Has this community positively impacted your ru... - Couch to 5K
Has this community positively impacted your running journey? If yes, please describe how in the replies below
AnnaHUHealthUnlocked126 VotersPlease select one:
Given me support and advice when needed in a non-judgemental way which has given me confidence when needed. Know I won't feel as if I've asked a silly question!👍😁
That's a great point! You really do feel as though you can ask anything!
exactly this ❤️
I've learned so much on this forum, both from other people's posts and from answers to my own. It's an incredibly supportive place, providing much reassurance as well as advice.
Fantastic positive community. Loads of advice and support wherever you are in your running. Very encouraging, even when motivation slumps!
Yes! Although I found the website during consolidation runs, it's been very useful and encouraging when I've had injuries. I also find other people''s journeys and experiences inspiring.
I've learnt so much from others - in particular the advice to slow down, and to not beat myself up about a run that doesn't go as well as I would like (it was a practice run). And I love the positivity on this board.
This forum has been a godsend to someone like me who did the ct5k programme alone. I was new to running so each week more questions and advice were sought and I was given help and support by so many people on here. The advice was so helpful I still use a lot of it in my running today and try to help those on here who are new to the programme. There are lovely events on here e.g. virtual runs that we complete ‘together’ and share how it went and it’s such a positive community it’s really helped me on my running journey.
Absolutely feel the same! 😁
Exactly! Even advice from other people's posts is valuable. And there's a kind of vicarious kick you get when you "well done" someone else, knowing what significance the same words have had for you. And there's never, ever anyone who says you should run faster or more or better; everyone is positive, helpful and supportive.
Totally, and all of which have a positive impact on other people’s running journeys. I found week 6 run 1 caught me out in the ct5k programme so I always look for others who around that stage and share the same advice I was given ‘slow down and run at a conversational pace’. That was invaluable to me ☺️.
Absolutely, the admins are great, the other runners are great. Full of good advice and positivity
Totally agree, fantastic support!👏
Advice, support, encouragement; information, opinions, suggestions on a range of subjects (nutrition, sports, injuries, routine, speed, gear…). And most of all, a community of like-minded (often like-bodied) and non-judgemental PEOPLE!
lots of great advice and help from people who have been running for a while and the experience and help they give to others is invaluable
A safe place from which to gain insight, advice and encouragement. I trust the folk here to have my best interests at heart.
I was new to running and the advice and support was super helpful. I’ve gone from non runner to running the great north run this year and this forum helped my journey
Oh, wow - well done you!!
That is amazing, well done you. Says it all about C25K
Running as I have tackled via C25K (I'm in W8 now) has been a solitary and private undertaking - something I wanted to see if I could do without the pressure of people knowing I was trying. I hugely valued the comments of others, the questions and the advice before ever posting myself. I do not use social media in other forms and have been very aware of the fact that certain forums have negative feedback or "trolls" doing the rounds. This isn't evidenced at all here and the support, encouragement and advice seems genuinely well-intentioned with people going out of their way to help. I now feel that, whilst I am still choosing to run alone and not really saying anything about C25K amongst people I physically know, there is a huge group of people out there, at different stages of similar journeys who are only a post away, who care and who are prepared to offer positive encouragement. The administrators are very active, always offering that little bit extra in the form of guidance or suggestions. Its a model of a supportive on-line community.
Yes. I'm running alone, but feel as though I'm also running at the heart of a deeply supportive group.
The fantastic HU community are a wonderful encouragement to me. I don’t post often but love reading other posts. There is real support and encouragement on here. 👏
On Sunday I celebrated 5 years since I graduated from C25K, this is a very positive and happy community helping people to become fitter and healthy.
Oh wow, happy 5 years!! I totally agree with your comments re the forum, always my first port of call!😁
Thanks Hedgehogs123 regarding my and other people's comments on this forum 👍 ✅ I am glad that they are very helpful to you. 😊
I never thought I would be able to achieve what I have achieved in my running. I joined the forum whilst doing C25K in lockdown as I'm sure many others did, and my purpose was to be able to do ParkRuns. The support on this forum has been amazing. I feel like it's my first port of call for support, advice and also to share other people's journeys.
