to do the C25K program that Kathy posted. I took extra time on several of the weeks for the extra conditioning. let me know if you want to chat. you can contact me here or if you feel comfortable i can give you other ways to contact me as well.

Kathy and Suzanne, thanks for the support! I'm definitely using your examples for inspiration as i get closer to this race!

tc,

Carol

[malissa 0]

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

I live in the Tampa Bay area. The 5k I'm doing is called the 30th Annual Kiwanis Morton Plant Mease Midnight Run. It is by Honeymoon Island, the Dunedin Causeway.

I thought this was ideal because:

1) Nobody can see my big body jiggle (I'm still VERY overweight)

2) Nobody can see me cry (if I want to)

3) It won't be SO hot!!!

Unfortunately, I don't have a music player to train with.

(However, I did purchase the ipod nano tonight on Amazon!)

So I'm on my own for now. But thanks so much for providing those links!

I realize I can't "run" it - I just want to finish it by switching between walking and running.

Carol - maybe once I lose more weight and get faster we can do a race together!

Have a nice night,

Malissa

[slinky 0]

Malissa nope im doing my race on the 18th i think...(its on my signature) here in west palm beach. mine is an evening run too. and dont u dare cry...lol as one of the ppl who used to post on here regularly named Whosya. he started running VERY heavy and just kept at it. and a little over 1 1/2 yrs after banding he ran a 1/2 marathon. He taught me so much and introduced me to the ppl here. He says there are no bad runs...cuz u get something out of each one. i try to remember that and find a learning experience from EVERY time i run.

I tend to report every run either that day or shortly after it. im very proud of myself and feel like i want to share it. Id love to have a running buddy for a race sometime. we can look for something in between tampa and here. tc and best of luck!

tc

Carol

[MacMadame 81]

I think my Nike+ is broken. It never finds my sensor any more.

[georgia girl 35]

Georgia... where are you?

Sorry I haven't checked in guys. I've been a little down lately. I've got some family stuff going on and I haven't been doing much of anything. I have gained quite a bit of weight. I was embarrassed to even go for a fill, that's why I put it off for so long. I finally called last week and got my fill yesterday. Fingers crossed I will see a big difference.

Glad to see you are back Renewed! I've missed you!

[sexylips 1]

congrats to all for taking this challenges it really works..

[slinky 0]

1.9 miles in 28 mins! sooooo close to 2 miles i can almost taste it! will do 28 mins 1 maybe 2 more times for the conditioning. i get about 1/4 done and feel like quitting. but i dont!!! knees a bit sore, but not bad. keep y'all posted as i go. im sure that when i do up my time to 30 mins i will be at the 2 miles, but i want to be faster, too.

i have about 6 weeks to bring it up to 5k. im hopeful but not sure how i'll do by my race in july. Kathy - Im leaving room for being able to do it. Even if i do it in 45 mins. more if necessary. my time in January was 52 mins + i think (its on my signature-lol im really shooting for a run of 45 mins. if its 50 i wont be upset. hey all please remind me of that if i need it.

I'm rambling...

tc,

Carol

[Kathybad 0]

Carol... you are doing great! Just from your posts, I get the impression you are a fairly causious person. Always making sure it is right before you move on. I'm going to challenge you to shake things up a bit... you can choose to take me up on it, or say no way... your choice.

Try running for as long as you can. Don't stop when the time is up, just run until you can't! Then, when you're done, measure the time and distance.

I did that on someone's advice, can't remember who, but they told me to try when I was a bit stuck on 25 - 30 mins. I did and went a total of 50 min without stopping. I was pooched, and my legs were rubber, but I did it, and it was 5k. It was my first unofficial 5k. At times my pace was almost a walk... in fact someone walking would probably have passed me, but I was in runners form if you know what I mean... only one foot on the ground at a time.

Once I did that, I was able to build my speed, distance and time so much easier. I kind of blew away my mental barrier and knew that I was so capable of so much more.

So I challenge you to thow out your plan, have a music playlist that is really long, and just run until you can't. The worst thing that could happen is you don't move any further forward. The best thing is if you do. Either way, its an experience worth the effort!

[Kathybad 0]

Now for my really cool NSV...

I went to a family reunion yesterday. I saw my aunts and uncles that I haven't seen in 1-1/2 years and my sister & brother who I haven't seen since Christmas.... so a few pounds ago for sure!

