Very new to running.: Hello Im after some advice... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

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Very new to running.

Gem0903 profile image
Gem0903Graduate
10 Replies

Hello

Im after some advice hope this is allowed.

Does anyone use a watch to record the distance they run? With being new to running I dont want to spend a fortune on a garmin ( i do everything ) but would like something affordable that will tell me how far I've ran.

Thanks in advance.

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Gem0903 profile image
Gem0903
Graduate
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10 Replies

Advice is always available here👍🏃‍♀️👍

I haven't bought a watch yet and there are a number of apps that you can use on your phone to check out distance. MapMyRun is a fairly simple one that works for me

Gem0903 profile image
Gem0903Graduate in reply to

Fabulous thank you very much.

As for the advice i'm going to need a lot of it..lol

Realfoodieclub profile image
RealfoodieclubGraduate

You've come to the right place for advice here, we all all about support and encouragement and advice. When I started I used the Runtastic free app (apple and android) to log my distance, it worked well.

Bluebirdrunner profile image
BluebirdrunnerGraduate

Hi Gem and well done for starting the c25k plan.😊

As far as recording your distance, I would say although its nice to look at and compare, at this early stage its better to concentrate on just running for the required amount of time successfully and moving on through the plan.

How far you have run doesn't really come into it, and might make you feel a bit demoralised. You will find (if you haven't already ) that to run slowly is the best way to complete each session.

Nice and steady. You will be able to see that you have gone further than you managed last time without fretting about numbers.

Later on when you are doing longer runs you could try mapmyrun or Strava which are free apps.

That's the great thing about this running training... its free...apart from good running shoes, running socks, maybe a running belt and of course a good sports bra (for ladies)😆😄

Good luck with the rest of W2😊

Miller2 profile image
Miller2 in reply to Bluebirdrunner

I was just going to reply with almost the exact same response Bluebirdrunner . I would just do the programme one run at a time and not worry about distance. Sometimes you haven't run as far as you think and it can be demoralising, and that can make a successful run seem like an unsuccessful run if that makes any sense? Stamina is way more important than distance and speed as Laura will tell you on the podcasts. I treated myself to a GPS watch (I confess I got a Garmin) when I graduated as motivation to keep on going once I'd finished all the podcasts. I haven't got a clue how far I ran whilst doing C25K, but that wasn't the point anyway, the point was to build fitness and see how long I can run for.

gazelle2B profile image
gazelle2BGraduate

Hi Gem0903, I'm a very recent graduate of the C25K programme, and I too was very new to running. At the beginning of the programme, I made a conscious decision *not* to track my distance, as the programme's sessions were all about time, rather than pace or distance. In hindsight, I think I made the right decision for me, because I know that if I'd got hung up on distance, I'd have tried to run too fast, which would have undoubtably resulted in failure and frustration. Now that I've graduated, there's plenty of time for that! ;)

Anyway, whatever you decide, good luck, and have fun!

Gem0903 profile image
Gem0903Graduate

Thank you for all the advice and support. I think I will do exactly as you all suggest, start the distance training on graduation.

Cheers.

Whatsapp profile image
WhatsappGraduate

Agree with all advice on here so far. Especially Bluebirdrunner and Miller2 when they say not to worry about the distance just yet. Here and now, it is about building your stamina and endurance to run for 30 minutes. So what if it isn't far?

That said, I use mapmyrun and have just downloaded strava on my phone which seems good as it compares my runs and give split times etc. not to mention it is free (unless you want to pay for the premium version.)

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Lots of things out there, but at this point,I would go with Bluebirdrunner suggestion..just follow the programme, slow and steady... when you are into it and moving on there are, as she says free apps...:)

And then.. well, so many running things to find and buy, or have for pressies:)

Chocs_away profile image
Chocs_awayGraduate

I'm using Strava and have since my first run... but it's never been about recording the distance, I'm not really concerned about that.

I like to run in different places, different routes. It's like my diary of where I've been and at the end of the run I take a photo. I can add in any comments/info too. I'm only just starting week 4, but it's nice having the photos & route maps of where I've been.

My favourite is when my husband came with me and a photo of us together at the end of session. One of the reasons I wanted to do this is so that one day I can run with him... I didn't expect it to happen so soon!!

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