Wristwatch

[Fabuloso]

Hi, is there a watch (watches) you can use instead of taking your IPhone on runs?

[RiceAndPeas]

Hi Fabuloso, yes there are many runners watches at different price points. I can't recommend one over any other as I bought mine just a few weeks ago and have never tried any other. Mine is a Garmin forerunner 245 music. I chose it because I can download music to listen to and leave my phone at home if I wish.

[Fabuloso Graduate in reply to RiceAndPeas]

Many thanks, I like the idea of leaving phone behind 👍👍

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate]

Welcome to the forum! It’s a super friendly and supportive place. Jump right in with questions and share your experiences and you’ll get cheered along.

It’s worth reading the programme guide here which will give lots of hints and tips. Most important is keeping it slow and steady at a pace where you can talk in full sentences without gasping. Most of us go too fast! Recovery days between runs are absolutely essential too.

healthunlocked.com/couchto5....

On your specific question, you can track your runs with any smart watch, like a garmin or a Fitbit. I’ve used both and there are loads of options. Are you planning on using the Couch to 5k app or podcasts? That’s the only potential barrier to going phoneless that I can think of.

Really good luck!

[Fabuloso Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Yes was going to do Couch to 5k. Should I stick with Iphone in armband for now do you think

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate in reply to Fabuloso]

I don’t know of a way that you can do couch to 5k without a phone… it might be that you need one for that period but you can go without your phone after that. Hopefully someone will come along and suggest something! Compared with all the time you’ll spend running, couch to 5k is relatively short and it’s worth having the timings and the coaching with you. I’d always have my phone with me anyway for emergencies.

I personally don’t get along with arm bands but if they work for you, go for it! My phone just goes in a pocket. There are lots of things about running that come down to trial and error and personal preference

[DaisyGrapes Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

You could potentially download the podcast version in a small MP3 player that may be easier to carry

[IgaT Graduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

If you download mp3 with Couch to 5K and then as someone suggested download it to the watch as your "music", then you can leave the phone behind.

[IgaT Graduate in reply to IgaT]

nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/r...

Here are mp3 to download instead of using app, but then you are missing on those stars when you complete the run, but you have options

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Fabuloso]

I use a belt... keys and phone tuck in there neatly.

[nowster Graduate]

Many of us now have running watches, but the NHS Couch to 5K app only runs on phones.

But I'd never go out without my phone… just in case something goes wrong.

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate]

Hi Fabuloso, I am repeating C25K at the moment, and rather than using the App I created all of the runs as workouts on the Garmin website and sent them to my running watch. Mine is a Forerunner 245 Music, but I think you should be able to send workouts to many Garmin watches.

[Fabuloso Graduate in reply to ForbiddenPlanet]

Ooooh now that sounds great, thank you👍

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Fabuloso]

Note carefully that ForbiddenPlanet is already a C25K graduate. Re-doing C25K is a different sort of activity to doing it for the first time. Just using the intervals works fine for repeats, but I would strongly recommend sticking with the podcast or app for your first go-round with the programme.

[RiceAndPeas in reply to ForbiddenPlanet]

Yes, that's what I did too. It's a pretty straightforward process. Adding them to the Garmin calendar helps avoid sifting through workouts to select the right one for the day.

[Jamesrunsforlife Graduate]

Hi Fabuloso 👋 I tried an armband for my iPhone but hated the feel of it on my arm so I bought a waistband type one with zips in it one for your iPhone and one for keys I don’t even know I’m wearing it to be honest it’s brilliant and it was only like£7

[Jamesrunsforlife Graduate]

waistband for running

Running waistband

[Runningphobe Graduate]

I have a garmin watch to track my runs, ever since the run in Scotland with no signal so I couldn't track it on a map. But I still carry my phone fir music and emergency use. I have a belt bag for it which works fine - also room for keys and emergency money.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

Garmin, Polar, and Coros are the most popular makes of dedicated running watches - all programmable., so you can easily upload C25K workouts to them.

Garmin definitely have the widest range to suit most budgets.

Enjoy your shopping 😎

[HeavyFoot Graduate]

Once you start setting out into the wide blue yonder, you should definitely have a phone with you.

[adnewg73 Graduate]

I agree, I wouldn't go without my phone in case something happened or I fell etc. I have mine in an arm sleeve, along with my house door key. It works great, and it's also reflective for these darker night runs now. Keep running, I just love it now (I only started at the end of July) and now also do a weekly parkrun

Phone Arm Sleeve

[Bubulrap Graduate]

I always take my phone with me, I used an armband for a while then I got a waistband holder, and using that I don't even know my phone's there tbh.

[SweatyHettie Graduate]

I used an armband when I first started but I didn’t really like it. Now I just zip my phone in my leggings back waist pocket - it’s big enough for my phone and keys and I don’t know it’s there