Pretend to be training for the Marathon...

[Strickls12]

So I've just completed week 3. so glad those 3 minutes began to feel less like the apocalypse. Feeling really great and i'm so excited to be out running a whole 3 times a week. It's been keeping me sane what with a vast volume of work on at the moment. That combined with a die-hard assertion that running really wasn't for me ("i'm not built for it you see" familiar?) means that every run feels like a huge accomplishment.

The only problem is... I do all my running in south London. AKA, full of super fit young corporate types who spend their lunch break and evenings training for the marathon. The latter of which will soon be upon us and seems to have shaken all the strongest, bounciest, serious looking runners out of the woodwork and onto Clapham Common.

The other thing is they all seem to miraculously reappear as soon as Laura tells me to start walking!

The woman with the new shiny white trainers is just pretending...

I'll show 'em....just give me 6 more weeks

[Minuette Graduate]

I'll show 'em....just give me 6 more weeks - that's the spirit, you'll get there!!

[blueboots Graduate]

Remember, they must have been beginner runners at some point. Run through some mud and get those shoes less shiny, mine look ancient already with mud, puddles, snow, dust. Go show 'em.

[schpanna]

I always think that you would be surprised at how many people feel similarly self-conscious. Just think that they might be too busy worrying about what you think of them too!

I'm finding that these feelings are getting better all the time. I started out terrified that people I know would see me (and that's part of the reason it took me so long to even get started) but now I don't care as I run further. I'm proud of my progress and know it will keep getting better.

[bizzyb Graduate]

I used to be self--conscious too but when people I knew started to say "I saw you out running" they were always supportive and made positive comments especially when I told them about the NHS podcasts for c25k

Don't forget that people who see you stop for the walking phase have no idea how long your running phase was, it could have been several miles! Keep going, in no time you will running 30 mins straight off

[Mrs_Miggins Graduate]

I know just how you feel! I hated it when I had to walk. I never seemed to see anyone when I was running but the minute Laura said walk, out came all the runners, dog walkers etc! I was ecstatic to leave the walking bits behind at the end of week 6! Hang in there, it gets better.

I've got a whole load of people at work into doing C25K and, even though we all run separately, and are at different levels, we spur each other on.

It feels great each time you move onto a new week!

[juicydee Graduate]

I'm two weeks post-C25K and left a church meeting this afternoon saying breezily 'I'm straight off on a run now'. 'OK - let's see you run then!' quipped one bright spark. I would've run to show her, but I am so wedded to Laura's ways that I replied firmly (if a little haughtily): 'I do a 5 minute warmup walk first. I shall run once I get to the park.' So the lady in question probably thinks I'm a delusional lead-swinger....!!

Just telling you this so you can see that, whatever stage we're at in all this, we all still have our hangups