Advice to get my 16 yr old to try this programme...

[CBDB]

Hi all, I am on W3 R1, mum, old and unfit but really liking this programme. Love the app and choices of voices.

I have a 16 year old teenager (male) who has some un-organised fitness, but I think this programme would be great for him. But he thinks it’s rather uncool, so he said he was going to run continuously (more cool?) and ran 30 min, felt sick and stopped running altogether.

But this structured program would be good for teenagers like my son, I think.

Any advice how to make this programme seem as cool as it actually is, but to a teenager’s perspective?

[SandraY1 Graduate]

Has he listened to the different voices on the C25K app. I would say that Michael Johnson was Cool. I think 🤔 that maybe it’s the program it’s self. If he can walk quite long, he could try the Zombies, Run app(in app purchases). Maybe more fun. I hope that helps.

[CBDB Ambassador in reply to SandraY1]

Zombies, run! Brill!! Just had a look and will try that!!! Will report back. Thx.

[dorarunning Graduate]

To be honest I don’t think there’s a way of getting 16 year olds to do anything they don’t want to do, or feel like they don’t want to do! Actually it’s the same with anyone, my boyfriend hasn’t been using any structure and he hasn’t run in years and similarly to your son has just been heading out and bolting. I haven’t been lecturing him - I can and have in the past been a bit preachy - and instead have just been getting on with my own thing and I think slowly he can see how it’s working for me and is making him rethink.

However, if your son can run for 30 minutes (even if it’s completely tuckered him out) I think he’ll find Couch to 5K really frustrating and boring, it is intended for people with little fitness to start with.

What I would suggest is Nike Run Club, it’s an app where you can track runs, so he can see distance and pace covered etc. But they also have audio guided runs (starting at 20 minutes) where they talk you through your pace etc and get you to focus on stamina rather than speed. They also do fast short intervals to build up fitness that way. The interface feels really cool and athletic and there’s lots of features and training programmes. But again, it’s only if he’s up for suggestions!

I know you want your kids to do this as well as you do, but if you just focus on yourself hopefully they’ll see how well you are doing and be inspired.

[CBDB Ambassador in reply to dorarunning]

Great advice! And will keep the Nike Run Club in mind and point him in the direction.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Bribery? Just joking...but they may be an incentive somewhere...Lots of different voices for the app, and currently so many celebrities and high profile folk doing exercises.. If he does not fancy this, maybe get him onto something else and you do this as you are?

He could look at PE with Joe Wickes...loads of youngsters loving that

Live personal training lessons...

Does he have a bike? he could ride and you could run...

Does he take photographs,, he could run, stake pikkies of you and put a blog together online?

[CBDB Ambassador in reply to Oldfloss]

Great ideas. Many thx!

[MarkyD Graduate]

Have you got a friend with a very attractive, running 16 year old daughter? That should do it...

[Speedy60 Graduate]

Are there any sports people/athletes that he admires and would follow? 🤷‍♀️

[Elfe5 Graduate]

If he is anything like mine at that age I would tell him that he absolutely should NOT do C25K! 😂

Sorry- jokes apart, I think if teenagers are not “grabbed” by an idea it’s a non starter.

Having said that, my youngest daughter did a little occasional running as a teenager which sowed the seed of that idea. Now at 21 she is enthusiastically running most days and yesterday ran the distance of a half marathon “for fun”!

The teenage years are a great time to try different activities, some take off & others don’t. 😄