I found this forum in week 3 of doing Couch to 5K, back in July 2020. I got a huge amount from the community here in terms of advice and encouragement, and now am trying to pay that back.
I went from the couch, having never ever run, to doing a (solo) half marathon in the space of just over a year. There's no way I'd have done that if it wasn't for this community.
A half marathon! That's just awesome! 🙌🙌
I've done many more since (at least a dozen). My longest run so far was 26km, but that was last year.
well done superstar!
( I bet you still run fast in that chippy run) 🤪
Glad we are still in contact
I usually walk to the chippy. I only run it if I haven't done a run that day.
People's comments and experiences have kept me going!
when I’ve struggled its been good to know that I’m not on my own.
I read HU posts daily, but don't post very often. I discovered HU while looking for advice and motivation to continue my running journey after completing C25K. Running can be a lonely sport but this makes it feel like a big community. Used advice from here to run first 10k in lockdown. Went on to use advice from here to run my first half marathon. Feels like a safe place to be and I enjoy the extra little challenges some people post along the way (I'm doing 5 tibetan rites this week). Love it!
Great supportive forum. The couch to 5K gave me a well staged, guided programme that i could follow and physically see how i was making progress and getting stronger every week. I had been trying to run successfully for 2 years prior to joining. The ongoing support and members stories are always inspiring and informative as i continue to build on my running goals
The community is a source of reliable advice and information. I like that there is kindness and consideration for others and that there is a non judgemental vibe. I have learned so much from others here.
very encouraging & inspiring
Helps to follow instructions and stops me from pushing myself too far/too fast and getting injured. The helpful hints and encouragement are just what you need to hear at the right times too
The forum is a positive and supportive group. Lots of advice and encouragement. I graduated 3 years ago but still enjoy reading the posts.
Motivation and helpful advice
I would have given up at Week 4 without wise guidance from administrators- particularly the much missed Iannoda that allowed me to reflect on my practice and NOT GO TOO FAST
Encouragement, advice and support
Comments from others has inspired me to keep on trying, the training programs have encouraged me to believe in my ability to move, everyone is a winner
Agree with everything that's been said: support, encouragement, lack of judgment. I rarely post but always read. I don't know others in my ordinary life who run but here I feel part of a like minded community.
Massively. The ideas, suggestions, advice, assistance are really important. But the "well dones" make a huge difference. It feels as though I am not running alone, but with folk all over the country. And runners old and young, new and experienced are all uniformly supportive. As an old geezer running for the first time in many decades to have every run from 1 minute onwards taken seriously has been deeply touching.
I’ve really found the friendly running community so supportive and got sone good tips too
this community has helped with practical advice, positive support and ‘friendship’ of those also undertaking similar journeys (C25K and onwards).
It has provided laughs, support through the lows and accountability to push on and achieve. Everything a thriving and healthy community should do.
The virtual runs have made me achieve distances I’ve never thought possible and have genuinely contributed to a much healthier lifestyle for me
This fab running community has given advice and encouragement on my running journey. I started c25k just before my 65 birthday. I thought I might have been a bit silly starting at my age but everyone on this site has given me positive feedback to any queries and doubts I've had. Thank you all. Still running at 68. I've joined my local running club and managed 1 park run, so far
Great supportive comments; really useful links and advice.
Love the Niko Niko slow jogging style and video
Makes one realise we’re all experiencing similar mental obstacles and provides the support to overcome them.
I've not been running but encouraged by positive posts of people. I plan to start soonest.
That first step off the couch is possibly the hardest. Best of luck!
do it! Hard at first but you will love it! So rewarding!
