C25K® 5K Running Coach & Map

Ok so I have always hated running and running for even a minute straight was tough. I laughed when I saw some of the workouts through out the weeks on here...me running 5 minutes straight? Several times a workout?? Hah! Well after reading the other reviews and people with similar background having success I gave it a try. It’s like the app puts a finger up to your lips and says “Shhh...just trust me.” You nod your head in silence and reluctantly jump on board. Some how, some way, you get through the workouts. Each week they get a little harder, but somehow you find yourself being able to sustain longer run times. You can’t believe it, it seems too good to be true. But you just don’t think about it and keep going. Because in the back of your mind you are afraid if you do think about it you’ll wake up and it won’t be true. Next thing you know you are running for the longest you’ve ever run in your life!! It’s a miracle! You feel great and your confidence is through the roof! Then it asks you if you want to start training for a 10k. And the panic and self doubt sets in all over. But it works!

I used to be an avid runner- my Mile was down to 4:50 pace. As you get older, muscles and dynamics change especially if one does not keep up with fitness. I was trying to get back down to 6min but was going about it the wrong way with a slow jog and getting mileage in. It was frustrating and would take a lot of time just to run. I couldn’t keep at it because I also had this sore on the side of my knee. Come to find out I was going about my run all wrong because of my defeated mentality. This app has changed all that. The mixture of walking and jogging encourages a faster pace and to kick up your knees. The reason; because it’s only 30 min- it’s like that carrot dangling to encourage one to run harder and correctly to build not only calve and thigh muscles, but also the glutes. I cannot emphasize enough on how this app encourages kicking up my knees and picking up my pace during the running portion, thus targets the correct muscles and taking pressure off my knees. Because of all those factors, I can remain consistent and actually look forward to it. I still don’t like running- but 30 min isn’t that long and is a nice escape either with music or talk radio. The best part- being active helps me keep up with my son when I’m playing with him. Just 30 min of my own three days a week- enables me to go the extra mile with my son after a difficult day at work.

I’m 46 years old and haven’t exercised regularly since high school. My philosophy about running has always been that it can’t be worth it because I’ve never seen a jogger with a smile on his face. But once I realized that I was 30 pounds overweight and was out of breath after just a few minutes of basketball with my 10 and 7 year old sons, I knew I had to make changes. I saw this app and decided to give it a try. On my first day it was all I could muster to run for 60 seconds, but knowing I had 90 seconds of walking afterward gave me just what I needed to get through. That pattern continued each day as the app gradually ramped up my running time. Suddenly after three weeks I found that I was able to manage the work load with a bit more ease. Encouraged, I thumbed through the next two weeks to see what was ahead. However, I forgot to thumb back to the day I was supposed to be on when my next run started, so suddenly I went from the end of week three to the beginning of week six. To my amazement, I was able to do it! So, I just kept going. This morning I ran 5K and felt exhausted but great afterwards. I have lost 20 pounds and have gone from barely able to run for 60 seconds to comfortably running for over 30 minutes. This app works! I doubt that I have a smile on my face while I’m jogging, but I sure do have one afterwards!

I never ever write reviews because I don’t care about this kind of thing enough usually to do that. But this app truly changed my life. I hate running. I hate exercising. I also hate feeling fat and gross after having three kids so I decided to make an effort by exercising. The problem is, I’m 33 years old and have never truly put effort into any kind of exercise so my body was all around out of shape. This app helped me completely ease into becoming a regular runner. I am one day away from completing the program and I’ve lost almost 20 lbs. I have WAY more energy to play with my kids and I feel like a better person all around. I plan to start the 10K training after I finish the 5k (today!) and I’m feeling so proud of myself. If you’re willing to just do the dang thing, you’ll find that you actually can. Don’t tell yourself that you’re not a runner. Don’t tell yourself that you’re too fat or out of shape to do this...trust me, if I can, you can too. My closest friends and family are now doing this app because I can’t stop talking about it...and guess what, they’re losing weight and getting healthy too! JUST DO IT!!!!

If I can keep going so can you. I am about halfway through, I think I am on week five. It has been decades since I was physically active on a regular basis. I have never been a runner; I still do not like running. But I keep going with the help of this app, for three reasons: 1. The pacing is just right. I have been surprised how quickly my endurance is building up, and I’ve not yet once felt like it pushed me too hard; 2. I’ve noticed running gives me better clarity and brain function the rest of the day, no doubt because I am feeding my oxygen-starved brain; 3. Each workout begins with a little inspiring quote to remind me of the mindset I am establishing through this new habit. As for this particular running app, I really like the fact that it allows me to listen to podcasts or training videos while it runs in the background. The prompts to change from running to walking are just loud enough to make the switch without interrupting whatever multitask thing I have going on. I am a 55 year old mother of six and looking forward to running my first 5K.