this post was submitted on 05 Aug 2025
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I want to start running, and I was going to start with a couch to 5k app. However, every app is either a subscription or wants access to every scrap of data on my phone, which should not be necessary to track my running and play music. Can anyone recommend an iOS app that does C25K without subscription or data mining? I’m happy to pay a one time purchase.

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[–] makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml 6 points 7 months ago
[–] dingus@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

Oh! There is a fantastic app that I used early last year! It was totally free with like zero ads or anything. It's incredibly basic and limited in its features, but perfectly suited for what I wanted.

It's called "Just Run: Zero to 5K". The app icon is a white shoe on top of a green background.

I used it on Android, but it looks like it is available on iOS as well. It basically trains you to run 30 minutes continuously. For me, I generally take a bit longer than 30 mins to complete a 5K, but the app worked well enough to get me there.

It also has training up to a "10K" (running 60 minutes continuously...and again, it takes me longer than an hour to run a 10K).

I used it for a couple of weeks and then bought myself a cheap smartwatch to keep track of the actual distance I was running. The smartwatch helped me stay motivated because I could see a timer and distance on my wrist...whereas the app just gives you audio cues. But the app helped me stay motivated because I liked being able to click each time that I completed the workout. Note that the app does NOT seem to link up to a smart watch. Like I said, it's a basic app.

I completed the 5K leg of the app in several months, and then I can't remember if I used the app to get to 10K or not. I don't use the app anymore because I have completed it...instead just electing to use my smartwatch on its own. At this point, the longest I have ran is 10 miles, but generally I only run 7-9 miles.

Best of luck! I'm certainly no expert, but if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer!

[–] Pherenike@lemmy.ml 3 points 7 months ago

I recommend this one too

[–] dylanmorgan@slrpnk.net 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Thank you, that looks like exactly what I was looking for!

[–] dingus@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

No prob! Best of luck on your journey!

[–] jlow@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 7 months ago

I started years and years ago with this podcast from the BBC:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0l3td5c/episodes/downloads

Just get a podcast app like #AntennaPod on #FDroid, paste the RSS feed:

https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p0l3td5c.rss

download it all and you're good to go.

[–] Sadbutdru@sopuli.xyz 4 points 7 months ago

NHS has a couch to 5k program, there's an app or .pdf resources to track it yourself.

[–] makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml 3 points 7 months ago

Here to find out also

[–] IWW4@lemmy.zip 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Why are you getting an app at all?

Just use a stop watch and do intervals.

  • 2 minute jog
  • 1 minute walk

Do that for thirty minutes, three times a week and you will be running 5K with ease in less than a month.

Or do that of thirty minute intervals twice a week and one time a week do a long slow day.

Here is a routine to follow:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/5k-run/art-20050962

[–] dylanmorgan@slrpnk.net 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Listening to music helps me exercise, and having an app means that I can be in the zone with my music and get a chime telling me when it’s time to change pace rather than be distracted by paying attention to a stopwatch.

[–] JackbyDev@programming.dev 0 points 7 months ago

What does the music have to do with this? You can play music and have a timer going. Are you looking for something with 2 min and 1 min songs or something?

[–] etchinghillside@reddthat.com 1 points 7 months ago

Had success with just taking a screenshot of a Google image schedule and just planning off of that for both 5k and 10k.