Most runners do seem to be following C25K although some have made necessary alterations & amendments to suit their individualized requirements.

If you look carefully at the thread titles - most indicate a start week for the program & individuals commencing that week hop on board. While we're all newbies, it's often easier to establish a cameraderie with a smaller group & when you're more or less at the same point in the program - it becomes more meaningful to report successes or challenges within that smaller group that's in the same week.

As to other, more general threads - anybody can read or respond... or not depending on if they find the thread title promises something of interest.

It's funny that you posted this today because last night I sent a recommendation to Active.com administration to make a C25K thread in "cool runnings".  I understand that it is a great way for new runners to get going, but when I look in the "newbie" thread and 95% of the postings are about the C25K it makes me just wanna leave the thread.  Also, it makes any newbie question that doesn't have to do with the C25K harder to find in all of the C25K clutter.

Thanks for letting me vent along with you!