When do you start your tracker?

[Geordie_julie]

I just wanted to ask you lovely people a question about run tracking apps. I did W1R3 today, and logged it on Strava which I had downloaded before the run. Didn't seem to do too bad, although obviously I have nothing to compare it to - 4K in the half hour. But looking at my splits got me thinking, as obviously my 1st and last km were much slower because user it going before I left home, and didn't stop it til I got back to my front door.

Do you usually set your run tracker going when you begin your warm-up walk, or do you wait til you start your first running bit?

[secan Graduate]

If you want to record your runs for future reference or as a "souvenir" of your C25K journey, that's fine... but until you completed the programme (and even for a few weeks after that) ignore the stats and just focus on getting to the end of each run.

The first and most important thing to learn is to read the signals from your body, not the numbers from your app.

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate]

Agree with Secan. Stats at this stage are unimportant. You just need to do the time, speed and distance come later. It's also really important not to go too fast because that way you avoid injury and your body has time to get used to running. If you start off too fast (and 4K in the first week, with only 8 minutes running is too fast) you run the risk of shin splints and all sorts of nasties. 

Slow and steady!

[Geordie_julie]

Good point. The numbers don't really matter at the moment, that wasn't the reason I got the app. I just found myself wondering what people who run regularly do?

I'm only really trying to log it so I have a map of my runs for distance, as on my first run I found I had no idea what sort of distance I would be looking at, so ended up almost running round in circles! I'm tied route-wise if I run from home by having to stay on one side of the railway lines, as there's only certain places you can get across the lines, so wanted to map my runs to stop me running round in circles but also make sure I don't finish any of the runs very far from home. I mapped my second run manually on runningbug, but found that a bit of a faff, which is what made me look for an app. Then today, on my first use of the app I discovered it does so much more, I'm getting distracted by all the numbers on it!

I also wondered about 4km being further than I expected to do on week1, but suspect it's as much to do with my walking speed as anything - I'm forever being told at work that I walk too fast anyway ( might be to do with the fact that I work with a lot of short people and I have quite long legs!) so when Laura says my walking speed needs to be fast enough to increase my heart rate but still be able to hold a conversation it means I'm walking probably quite a lot faster than what would be average? Trust me, I'm not running fast on the 60 second runs, more of a slow jog than anything!

[runswithdogs Graduate in reply to Geordie_julie]

I start mine after the warm-up walk.

[secan Graduate in reply to Geordie_julie]

I begun tracking the runs during the last couple of weeks of the programme and back then I started and stopped the app at the same time of the podcast (therefore including warm-up and warm-down). Mainly because I couldn't be bothered to take my gloves off twice...

After graduation I begun recording only the actual run.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate]

Personally I set it going just for the running bits, I don't include the warm up or cool dawn walks. As long as you are not pushing yourself too hard I see no reason why you shouldn't track your progress right from the start. As you say it will help you plan your runs as the session get longer. xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

I agree with the others.. forget speed, distance etc. Just follow the programmes, slow and steady!

I always started timing,just for the running bits...i.e. after the warm up walk and stopped at the walk down point.. I thought you had to do it that way! ( C25K spies hiding in bushes! ).

[Noaky12 Graduate]

I always set it going at the start of the the running & stop it as soon as I finish. Stopping it for me is now a bit of a ritual as it signifies I've definately finished & won't change my mind. Lol ☺

[Patrick1942 Graduate]

Leave it at home and just follow the programme you have lots of time for stats later on, you have enough to concetrate on without it.  

[GoogleMe Graduate]

When I start running rather than walking.

I can see why you want to have an idea of distance for route planning purposes. The other way to look at it is that it isn't a big deal if you have a longer walk at the end (only if you have a shorter one - really don't do this!) and running in circles or backwards and forwards can be a bit of a laugh (amuses my dog no end when I set off down a ride and then quickly turn round and run back and then do it again...)