The women in my family have always struggled with our weight, and I've always been the worst offender. Most have been moderately overweight, where I was so obese it dwarfed them. The last time I saw them I was a size 22-24, now I'm a 14!!!!

Well, they hardly recognized me... and I was the smallest, and get this... the HEALTHIEST!!! Anyone can be small, but it takes real dedication and hard work to be fit and healthy... it felt so amazing! Here I was surrounded by family that has always seen me as their "large" guge monitor, you know... the one they silently think... "as long as I'm smaller than Kathy, I'm ok"... that person we always compare to. Well, now I've changed the rules! Ha... I love it!

Nice thing was, they were all genuinly happy for me! Envious, but happy for me.

[lynlynkr 0]

I had a great weekend. I didn't get to run yet, but I am walking withour the "walking boot" My mom helped me rearrange funiture, I brought some new patio furniture and I had the greatest pleasure of weighing in at 154!! My lowest so far. I really worked up a sweat today and I truly feel I will be running in a few short weeks.

The best way to WANT to do something is to have someone tell you "you can't"

Kathy; congrats on the family reunion. I bet you were smiling ear to ear.

OK it is another new week ladies - lets all try to go the extra mile this week. Select your food wisely and exercise more than you did last week

I am sooo happy; how about you?:thumbup:

[krtork 0]

Kathy~ What a great NSV! You had to of felt great about that.

Went for a bike ride today, planning on running tomorrow, need to put in a good 3 miles, I have been running about 2 pretty regularly this past month - need to push a little harder and get busy!

One more week of school - yeah! My daughter graduated on Saturday, the rest of the kids have until Thursday this week. At least it will be fairly quiet without the seniors! LOL! Can't wait to have a few extra weeks to kick up the exercise!

[slinky 0]

wow kathy - thanks for the advice. im seriously considering what you suggested. as a matter of fact, i did go past the 28 mins tonite. i wanted to make it to 4 whole laps around the blocks in my neighborhood that i usually use as my course. thats just a hair under 2 miles. by next weekend i should be ready. tuesday im supposed to go running with a girl i know and she does about 30 mins. so i'll go with her then. the only other hold up is that my old computer died - the one with all my music and playlists... if i can figure out how to copy the stuff on my mp3 player to the other puter then i can do what you suggested. if not then by saturday for sure.

now, for your NSV, Kathy...WOO HOO! now u can be the measure for your family to say - "I want to be as small as Kathy!" very proud of you! thats an excellent accomplishment.

you are close to correct about me being cautious. but im not so much cautious, but methodical. I figure if someone has gone to the trouble to study the science behind the C25k program then its based on good info. But i really trust you and ive seen that info b4. so thats y im considering your challenge. will let you know when i am ready to be there. but tonite was the first time i felt like i didnt feel every step and ready to stop after the first lap.

lyn and ktork good to hear from both of u.

everyone else... have a great week!

TC,

Carol

[MacMadame 81]

I got my Nike+ to work again!

[janesays 2]

i just wanted to jump in here and say all you ladies (and a few men) are so inspiring to me! i have been exercising and weightlifting for awhile now, but only recently decided to change things up and add running to my workout (and my workouts are already pretty tough now that it is summer and i have the energy! not to mention that i have a personal trainer! love him)

the last time i actually ran was in middle school, when i was on the track team by default (they made the volleyball players compete in track during offseason. i was the slowest, but i still ran.) well, my mom was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently going through chemo. i want to do something but what can i do, really? well, i read about a 5k race for the cure and looked it up about a month ago, and i decided i want to run the sept. 13 5k race in central park in new york. my goal is to run the whole thing straight. and after reading what all of you have accomplished, i KNOW i can do it! for the past month i have been slowly increasing my endurance. i can run/power walk for awhile, but i cant run a full mile straight yet. ive done really well on my weightloss and in gaining muscle, but i want to gain speed as well.

thanks for the great conversation in this forum and hopefully i will be running 5Ks with you all in the future!

[Kathybad 0]

Jane... welcome! Great goal for your first 5k. One of our friends on this tread made this suggestion, which I followed... write the word "Cancer" on the bottom of your running shoes, and every step you take you are stamping out cancer! I did it, cause cancer runs rampent in my family and its not going to catch me without a fight! Good luck.

Lyn... glad you had a great weekend and congrats on the weight loss!

MacMadam... yeah, glad the Nike+ is working.... aren't we ready for another challenge, or did we lose all of our challengers here??

Krtork... light at the end of the tunnel! Are you then off for the summer?