I will. Thanks for your encouragement!
honestly - the gain far outweighs the pain and you make some fantastic friends along the way 👍
Best of luck 😀
provided encouragement
Support, motivation, advice on running, clothing. Great to receive daily digest to keep me on track
encouragement, advice. Always positive, good vibes 😊
What a find.Initially when I took up C25k five years ago at 75 I was not aware HU existed.Running has helped me retain a reasonable physical strength and sustain my mental health.It is all down to the support of this forum.
🏃♀️🏃♂️🌟🌟💪💪🙏🙏🤞🤞
lovely supportive members. Nice to know others experience the same problems and also the same good experiences!!!
It helps to see how everyone copes with the ups and downs of the program
This is such a warm friendly community, if we have questions there's always answers, having virtual running buddies has kept me going out and running when life sucks.Everyone is encouraging and the support is valuable
Yes, very supportive comments. Made me realise I don't have to be an elite athlete to enjoy running, no matter how old or how slow I am.
Sometimes, we don't need to/want to talk to running "experts", when all we want is support and help from our peers, that have been on the same journey.
Positive feedback & encouragement as well as practical advice.
I could not have managed to get out of my house let alone put my trainers on without the support of the community. I been grateful for advice when I needed it and for encouragement. More though, because I was the fat girl at school and never chosen for a team, just for the belief that I could do this. I am 62 and can now run the 5k at a very slow 55 mins and I don't care how slow am. I just love it. I will run every week until I can do it no longer. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
Help and advice - particularly when starting out and after graduation.
Without the C25K support I would not have continued running. The group offered me support and advice which helped me to run. I am a very slow runner but the group helped me to know that it was ok to be slow and to just do it my way!!
74 year old male, never ran before without injury, so very pleased to have made it
Lots of support and advice which has been really useful particularly at the start of the journey.
it supported me whilst doing C25K and in the years after. Keeping me motivated, inspired and informed. I felt part of an inclusive community. X
I've had a few weeks when I thought I wouldn't be able to manage the runs, particularly, I think week 5 which has a final run of 20 minutes. After reading positive approaches to the week it really helped me nail this one. Also, dealing with recent heat and how other members on the forum deal with this also helped lots. I struggled in the heat, but switched my runs to early mornings. One final thing, I read on the forum that slower running might help, as I had been finding myself out of breath in the shorter early runs. So I took my pace down and what a difference it made. The runs have still pushed me, but not to the brink. Many many thanks to all 
So much support whilst completing my running journey. I used to come straight on here after every run. The support and advice is what kept me motivated and used to sync my runs with other like minded people.
I found all advice was given sympathetically from experienced people, especially the admins in a non-judgemental way. It certainly was never given in a way that could be construed as condescending nor from a position of superiority. I have always felt that I have been given the best advice possible and when a question may have been beyond the forum's remit that was also clearly stated and usually with some helpful pointers. When issues have arisen the admins have always sorted the matter out clearly and swiftly. 'Go' admins and long live these forums 😀👍
Forum members have always been here to support me through my many ups and downs. I can't say how much I apppreciate that 😍😀👍
Support and advice -lovely community of like minded people.
Usually very friendly and supportive community. For those of us who choose to run alone it is very useful to have a community to share stories and ideas with
This community is totally amazing and hugely supportive. I'm 64 and I'm finally a runner, all down to HU. From those first tentative 1 minute intervals I was signposted about how to do C25K. I could see how others were experiencing the programme, how we all had similarities of experiences. We encouraged each other to slow down, not to fixate on our watches and just run by feel. It's been liberating. The admin team, I just can't fault. I've had my set backs along the way, the same as many others, but the advice about hanging on in there and how to continue, for me was always spot on. I think I can 'bore for England' about C25K. I did a couple of parkruns and chatted to my new found running buddies all about it. And my family and my friends, I'm just so pleased and excited that this forum coupled with C25K app has turned a complete non starter into a runner.
it has got me back running again. But more importantly the great support and advice from the network really motivates me!
So much support and great advice. When I’ve been feeling a bit down cos I’ve had a ‘bad’ run, there’s always someone who can cheer me up and make me realise it’s one run out of many and it doesn’t matter!
