couch to 5k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did it last year and am so proud of myself. NO way I'd ever think I could run a whole 5k.

FYI, for those considering it who haven't run before - I'm going to admit that I found it too hard in the beginning. I couldn't run for 1 minute or whatever their starting point is. My partner and I found we had to run for 30 seconds to start, for a week, then 45 seconds, then we hit the minute. Basiclaly we built in some pre-weeks. And then we also found, during busy times, we might repeat a week. But in the end it worked great.

Yes I also needed several preweeks too before I cold handle week 1 but also in the end worked great!

[Anonymous]

Does this type of program (slow start) address bad knees? Every time I try to start jogging, my knees end up hurting. Or do I just run "wrong"? I am not too heavy (weigh 140) so I don't think it is a weight issue - or maybe it is as I used to run when I was younger and 20 lbs lighter and don't recall this as an issue.

[Anonymous]

Your knees probably hurt because you are older and heavier and out of shape. Try minimal shoes, look up 100-ups in that nyt article on running form, and run/walk, concentrating on form. You will build appropriate muscle as you lose weight and it will get easier.

[Anonymous]

When I did c25k one of my knees hurt (bad) a couple of weeks into the program. I thought I would have to quit. I took a few days off and then continued the program slowly. After that no major problems. Treadmills are much easier on the knees, btw, than outdoor hard surfaces.