Couch to 5K
Disclosure ~ This post contains affiliate links.
Running is a great overall workout that you can do anywhere and a wonderful way to make sure your body and your heart stay in great shape. But if you’re a bit of a couch potato, going out for a run can seem a bit challenging. Not to mention that you’ll be out of breath after 2 minutes. As easy as running is, if you’re out of shape, it isn’t something you can pick up and do. Let’s just say you won’t be going for a 5K run on your first day. But it’s something you can work up to in a few short weeks.
Where to Start
There are plenty of Couch to 5K programs out there. You can find books on the topic, blogs and email courses. The basic concept is the same. These programs walk you through a mixture of walking and running exercises for a few weeks until you are ready to run your first 5K.
It’s a great way to get in shape and while the books, blogs and e-courses certainly work, one of the best ways to do a couch to 5K is with a phone app. Yes, you read that right. Your smartphone can be a great tool to get you moving and then running.
The way these apps work is that you run it while you’re walking and running with headphones on. Your phone will tell you when to walk, when to run and when to do other exercises as you move through your daily workouts.
While you’ll get a lot of the same information and go through the same exercises and steps with a book or other way to go through the couch to 5K program, there are some very specific benefits to using an app.
What You Will Do
Typically you will walk for a few minutes, and then run for a minute and so forth. If you’re working with written information you have to remember what you’re supposed to be doing and then time yourself. The app will keep track of all that for you and tell you what to do each step of the way.
The app will also keep track of what day and what particular workout you’re on. It makes it easy to know where you’re at in the program, but it also has a motivational aspect to it. Seeing on your screen that you’ve already completed 2 weeks’ worth of workouts can be very motivating.
Last but not least, most apps will remind you that it’s time to do your workout. That may be just the little nudge you need to lace up your sneakers and go work out.
Conclusion
There is nothing stopping you from getting off the couch and hitting that 5K goal. Enjoy running, and broadening your fitness.
Leave a Reply