I found the advice and support really helpful, many of my questions had been asked before so was able to get the answers easily. The various links about running slower, consolidation runs , shoe issues etc were invaluable , so I was pleased I joined the community.
Yes! Absolutely! This community is the best ever, full of awesome people who give amazing support and encouragement.
I posted my first run here 5 weeks ago and was overwhelmed by the warm welcome I received and I’ve posted every run since, in a way it helps me feel accountable for my progress.
It’s like one big extended family and it’s great when someone finds your post inspiring or encouraging. I don’t feel embarrassed about asking questions and I try to motivate and encourage others too.
I’m starting week 5 tomorrow and I can’t wait! Joining this community was the best thing I’ve done this year, as well as start C25K program!
I thank you all from the bottom of my heart 💜
Stay awesome everyone! Much love 🖤💜🖤
If I hadn't found this community and been able to read the articles about C25K and ask advice, I would have given up at Week 4. Three and a half years later I am still running regards have reached many of my goals. I'm not good at posting but still enjoy reading posts which encourage and inspire.
Pretty sure I wouldn’t be where I am today without this forum. 👍
A lovely community of people that I know I can turn to anytime for advice and support.
People like me who would NEVER have thought of running have through the C25K app been able to succeed in finding the joy and health benefits- both physical and mental - of running. The running club I began with had a sharp increase in the distance to be run and I mentally gave up. Now I have used the C25K method I can go back and continue the training and succeed.
I’ve found this site very helpful. I run on my own and have used handy practical tips and also supportive comments. It’s great to have your own efforts and ideas confirmed by experienced users. Fabulous moral encouragement has brought me back and pushed me on.
The advice and support encouraged me to have a go and I got to week 7 3 times. The last time I was also swimming and dancing enthusiastically and I damaged my knee. 12 months on and I am still too sore to run. In retrospect I should probably have lost some weight first.
After a major operation I decided I needed to get fit. I'd never considered running. But I came accross C25K by accident in a google search. This was in 2014. The gentle step by step progression appealed to me. I found the 9 week journey great fun. I looked forward to each new run. I've never looked back. 9 years later and I'm still running and still enjoying it. Thanks Laura and C25K.
The C25K community helped give me confidence, and to share my enthusiasm. The advice has been welcome and very helpfull also. This group is a haven of kind, thoughtful, helpful running enthusiasts.
great advice and information
Support, advice and especially encouragement. Pats on the back, sympathy, practical advice on pace, gear, injury, you name it.
Really useful advice, and encouraging to see people of all ages and fitness levels achieving their goals
It's supportive, on the whole it's a very friendly welcoming place 😊 When I started as a complete beginner I found reading other posts very helpful and it's good to know you are not the only one struggling. I found the advice given by experienced runners very useful too.
Always so supportive with encouraging words and tips to help you get through the run that’s been defeating you or a route to find your mojo again when life seems to get in the way ! Never judgmental, helpful links to items of interest and sharing your joy when , yes, this fantastic C25K plan works and you find the joy of running at your own pace. I dip in and out with posts but really enjoy reading the many contributor’s posts.
I have always found answers from other runners in here, learnt heaps it’s a very friendly and non judgemental group.
I would not still be running without it !
This community helps keep me motivated. Reading about other people’s experiences can be really uplifting. The tips and advice are also really appreciated
Fantastic community. Overwhelmingly supportive. A great mine of knowledge and information for the curious. 👍🏻
I don’t get opportunity to run a lot these days but I miss this place and those who I connected with in it! That tells me it’s a good place.
I achieved so much here, 5k, 10k but more importantly got myself back- thanks to the energy and support of the people on here - Thank you 🙏
A truly fantastic place, supportive but also with just the right amount of fun and giggles! .. and didn’t we have some? Only people on the same journey as you can fully appreciate how well earned every step taken was!
My graduation post was like received like an Oscar winning speech 👩🏻🎓 🥇 😀 I was told it had the most replies EVER! ( well that’s my claim to fame and I’m having it). I was also as encouraging and supportive to others, it’s important to repay what you have had!
