November Publicity Update.

[IannodaTruffe]

You may remember in the dim and distant past that I started agitating for us C25kers to take publicity for the programme into our own hands and try to spread the word to the great unrunning public. When I approached admin on this site about advice regarding the use of C25k logos etc, I initially had no response, until I pm'd LauraStQ, who said it was a great idea and that she would put it to a meeting for consideration. When I tried to follow this up there was another long pause and then Steve, the fitness coordinator on Health Unlocked, asked me to contact him on his work email. I duly did this, outlining our proposals and he replied, "Leave it with me. Cheers"

Well that was a couple of weeks ago and I am hoping he will get back to me in time. In the midst of all this I had a modem failure, which showed me how much I rely on the technology, putting communication on hold for ten days and also my life in general has been pretty hectic. I did have a response from the practice manager at my GP surgery saying that he was not aware of C25k and did not know of any posters or literature that were available and would be interested in anything we might produce.

So, as I suspected, trying to negotiate with any of the disparate arms of the NHS is a painfully slow process, but I live in hope that we will, one way or the other, boost the publicity for C25k and increase the awareness of this wonderful scheme. Any thoughts on other approaches that we might profitably make, would be welcomed. OldNed's draft letter to Jeremy Hunt is still waiting in the wings.

I am feeling sorry for myself, since a cold has prevented me from doing Parkrun today, along with Madame Truffe, who was going to do her first one. We are both annoyed, as the weather seemed so perfect today and the Devon mud has even started drying up. Oh well, give us a couple of days and I am sure we will be back in the groove.

Enjoy your running

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

Last week I had a little communication with the admin. This was in reference to the Xmas quest. While I was talking to them I mentioned the posters to them as I knew it was something we are all keen to see move forward. I was told it was going to be put forward in the next meeting. I explained that all we really wanted to do was to be able to print something off to take to our local doctors as we all want to shout about how good the program is. They seemed to think this was a positive way forward but I guess its fingers crossed time and hope that something comes together soon. If I hear anything else I will let you know.

[waletta Graduate]

This is good to know - not that you & Madame Truffe have colds but that the topic hasn't gone cold. I did message you a while ago about Inside Health, a radio 4 show. I also e mailed them & had an acknowledgement but that was about it. It's interesting to know that your Dr was interested. Perhaps that's the way to go when Steve gets back to you. Sorry to hear you have colds & hope you get better soon. Disappointing about Madame Truffe's 1st Park run. Hope Gwendolen is well (not - the minx).

[turnturtle Graduate]

I have a conspiracy theory regarding the lack of publicity for c25K. There are so many of us oldies for society to look after now that it is becoming a serious worry for the powers-that-be. Since we C25K practitioners are now obviously going to live much longer, the government are beginning to think they may have shot themselves in the foot when they introduced this programme. Just a thought. It's probably merely the usual bureaucratic incompetency...

[Oldgirl Graduate]

I'm all for printing off a poster and taking it along to the Doctors Surgery to display for NHS C25K after all its not for us to benefit its others and doctors. Why doctors? Well I'm sure they would be happy to see patients with the odd pulled muscles etc instead of high blood pressure/heart disease/obesity/diabetes due to over weight, the list is probably much longer but it kind of brings home what this program has done for me and many others who have taken up a new form of keeping fit and active.

[OldNed Graduate]

Thanks IT. The wheels do grind exceeding slow but if we keep on pestering them I do think it likely something will happen (because they are, like of all us, fundamentally decent folks who have an interest in seeing this succeed). I'm a pretty rare visitor to my GP but should be there sometime in December about my ears, which increasingly have a decorative but not a functional role! I'll take the opportunity to look for C25K posters and raise it with them (I know at least one of them is a runner but you never know who you're going to get until you get there).

[Legion Graduate]

Hi IT. I've just signed up to Jantastic jantastic.me/ and created a team for 'NHS Couch to 5K'. As well as hopefully being a great motivational tool over these cold months, it occurred to me that it would also be a good way to promote the excellent NHS c25k programme. I've set up a post for Jantastic here: healthunlocked.com/couchto5... and hope that lots of c25kers will jump onboard.

[misswobble Graduate]

Oooh ta. I'll dive right in now! Fools rush in ........... LOL