So my wife has been toying with the idea to get into running. After 33 years without doing much sports, she now goes to the gym twice a week and is getting fitter. She mentioned today that she noticed that a half marathon will be held in our city, and that it’d be impossible for her. So I said that I am sure they have a 5k and a 10k option. I think she will sign up for the 5k.
So I was wondering what the best 0-to-5k apps are. Do you have any advice? She owns an Apple Watch series 3 and an iPhone.
I’ve enjoyed the Nike Run Club app. It will help make training programs for you, and there are lots of great guided runs featuring their head coach, and also lots of other athletes (Shalene Flanigan, Eliud Kipchoge, lots of others) and celebrities that are both engaging and helpful. The head coach (Chris Bennett) instructions are a similar in some ways to Chad’s text during TR workouts, probably a little more warm and fuzzy but less scientifically rigorous. I’ve heard (but haven’t used) that the apple watch integration is good too, they have a co-branded nike apple watch. Plus it’s free.
She doesn’t know of Strava … yet. I didn’t know the Nike Run app also did structured training. That’s definitely an option, too. It looks well-designed, too.
My wife is using Couch to 5k (costs $2.99) for her first 5k. It’s a 9 week training program. She does she she like me more warm-up. But overal she likes it.
If she’s on a treadmill much, I really like Zwift’s training plans and the interactivity of it. It tends to be something like what’s typically prescribed for training: one speed run, one threshold run, one long run and optional runs in between.
I’m working on the half marathon plan right now.
Another cool thing is that you can customize the length of the plan to fit your needs and it does a nice taper as you approach your race date.
She would need a foot pod for it but the running on Zwift is still technically in beta (very clean experience though) so running is free on Zwift at the moment.
Lots of good choices out there right now. Good luck!
I did couch to 5k and it was great, went from never being able to run to doing 5k in sub 30 mins, this was when I wasn’t cycling at all so was seriously unfit!
Please consider checking out my fairly new Couch to 5K app in the iOS App Store…it’s called RunCue 5K. I’m a indie solo developer and believe I have a very easy to use/clean/simple app that will help anyone get off the couch and running 5Ks! It worked for me. Here’s the link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/runcue-5k/id6738362793
Copy/pasting this from my App Store Description (because I had too much fun writing this up!). I seriously appreciate you all checking it out:
RunCue 5K: Your Journey from Couch to 5K! Transform “I can’t run” into “I just did” with our entertaining 9-week program. Because your couch has had you long enough!
Why Choose RunCue 5K?
• Proven Program: Start with intervals so easy, your couch will file for abandonment
• Smart Audio: Voice cues tell you exactly when to run and walk (we promise to be nicer than your high school gym teacher)
• Progress Tracking: Watch yourself level up from “where’s the remote?” to “where’s the finish line?” with beautiful stats
• Run & Listen: Keep enjoying your true crime podcasts while we occasionally interrupt to remind you that you’re supposed to be running
Features That Actually Help:
• Voice Options: Choose between male or female coaches (both equally persistent)
• Milestone Alerts: Optional “halfway there” announcement (or as we like to call it: “Only halfway more to go!”)
• Customizable Timing: Add warm-ups and cool-downs because we’re not 16 anymore (and if you are, you can turn them off)
• Stats That Matter: Track distance, time, and pace in real-time (bragging rights included)
• Running Diary: Document your journey from “I might die” to “I did it!”
Perfect For:
• Professional couch enthusiasts ready for a change
• First-time runners (and second-time first-time runners)
• People whose fitness tracker thinks they’re permanently napping
• Anyone who’s ever said “I’ll start tomorrow”