Say hello to Josh Clark - creator of C25K - Couch to 5K
Say hello to Josh Clark - creator of C25K
Great article, from humble beginnings to so many great stories. Thanks for posting. Rfc x
Thanks for sharing that John, it's an interesting read.
Yes, and interesting read there, thank you. I will watch the video & listen to the audio at lunchtime.
For his old mum! Imagine being the FIRST C25K-er, that's awesome!!!!
Thanks, very interesting 👍
I am grateful to you for posting this link. The video is classic propaganda, but the quotes from Josh Clark are revelatory. He says, “Couch to 5K is designed to give you the kindest way to find out if running is for you. But it might not be, which is totally okay.” And he goes on to say, ““Anybody can run.” I try to be more careful with my language around this, but this one slipped by me and became the title of the film. I regret that my comment made anyone feel ignored or unseen.”
He says “Time and again, I’ve seen people change from this penance mindset to a celebration mindset over the course of C25K’s nine weeks. Somewhere along the line, a switch flips, and people find themselves running not to “fix something broken” but simply to experience the sensations and benefits of motion. The activity becomes worthwhile in itself, and the rewards of physical and mental health follow as happy side effects.” I reproduce this in its entirety, as it captures the feeling of loss that we non-runners endure. For us there is no Damascene conversion. Mr Clark promotes “no pain, no pain”, whereas for us non-runners the reality is “pain, no gain”. At this point some zealot will be typing, “If you don’t like it, don’t do it!” But life isn’t like that. I hate doing my tax return, but regularly do it. We have to keep active, but sadly not everyone enjoys the experience.
Not quite sure of the point you're trying to make! Sorry to hear you've become a non-runner though. I assume (chronic?) injury?
Sorry if I wasn’t clear. The right-on message on this forum is that everyone can run, albeit slowly in some cases, but that everyone will progress and enjoy it. The forum is generally inclusive but sometimes hostile to dissenters (like me). Mr Clark is more realistic as shown in the statements I quoted.
I think you are dissembling with respect to your comments about my “non-runner” status. I class myself as a non-runner as the fact that I have completed C25K does NOT make me a runner! Interestingly Mr Clark makes a distinction between jogging and running. I accept the label of (feeble) jogger, but a runner I will never be!
We all need to exercise. Many people, including me, find this difficult and unpleasant. The C25K promise is that hitherto refuseniks will become running addicts. It isn't true. Most people who start C25K drop out. I finished C25K, and tried to accommodate "running" into my life with 50 "consolidation runs". It didn't work. I still jog occasionally. I swim, walk. and go to aquarobics. I wish I did not have to, but I want to prolong quality life. I wish I could take a longevity pill so that I could never exercise again.
I admire and respect your stubbornness and perseverance in the face of ageing. I have all this to look forward to and I'm 'only' 51!
Is there *any* exercise you've enjoyed? The swimming? Walking? Why did you chose running/jogging?
You say you're not a 'runner'. Sounds to me like the labels don't sit comfortable with you; you don't identify with them because of your dislike of the activity. Lets compare it to 'swimming' ... if I can only 'swim' 25 metres of front crawl before having to stop with exhaustion ... does that me a 'paddler'? Am I 'swimming'? Am I a 'swimmer' or a 'paddler'? What is ... 'swimming' ?
For me, 'running' or 'runner' is a generic umbrella description to describe the act of doing something that is quicker that walking with both feet in the air at some point. Under that genetic label, you might have 'jogging' (slow) and err... 'running' (medium)... and 'sprinting' (fast). Some people get quite upset with 'jogging'/'jogger' as a label because it can be perceived to be used perjoritavely - not for me... I see the labels as purely descriptive.
In my case, I jog, run and occasionally sprint. I identify as being a runner. You clearly do not, and that's perfectly ok. You're begrudgingly doing your exercise out of pure necessity. Good on you!
You say 'Most people who start C25K drop out'. I'd challenge that. How do you know this? What evidence do you have? And if you know this, why do you think they drop out?
Apologies for all the questions, but you're an interesting character (sorry if that offends, I'm not meaning to). I quite like folk who 'swim' against the tide (see what I did there?).
I'm glad too that Josh Clark qualified his statement, because I realise that running/jogging isn't for everyone - I like and agree his statement that C25K is a great way to find out if running/jogging is for you or not. I'll admit that there's a strong degree of, shall we call it ... 'over-enthusiasm' about C25K here, but that's understandable. For many it's a life-changer in many ways. However, there are some (not many I think) who find it hard to grasp that there are those who don't like it for whatever reason. You are not alone in this.
Thank you for your measured reply.
My source for the statement that most people fail to complete C25K is MyFitnessPal which quotes a completion rate of 10%. That would certainly accord with personal experience (of others). Why do they drop out? Various reasons I expect. I think for many it is the leap to "real" running from W5R3 on. It may be wiser to look at why people complete it. I read elsewhere that endorphin highs kick in after 12 minutes of running and apparently become addictive.I think lack of any endorphin high is what kills exercise for many people, including me. It is interesting to look at children's attitude to PE. It tends to be binary with PE being their best or worst lesson - rarely in between (source – Sport Wales).
Another issue is "non-response". Some people here have a real problem with this and suggest it is just laziness. However it does for me explain the huge difference (in distance) seen in people completing C25K, and of course my own complete lack of progress with “consolidation”.
No, I don’t enjoy any form of exercise done for its own sake. Swimming (and aquarobics) are tolerable by virtue of the cooling effect of water and of course no sweating!
I think you should only refer to oneself as a runner or a swimmer if these are activities important to you for their own sake. In the summer months I swim about 400 metres (16 lengths of an average pool) most days, but I don’t refer to myself as a swimmer, in the same way I do not labe myself a “showerer” after my daily wash! On the other hand I do call myself a gardener. I spend many hours a week in my large garden, which I intermittently open to the public to raise money for charity. I would not call someone who mows the lawn occasionally (and reluctantly) a gardener!
A final point and a question. You refer to running and jogging requiring both feet to be off the ground at once at some point. Wikipedia states that in jogging this may not be the case. Are slow joggers not runners at all?!
Just seen this John, thank you for posting this interesting article.😊xx
Finally saying hello and thank you!
Middle aged newbie saying hello
W8R2 say hello to mapmyrun (other running apps blah blah blah)
