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[littlen]

I used to be slimmer and I used to run. When I could run a few miles at a time I felt great and enjoyed it. Now I can't run the length of myself and am struggling to get out as I don't want to embarrass myself in public! Am I being ridiculous or do other people have the fear?

[davelinks Graduate]

Don't worry about what other people think, most are minding they're own business and don't even notice you, so just do it and do yourself some good, you know you like it when you run, so why not get that back again! We are all here for support & motivation as you need it..😊

[JoolieB1 Graduate]

We all felt self conscious at first, wondering if everyone will laugh as we try to move at a jog. However, after week 1 on a treadmill, I ventured out and now I am graduated, I run through town, on my estate, through the woods and fields and after 6 months, never had any rude comments and not even a funny look! People don't really notice us, there are so many people cycling and running, we are boring! You may get a friendly "good morning" or even a waggy tailed poodle but be bold and go out, the first time you might feel strange but after that, away you go

[Simon_65]

I was certainly self-conscious at the start - I'm still repeating week 2 runs as I have been out of exercise for so long I feel I need to build up slowly - but I found once I got out there, between listening for the instructions/intervals and trying to breathe ;0) I didn't take any notice of whether anyone was taking any notice of me. Also, for a couple of weeks on Week 1 when the weather was poor, I did the 'runs' using an exercise step indoors for the running bits - maybe if you are nervous you could try this for a few days to build up your confidence? It may not work for everyone, but I found it useful to keep on track to start with.

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

It's very common, but surprising how quickly you get past that as you feel proud about your progress. Runners seem to be invisible to most people and nobody knows how far you've run when they see you - you could just be finishing off a 10k for all they know!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Lots of folk have these worries... no need, as the replies will tell you.

Go out there and just do it..one step at a time...your way. Slow and steady and forget the onlookers...( who won't be, by the way :))

Folk are mostly too busy or concerned with themselves than to worry about heckling a runner...

Keep posting and you will get so much support, it will carry you through to the finish!

[misswobble Graduate]

Embarassing yourself in public! Why? What you gonna do?

Come on, get some lycra tights on and go. Hide in the woods if needs be but just get out there and make a start. We'll be right with you. Laura too if you have the Couch to 5k podcasts, which I hope you do. All will be revealed once you press start on your phone or mp3 player

It's fun! It'll be a blast, so come on lets have you .......

[candy656]

i've not long started the C25K and felt very embarrassed, more because of the outrageous colour i go when hot! i have pink neon reflective laces and apparently it clashes with my face! i've kept going and am quite enjoying it! keep going!!

[OldPossum]

The first step out of the door is definitely the hardest but the sense of achievement far outweighs any embarrassment you feel. Like many others on this forum I go very early on the morning and anyone about early is rarely interested in anyone else. Go on - you can do it 😀

[ju-ju- Graduate]

We all started like this... Do the C25k programme and you will run for miles again

[Vanessa291 Graduate]

Fellow runners give encouraging smiles, people walking are thinking I wish I could do that. Truly I don't think anyone takes any notice of what anyone else is doing these days.

[Hidden]

I wear a bright neon pink bum bag for my phone when I go running... You only draw attention to yourself if you choose to

I'm totally joking! As everyone else in this thread has said, other people out and about wont really notice you. There are so many people out jogging and walking their dogs that in the nicest way possible you're just a number. The way I see it, before I started running (which wasn't that long ago, I've still got work to do!) if I saw anybody on the street going for a run my instant reaction would be "good for them, I wish I had that motivation" rather than a negative thought. I should imagine most others are the same. It doesn't matter what age or size a person might be, if they're out exercising then they're making a positive commitment and changing their lifestyle. Please don't be embarrassed when going out, be proud of yourself for being that person who DOES go out and do something! You're already lapping the people sat at home not moving and grooving. This programme is great for building stamina in small steps but because it is so achievable it makes the fact that it doesn't happen overnight so much easier to come to terms with. As for your history with running, the good news is you know you could do it before and with this you'll do it again. Don't beat yourself up about what you think you can't do, start thanking yourself for what you CAN do. It'll get easier, and even better - it'll get more enjoyable!

