Do you use something to track your speed or distance?

Week 2 done, Week 3 run 1 - seemed easier? Maybe I ran too conservatively? Not sure exactly, I’ll try to go a bit faster next time. I have Strava for a trial month - should I use it to track distance and speed?

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

Gentle tip:

- if you think you are running conservatively, stick with it, that's PERFECT. Trying to run faster - that mentality - might see you come unstuck in the coming weeks.

And yes, Strava is a very popular app for tracking distance and pace - both of which is inconsequential at this stage.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Well done, you are doing great.

If you are running at a pace at which you can speak aloud clear ungasping sentences then there is no need to go faster. This is the optimal pace at which to develop your stamina and endurance...... .faster is not necessarily better.

Strava, Runkeeper, Mapmyrun and a whole host of other tracking apps can be used alongside C25K but since the plan is duration based the information they provide is of limited value and can be counterproductive if you pay too much attention to them

In most cases, the free versions are more than adequate for basic tracking.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Hi, I wouldn't concern yourself with distance or speed at this stage .What is more important is that you get into the habit of running at a conversational pace .

Ie can you speak full sentences whilst running without gasping for breath .

Strava will show your pace but this program is about time spent running rather than pace or distance .

The program is designed to build your strength and stamina whilst keeping risk of injury low rather than speed .

Just keep it slow and enjoy .

This video may help

youtu.be/9L2b2khySLE(Not working as expected?)

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Instructor57]

Nice badge, Ian.

Congratulations.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Lots of folk use running watches or phone apps as mentioned... but it can become a real time sink as well as making you feel not so great about what you're achieving (or not if the numbers don't look kind). I really wouldn't recommend any tracking until the last couple, maybe 3 weeks tops. Just enjoy what you're doing for its own sake if you can before confusing everything with far more data than you'll need 🙈

[nowster Graduate]

You don't need to pay for use of the core features of Strava, and many folks don't.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

I use a few apps, and a couple of watches… none of which came measure the necessary stat of “time” better than a cheap digital watch from the pound shop. There’s a couple of other stats that are important, and my specialist running watch asks me for them at the end of the run as it cannot measure them. How hard was the run… you want to see that coming down to around 5/10 from wherever it started (my run 1 was at least a 15!) and how strong do you feel… you want that one going up!

Strava will do what you want… forever and for free. It’s also a really good app when it comes to getting people injured… it encourages some to run faster every run to bag a segment crown… be strong… resist! If you can do that, it’s a great app!

I tracked all of my c25k runs… at the end of each I pressed stop and closed the app down. It was fun, months later, to look at how my 5/10 effort runs had become a little faster over time as the fitness really kicked in, but if I’d looked at them during the plan, they would have stolen some of my joy.

Enjoy the plan.. get that effort level down… worry about pace much later, if you want to.

You’re doing great… your final run of the plan will be exactly the same as mine… 30 minutes, pretty comfortable and quite emotional. Relax and enjoy the ride.

[mancrunner1 Graduate]

I use the free version of Strava now but no point during C25K as you’re running for duration only. But if you want to know your stats out of interest the free version of Strava is fine, you don’t need to pay.

[Runninggirl59 Graduate]

My advice would be to steer clear of any tracking device until you have completed the programme. Follow the plan and graduate without injury. There is plenty of time then to work on speed and distance. Enjoy and good luck 😀

[clarkesy]

I use Strava but it's just to track my progress. You can continue using it for free after the trial as long as you just need something to record your runs and not any deeper analysis.Be careful not to get sucked into comparing your run with others though.

[Hidden in reply to clarkesy]

Yes I have some rather competitive people I’d rather not compare myself too!