I don’t think the app tracks how far you’ve gone (or have I missed something?). I’d like to know this so I can see that progress and as the weeks go on, see whether I am anywhere near the 5k target rather than just running X minutes. As I’m targeting a park run, distance is a factor - how do you track your distance along side the C25K app?
Thanks
First things first... most runners don’t hit 5k on the programme... 30 minutes is the only target. No need to apply extra pressure to yourself and try to run faster than conversational pace until after graduation... your fitness will rise over time, after that it’s time to work on distance... or pace if you want to. So if you do track, don’t worry about it and certainly don’t change your running. This is the reason the C25K app doesn’t track distance.
There are many trackers (200 on the App Store at one stage) and they all do different other things, so it depends what you want from an app. All should be compatible with C25K. I use Nike Run Club. All you have to do is start C25K run, then switch apps during the warmup walk and start the tracker run as you get to the running itself.
Hope this helps.
Thanks. You are right - not looking to put undue pressure on myself, just aiming to run a bit more and gain some stamina at this point but as I am aiming for a park run I’m just interested to see (in the later weeks) what kind of distance I am covering.
Thanks for the tip on an app - if it can run in parallel behind C25K then that sounds ideal.
Cheers for taking the time to reply.
No worries. The other thing to look at if you want to completely run a parkrun is the terrain... my favourite local one is hilly and starts on a longish incline... the other local one is pretty flat. So, if I can run 5k I can run the latter, but my favourite one is probably gonna take 6-7km of flat endurance. There’s nothing wrong with run/walking one, they’re a very supportive bunch and most parkruns get athletes, seasoned runners, fun runners, run walkers, C25K newbies and even walkers... as an organisation they were celebrating seeing the average times go up, as that meant that they were more inclusive... they’ve launched a podcast “free weekly timed” that is 29 minutes long as that’s the average time, and are planning and hoping to extend the show as they attract more slow runners and walkers... so you’ll be welcome there whenever.
Great, thank you, I want at least a few weeks under my belt before I venture out in public! But not many hills luckily in East Anglia though knowing my luck, the course will have the only one around!
On the app front, if you switch to say, Nike Run Club for your run, do you still get the voiceover from C25K? Do you set up the Run Club App then switch back to C25K? Can they run concurrently? I'm a total newbie, so any tips are gratefully received.
Second shout out for NRC (Nike Run Club), but I think all the apps are similar - yes, they run concurrently, also I have music going as well. The music fades as your C25k coach talks and the NRC app tells you when you hit the kilometre marks and what your average pace is. 🙂
The C25K app will still speak and you can turn off voice alerts in the Nike app. I used to leave C25K in the background to avoid any accidental pauses... I figured it was best to lose the data than over run the running.
Later I used Nike guided runs of the same length as the scheduled runs 20 minutes plus ones and not bother with the C25K app at all... just ticked off the run after.
Thanks both - will trial it tomorrow.
Intervals need to be driven by the C25K of course.
Coach Bennett is really good... he talks a lot and reminds you to run slow... in one he points out that it’s a time run, running fast won’t end it sooner, so it’s a waste of effort... speed is only for distance runs and specific speed sessions... I found this really useful. In one of the headspace runs he and Andy get you to run at 4/10 effort and then feel the speed increase with no extra effort in the second 10 minutes... you may have seen reference on here to the “toxic 10” at the start of a run... I didn’t realise it was happening until I felt it!
Is Coach Bennett on the NRC app?
Yeah... he’s Nike’s head coach.
Ok cool, might try that. Don’t want to abandon Michael though!
Michael used to have an app too, but it appears to no longer be available. If you’re getting on with MJ I wouldn’t abandon him... if you would like a coach after C25K I’d highly recommend coach Bennett.
👍
Sorry to jump on this one, but which are the two parkruns you're referring to? I have an inkling you're not far from me, and was wondering which one would be a good one to start considering.
My flat one is Marple and my favourite is Bramhall
Thanks - yes both well within reach for me. Marple in particular might be one to have on my radar for the future. I'm in Glossop.
I’m in Glossop too... just don’t like the parkrun course there 😂
No way! I did wonder if you were describing Manor Park at one point as it all sounded rather familiar ...
I did have a quick look at that parkrun, but thought it sounded a bit dodgy underfoot for the ankles, plus I probably know too many people who do that one, I'd rather be a bit more anonymous the first couple of times!
Yeah, I run in manor park a bit... and Derbyshire level makes for a nice easy road to run on... no traffic lights 😂
Glossop parkrun is ok... there’s just a steep downhill on the mud that I wouldn’t fancy in a big group.
Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.
This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...
Enjoy your journey.
Hi joster
Have a look at strava, loads of people on the next forum use us it, (bridge to 10k) it gives you the splits times, pace in km/ hr, elevation gain in metres, etc etc
But it’s a bit like face book for runners, The more seasoned runners create and name segments, these are measured distances, typically 1k, 2k etc when you start to explore new routes you find you are constantly running through them, once you go through one a few times it starts to graph progesss and gives you a little gold, silver or bronze medal if you beat previous best times, there are 11 segments on my local park run 
There are clubs you can join and see what everyone else is up to, I am a member of my local parkrun this forum has a club NHS C25Kers
Just download it to your phone, it’s gps so doesn’t use DATA you can upgrade for more stats but the free option is fine, great for motivation and measuring progress,
Happy running 🏃🏿♂️
Distance 
Distance measuring?
Measuring distance
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