Good luck! X

[Janey1012]

Echoing all the other comments : people are far too wrapped up in themselves to worry about others. ☺ my experience has been that other runners /dog walkera/anyone else who has got off their a**e to move about are lovely, giving smiles and nods. I've really grown in confidence since starting this malarkey. I bet you do too 😆

[Irish-John Graduate]

I have read HUNDREDS of posts on this site during while waiting to start a new job these last weeks. NOT ONCE has anyone said 'Oh, I don't mind who sees me' AT THE BEGINNING. however - just about EVERY member sooner than you think posts a comment along the lines of 'I used to care but now I don't'

I'm going to add my 'standard' 'yes you can do it too' post to newcomers, but please do read other posts by other members also - and stay with us As one member put it a while back "One run will change your day - several runs will change your life'

"Where I was and what happened."

Read where I started from on my W1D1 I bet you will agree I could be the guy whose photo they use under the "If HE can do it YOU sure as heck can!" pictures.

The physical problems I had/have which makes running the unlikeliest of things for me to do are very real and are outlined in those other Posts of mine.

The mental reservations - well, we ALL had, and have, pretty much the same fears, hesitations, feelings of inadequacy etc as I bet you do.

I started this running out of boredom and frustration with walking, a fear of “dying young’ (I’m 56) because I was totally unfit, and I was fed up of feeling ugly and awkward physically.

I literally had never run more than fifty or sixty steps in my life, I could not ‘walk briskly’ without breathing very hard and I had no hope I would EVER get past W2 or 3.

It’s all in those earlier posts, and more.

Let me say at this stage that nowadays I LOVE running, I get impatient for the next ‘running day’ to dawn – it has opened a whole new world and brought me to a whole new attitude. And it’s FUN here too.

June 1st though - I dang near expelled my lungs through my nose and mouth at the end of that D1W1, while it felt like I was about to suction my pants up the other end of my body simultaneously. I was bent over double and staggering along like Frankenstein on roller blades for the 5 minute cool down walk. Half of me was mortified at the thought an onlooker might be calling an ambulance for me, and the other half was wondering if I DID need an Ambulance.

That was June 1st. Today – August 1st - I ran for 28 continuous minutes.

Impossible – right? However – I am telling you the truth. That ‘couch’ of mine is now hard to remember, and the person who spent most of a lifetime on it and its brethren is no more. I’m now a product of this programme and you can be too.

C25K will teach you to be a Runner. Hard – impossible more likely – to believe where you are at right now if you are like most of us here when we started, but I promise you, it does.

The 'prime directives' are simple enough -

- Trust the program as in : don't miss those rest days in your enthusiasm, don't think you can skip or omit any stage, don’t get discouraged if you have to do what we all had to – repeat stages. Not many make it in 8 or 9 weeks – it’s a somewhat arbitrary figure in reality, but it certainly will NOT take you as long as your are guessing now  )

- SLOOOOW DOWNNNNNNN when it genuinely feels like you cannot go a step further then slow down even more. It is NOT about ‘fast’ or ‘far’ it IS about building up stamina and the 5K is an arbitrary figure really. The ability to run for thirty minutes is the goal. And a VERY realistic one. You will learn all about this in so many posts from everyone here. Why? - because we DO tend to equate ‘run’ with ‘fast’ before we realize what is going on and that can still sabotage us now, and maybe sabotaged any previous efforts of yours to run.

Still hard to believe what I am outlining here ? Well -

Read as many posts as possible so that you understand you are NOT "terminally unique"

Read that while it won't be an "easy" ride, it is EMINENTLY doable.

See that what gets us around mentally is the support of, and supporting, the great members here.

You can get advice that will work for you on everything that you think makes it ‘impossible’ for you to EVER run for thirty consecutive minutes – because it is the same things, time after time, that at some stage or other a heck of a lot of us share, and we got through them.

We are all in this together here. We might run on our own, but we are never alone.

And the sum total of the whole Package? – it makes us happy

I hope you stick around and run with us too.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Beautifully put John xx

[littlen in reply to Curlygurly2]

Hey everyone! Thank you for making me so welcome and not feeling so alone at the beginning of this!/I completed w1d1 this morning and feel great. Legs a bit stiff and I need to retrieve some better socks but I feel excited and energised and a little bit more sure I can do this. No one stopped and laughed small children didn't point! And as above I've done more this morning than the people in bed! Now for some water a shower before work!! Thank you!!

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to littlen]

Well done littlen , the first step is the hardest and you smashed it.

[Anto_Now_Runs Graduate]

Many months on from graduation I still feel a bit self-consious and even a bit lonely when I first go out, but it really only lasts the warm up walk and about 2 minutes into my run and then I just forget about everything and everyone! It's definitely scary but it is outweighed by the lovely feeling I get when I am on the home straight! So you are not being ridiculous - just remember how it used to be and you will overcome it!