It was there for me when I was going through a really bad time, I threw myself into running to validate who I was as a person, all because of a dreadful work bully.
NEVER let bullies anywhere drag you down!
From a proud member of the HU couch to 5k/bridge to 10k forum
Running showed me I AM good enough and a new job showed me i am good at what I do!
A great place for advice & inspiration. Whatever happens in you running life (and life in general) someone has been there & willing to share their experience
I dip in and out and mostly read others posts rather than write my own. I have always found folk supportive, informative and kind.
Whether you are asking a question or sharing an experience the admins ensure that you always get an answer / response and lots of other kind folk also give their time to respond regularly. There is advice aplenty, encouragement and positivity, and inspiration by the bucket load. It’s a safe haven too to share your smallest achievement and ask you daftest question. I have loved being part of this group of virtual running buddies for 3 years.
I rarely comment and have never started a post, but that's probably because everything is so informative I find the answer without needing to! I like the friendly and supportive vibe.
Encouraged me to carry on running when it was the last thing I felt like doing. Taught me anyone can be a runner.
Kept me going until I finished C25K. Inspired me to complete B210K. Met up with virtual running buddies at various Parkruns. Every time I get back to running I check in here. Wouldn’t have done it without this community.
Gave me a sense of community and support, that is necessary sometimes. Some inspiration, some advice, bit of everything.
Warm welcome and solid support. Has been very influential in my decisions and progress!
Yes, absolutely! 100% I wouldn’t have gone for a run this morning, or become a runner at all, without the support, education, and kind advice of this forum. Thank you for improving my life! 💕
Love how encouraging and supportive the answers are. A really generous and supportive community.
It has helped me to remain focused as well as reassure me that starting running again at 65 is not too old.
Very positive support and encouragement on all topics related to running and health and general wellbeing. Well done admin team.
Really supportive -makes you feel like you are part of a group and you can get great advice from everyone here. It's certainly helped me just reading other people's posts.
Yes, it's fantastic...I highly doubt I'd still be running 5 years on without the forum.
The running provides excellent physical & mental health benefits...and the forum's administrators & community supports and encourages us along the way which keeps us coming back each time life's blips get in the way 👌😊
Yes, very positively.
Reading that others felt the same as I did at certain stages gave me the strength to continue, plus the variety of ages is so encouraging.
Good support and advice - never run before and am doing o my own so your support and stories really helping me, this is week 9.
I asked for advice and got it. I posted about my successes and got lovely feedback. It's all positive and enabling.
Although I don’t tend to post on it I read it most days and other people’s posts provide inspiration, advice and support. It signposts me to other Health Unlocked subject areas that can also support my running. I am very much an amateur runner who started the couch to 5K programme about 5 years ago when I was 51years old I have managed to continue running most weeks ever since, running distances up to 10km which I would have never believed that I could do having had lots of knee operations when in my 30’s .
Encouragement & Advice
It let's me know that others have the same struggles and worries that I have, and they overcome them.
In the past ,helped Inspire me
yes, really supportive and encouraging. I’ve repeated c25k twice and then stopped running due to various leg problems. Lots of suggestions about coping with injury. I hope to get back to running soon but in the meantime am swimming and doing yoga. I’ll be following c25k and taking things very slowly when I do start again
have found the HU community to be very supportive, encouraging and understanding. I was grateful for the advice given to me by Ionnada Truffe. He is sorely missed 🤗
Me too!!
lots of good advice and support !
Without any doubt this Forum and it's members are a vital - and enjoyable - part of my Running.
Because of circumstances, I run alone most of the time. It's sometimes hard to be motivated to 'keep on keeping on' when you you don't get feedback, the enjoyment of sharing the experience, not even the 'accountability' of showing up to run with someone.
It would really be boring if there wasn't the forum to share the ups and downs, fun and falls etc of Running. And of course the great advice and important caveats we all can share.
