I have not run in many years, but running consistently the last 6 weeks have made me realise how much I miss running. This would be a really good app if you could figure out the GPS tracking issue. I am in week 6 and for the last 3 weeks it has been more like a Couch to GuessK as I have to guess how far I ran and walked after most of the runs. I know it's not my phone as I can open maps directly after my run and it knows my exact location...that and other people seem to have the same problem. Even if there is a warning signal that can tell you that GPS has stopped working. Anyway, I have no idea how far I ran lately, but I am running in the allotted times and am doing good with that. If this is an issue after I have reached 5km, I will probably just uninstall the app (which I paid for) and use another app to track my running. It really is disappointing not to be able to log progress.
Reviews for Couch to 5K®
Don't spend $5 on this. It was $1.99 when I bought it a decade ago, and it really hasn't been updated much. The GPS is still broken. The in built music player wasn't even much use in 2013 when I was playing my own mp3s. Now there's a new bug where the only thing it really needs to do and had for 10 years done well enough no longer works. It missed half the slow down and speed up cues.
I do not like running and honestly, I may never like running, so getting to a 5k isn't remotely of interest to me. I DO want to feel healthier though. I'm only a week in (3 determined shuffle-jogs I'm mightly proud of) and super impressed by how well-timed and paced this app is for a couchy like me. Add some Spotify soundtracks, some YouTube tips on how to hold my body, because the wrong position makes it harder... and I'm genuinely enjoying it. Previously, I'd burn out or hurt myself early in and lose motivation. I'm shocked I've been able to make it through the 1/2 hour, sweating and breathing hard, without being exhausted; it's just challenging and rewarding enough that I want to do it again in a day or two, and I haven't overdone so I'm able to. Really impressed with this simple app. Thank you!
If you have never jogged before I'm not sure this will automatically get you to a 5k. It will get you going. The app often closes itself while in the middle of my run and there is no way to retrieve the progress I had already attained for that run. It also wont let you enter anything orher than distance if you run on the treadmill (or if it shuts down mid run). I know its cheap but i still dont think it was worth paying for.
Not a bad app before, but recently, the distance tracker is not working. Says I went 0.3 miles in 30 minutes cause the app did not track my run. And since this app is meant to track running, seems like it is failing at its only job. I have been messing with the settings to see if I can fix it, but nothing has solved this issue. Would be bad enough if it was a free app, but if you pay for it and it is not doing its only job, seems like a waste of money.
So I don't know if there are different programs available within the app, I can't find an option for that, but I would not call this COUCH to 5k. I kept getting horrible shin splints by following this program, taking several weeks off, starting over, repeat. I finally looked into the interval timing, and I would not call the jump into week 4 approachable for those who have never done this type of exercise. I am going to have to create my own program, or find one that's ACTUALLY for newbies.
At its core, it does what I want. Annoyingly, the app contains 'personal trainers' you CANNOT get rid of, though you can mute them they still have noises they play at the beginning and end of your workout, this includes turning their volume to 0% and hitting the 'mute trainer' option. Other than those nuisances, the app seems to track distance pretty accurately and gets calories in the right ballpark for runs (though it feels way too optimistic for walks). I'd say it's solid.
This is a good app for people who are just starting or getting back into running. I mostly use it for treadmill running, however, when I take it outside and enable the GPS function, it's always inaccurate. I run it with my Fitbit GPS and I always end up with significantly different results. If it were more accurate, I'd rate it better.
The GPS is off, often giving me less than half the distance. It really is only guaranteed to work if you run one way in a straight line. When the GPS works, the distance split is often wrong. You get correct paces and total distance but the distance for running/walking is wrong. Which means they messed up the math. They added a bunch of useless junk you can't avoid and the app feels less worth it as a result of the updates. I'll finish the app then move to a general app for running.
very fun, makes me look forward to working out! Edit: I made it to the 9 weeks. I can run for 30 mins nonstop. I'm proud of myself, but frustrated that this app cannot accurately track my distance. it says I'm cutting across the block, makes weird shapes that I definitely didnt run. So I cant tell if I'm actually doing 5k's or not... which is this app's primary function... but none the less, I will not undermine the massive progress I've made. Good app.