Ok, I tried this once before and got way to eager. I started moving quicker than designed. This time I will follow the guidelines.

If you are not familiar with a Couch to 5K, it is a plan to go from not running at all to running 5k (3.2 miles) in only 2 months. It is very doable and such a great feeling of accomplishment. I ran/walked a 5k in May and it was one of the most rewarding things I have done in many years.

Here is the link to the info.. If anyone is interested in training together just join in.

Cool Running :: The Couch-to-5K Running Plan

We will start on Monday, June 29.

Let's get ready to MOVE!!!!!!:tt2:

2.7 miles last nite!!!!!!!!!!!! for the first time 3.1 miles (5k) actually seems do-able! i mighta been able to do more too if it wasnt pitch dark on the lake where i run, by the time i got to that point.

Jane...WTG...just keep doing it next to those hot sweaty guys. eventually you will be showing them up and some will take notice. always an ego boost. :sad:

busy weekend ahead, full of dancing and hanging with friends. running sunday nite is my plan.

TC all,

Carol

Congrats Jane! Love the attitude. I think we women are our own worst enemies... so glad you are breaking the mold! And yeah... he was checking you out!

Carol... WTG!!! You're going to hit 5k soon enough!

Welcome to all the new runners! You're doing great! This is definately a great way to push yourself to that next level of fitness!

I had minor surgery today (iky women's thing). It went really well, with only a bit of cramping pain. Should heal up really quickly, but I'm not able to run or strength train for probably 1-2 weeks. :tongue:

Hi all!

Just curious - since I'm very new here - does anyone know why my calf would be having muscle spasms?

The back of my right calf has been acting as if it is just about to charlie horse/cramp. Of course when that feeling comes on I jump up and stretch it and walk (I hate that cramping pain! LOL)

Anyway, it has been doing it all day and I'm a little nervous to go to bed. I really DON'T want to wake up to a cramp...

Thanks,

Malissa

Malissa... hope your calf didn't spasm during your sleep. Its probably happening because of strain from running. I would suggest you stretch A LOT before and after your runs. Stand on a step and drop your heal to the ground with just your toes on the step and all your weight on the foot that is dropping below the step... repeat on the other foot. This is a great calf stretch. If that still doesn't work, try soaking in a tub with Epson salts, or go see a registered massage therapist!

I slept very light last night! Whenever I felt it coming on I rushed to stop it. lol.

I will definately try the stretching you suggested. I'll admit, I probably don't spend enough time on it.

Thanks and have a nice weekend!

my calfs are doing the same thing! :biggrin: I think Ill spend a little more time streching as well.

i agree completely with kathy. my legs spasmed a lot when i startedd running. also when i stopped for a week. when i started back i got them. still get them occasionally. another thing is i try to get some banana in on those days. the potassium helps me too. good luck malissa and mary.

tc,

Carol

My calves spasm when I swim. It's probably from not properly fueling -- since I don't tend to do anything but drink water when I swim -- but it can also mean you need more potassium. I do have problems keeping my potassium levels up sometimes.

I just posted a question on another running thread but thought I'd ask here too.

I am still at week 1 on c25k. I'm afraid to move to week 2 because week 1 is still such a struggle. I'm guessing it is because of how large I still am (over 250lbs).

Any suggestions on what I should do? (Do people this fat ever make it to week 9? lol)

Malissa... progress at your own speed. When you feel ready, move to the next week. I repeated a lot of weeks. It took me probably 15 weeks to get through the program, so don't worry about it. This is not really a race, its a journey and should be lifelong! As for being as heavy as you are... not a problem. As long as you are medically able to exercise, you CAN do this. I started running a year ago and weight about 240 at the time... so almost 250. I'm now 184... so running worked big time for me. The only real thing I changed during that year was adding running to my routine. I still eat relatively the same, but my body was just plateauing and wasn't moving any further. Once I started running the weight came off. It came off slowly and it was a bit frustrating, cause I would replace the fat with mucle, so my size was shrinking but the scale moved slowly.

You can do this, just take it one run at a time. For me, I would move up if by the 3rd run I accomplished the full run program. If not, I stayed at that week. So my advice, if you can do all the intervals the way it is layed out... move up and try that. If you can't, keep going on week 1.

Good luck!

Malissa, I agree with Kathy. I wish the program used the phrase level instead of week. Thinking that advancing in a week and not accomplishing that goal can be intimidating and frustrating.

I deliberately took longer with most of the weeks for the extra conditioning. I moved on when I was able to do the intervals like they were laid out in the outline, just like Kathy said. A few of the weeks I did a "graduation" run of sorts. If I was having a hard time completing the intervals or felt like I was "dying" during or after the run I waited, and kept adding single days, but in the format thats laid out - basically every other day. When I felt like I could do it I did another one to be sure the one b4 wasnt a fluke. Then one last run as my graduation to the next level. Next time I moved on. That worked for me.

Now, I was plateauing too at the time - still am but even though the scale isnt moving - yesterday i managed to put on over my fat a$$ and button/zip a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt skimmers (just below the knee capris) in size 12!!!!! I'm still convinced that they were sized wrong, but maybe not. I have some Gloria jeans in 14 that are getting a bit less tight. (I won't go so far as to say they are loose.) I tried several other size 12 pants that were just not happening, though, but I love gloria vanderbilt.

hoping to run tonite. have plans in early evening at friends, but it will definitely be an evening run.

TC all,

Carol

Well, I guess I'll consider moving to the next week/level. I can complete the intervals, it is just very difficult.

I'm practically praying for the change to walking - lol.

P.S. Carol - WTG on a size 12 pair of jeans!!! I can only dream....

Carol... WTG!!!! Size 12 is my ultimate goal!!

Hi all!

Just curious - since I'm very new here - does anyone know why my calf would be having muscle spasms?

The back of my right calf has been acting as if it is just about to charlie horse/cramp. Of course when that feeling comes on I jump up and stretch it and walk (I hate that cramping pain! LOL)

Anyway, it has been doing it all day and I'm a little nervous to go to bed. I really DON'T want to wake up to a cramp...

Thanks,

Malissa

I had this problem for years because, like many of us, I was on blood pressure medicine, specifically a diuretic, that also depletes your potassium and I was taking a potassium supplement, now that I am off that medicine, things are much better, I'll ask my doctor about stopping the potassium when I see him next.

I have been slacking and I ran a 5K tonight in my slowest time ever! Argh, have a race this weekend and I was hoping to not be slower than I have been. Guess that proves that training is essential and you can't just skate on by!

I have been exercising, but I really love my swimming and biking. Need to get back to running, as I barely made the 3.1! Oh well, done beating myself up - need to push it when I hit the road and hope for the best on Sunday!