[norwegianwoman]

Hello!

The last day of september, what an odd day to start a running program when you live in the Northern part of Europe, you say. That's true. It really is. But it's the only thing that's easy for me to get done now and it's outdoors. I like being outdoors. A gym makes me feel trapped, plus they stink and there are too many show-offs there.

Anyways, I am going to start the "Couch to 5K"-program today. It's a running program for couch potatoes who want to be able to run 5K after 2-3 months. Very ambitious indeed, and with the weather that's coming it probably won't happen. But, if I can at least start, and get a bit more fit and get a bit more healthy heart, then...

I am extremely unfit and on top of it all I have asthma, which gives me serious breathing problems after a short time and makes my chest and throat ache. I know that excercising is supposed to help if you have asthma but it really doesn't feel like it...

Anways, I am starting the program today and I need your encouragement to keep it up! Or I will just quit after a few weeks (or even days), like I always do in excercise programs. My hope is that this time I will last it out because it starts you off "easy" (well, after doing a "test" for 15 minutes the other day I'm not sure I agree) with brisk walking 5 min, then running 60 s, then walking 90 s, then running 60 s (switching between the two latter for 25 minutes alltogether), the problem for most beginners is that they start off too hard pushing themselves too much and then they hate it or can't finish what they have planned.

I know people who've tried this whom it really worked for, which is why I want to do it. Any encouragement, tips or experiences are welcome

[Little Lulu]

Best wishes - I know someone who did this program and got very fit, improved some of her health issues, and lost a significant amount of weight.

[norwegianwoman]

Great! That's exactly what I want to do. I also know some people who got similiar results with it Went for my first run today. It wasn't as bad as I had feared! Almost looking forward to the next run on Thursday

I do have a problem with my allergies, asthma etc. though, I often get a rash during/after excercise. Tried to take an allergy pill before I ran and it partly helped, didn't get the rash while running and I didn't sneeze like I normally do, still got a rash when I came home though... But I can live with that.

[unaluna]

Count me in. It IS a weird day to start! Maybe that will be a good thing!

[MotownJohnny]

I chose the zombie. He was fun.

[unaluna]

I walked an extra 2 blocks today. Thats not HUGE, but its better than nothing.

[norwegianwoman]

Two days of running over, only one more this week, and it's not as bad as I thought at all! It makes you feel good even though it hasn't had any visible effects yet.

[norwegianwoman]

Finished all three last week, and now I just finished the first this week. Upped to 90 seconds of running now, instead of 60. Already feels like progress, thought running for 60 seconds was bad the first day, today I finished my runs without any problems really! The last run last week wasn't all joy, though, it was cold and windy and my asthma did NOT like that, my lungs sounded like a badly tuned violin the way they were beeping at the end... Today it was warmer and I also dressed better for cold, so no problems today