Yep - this Forum is truly important
Yes, I've been a member here since I first did C25K in 2014. I got a lot of advice and encouragement in those early days, and stayed around to help other new runners. I sort of dipped in and out over the years, depending on my running, and spare time...
I've met several people from here at events, that's always nice. And I have a lot of friends on Facebook of people who were new runners around the same time as me, but who rarely post here these days.
The C25K programme (plus C25K+) with the mp3s from Laura and the support from the forum when I had questions finally made me a runner! I did other running programmes (online and with running trainings in my town) before and they always led to knee problems. It felt so good that other people also told here that they are doing slowly and were repeating the training weeks. So I started running really slow, didn't feel bad when other (good) runners which I know told me that I would never be a runner. But now they see: I'm a runner!!
I very very rarely post, but read the forum daily. We probably all go through difficult times during our running journey but the support the forum gives is invaluable and many times it's been what has kept me going.
This took away my excuses...I was too old, but there were people here significantly older than I was. I was too fat, but there were people here significantly more overweight than I was. I couldn't run with my health condition...but others with worse were doing it. I didn't have enough time...but others just as busy as I were finding the time...etc etc etc. I was giving myself all the excuses you can think of, and the community here successfully trampled every one of them...and I'm so grateful for it!
The forum made me realise that there are runners out there of all shapes, sizes, fitness levels, all having there own struggles. It made me feel better about myself and my poor running abilities. The support and advice just gave me the confidence to give it a go and to realise that no one cares what you look like when running. Distance and speed don't matter, at least your doing it. Everyone is so kind, supportive and fun.
a great source of inspiration, sound advice and online community that so many have found invaluable over the years.
1. There always seemed to be somebody else worse off than me. 2. Appreciated advice from more experienced runners. 3. Didn't feel like I was doing C25K on my own.
Agree with all the comments already said- this place is an amazing area of support, friendliness and learning. It has been the thing that kept me running and taught me the most via interesting discussion. The admin team are incredible at keeping this a kind and helpful online space.
I would not have chosen to post but you emailed me....There was a similar poll a year ago by roseabi. My feelings are unchanged. The site is demoralising for non-runners. I explained this last year and my posts are still there. However my return to the site has revealed a slight softening of the attitude that non-runners are inferior, and an acceptance that a dislike of running and an inability to be any good at it exist.
The forum boosted and supported me. And, provided a wealth of helpful information.
Just get amazing support from runners who are and have been through the system before me, great encouragement 🙏🙏
It's been so motivating feeling like I'm party of a community!
🍏when I did couch to 5K for the first time I had never run in my life! I knew nothing about the terminology, preparation, running gear or post run stretches. This forum taught me everything, enabled me to to graduate without injury and to enjoy my runs to the full! I am 71
Helped me understand that I can do this at any age. And with my new hip.
Reading about other people's struggles and triumphs helps you gauge your own difficulties and successes. There are lots of sensible tips and suggestions for novices like me. Now I have gained some running experience, I sometimes reply to other people's queries. Like running, constructing a caring, helpful reply gives you a buzz.
the help and support have helped me get this far. Knowing I am not alone in what I am experiencing and feeling. Tips and helpful hints to help my journey and the support of all the lovely people are amazing
When I was doing C25K three years ago this forum was my source of so much information, support and encouragement. I learnt so much and it definitely helped me to complete the programme.
Now I can encourage others and share what I have learnt along the way, whilst still asking advice from more experienced people when I need it. Filled with like minded people, it really is a great, supportive community.
wonderfully supportive, lots of words of wisdom and motivating.
Support, encouragement, sharing tips. I'm really grateful to everyone. Thank you
Advice and encouragement🙂
so much encouragement going on the forum lots of helpful tips. You’re never far away from some friendly advice and support and it’s great at times knowing you’re not the only one struggling. As you develop further there’s loads more tips advice and support health unlocked has helped me start my journey and inspired me to continue
Supportive and very knowledgeable first stop for any queries.
