Roger Wolfson – How I Went From Zero to Running 5k

I have never been someone in good shape and apart from the natural vigor of youth, my conditioning really has never been great. Last year when lockdown kicked in I was pretty worried about gaining weight and giving in to too much temptation, and so I decided that I would start running each morning, as a way to stay trim and to give me something to aim for during lockdown. I was watching a great video from fitness expert Roger Wolfson, who was discussing this new app that helped people to go from a sedentary lifestyle to running 5k. It was called Couch to 5k and this is how I was able to go from zero to 5k.

To anyone out there who would like to start running, here is why you will love this app.

Clearly Defined

The first thing to love about the app is how clearly defined it is, you know that you will be running 3 days each week, with a gap in between each one, you know that you’ll be doing this for 9 weeks and you know that the overall goal is to run 5 kilometers. These clearly defined goals help you to stay focused and stay on track.

Softly Softly

One of my favorite things about this app is how it eases you into running. The first 3 days to be honest are more about walking than running, and you will not have to run for more than 1 minute at a time. So many in the fitness world think that out of shape people simply need to ‘feel the burn’ and push themselves to limits, but this is not the case. The best approach is always to ease yourself in and gradually build up your conditioning and your strength, then you can push through the pain barrier and see what you’re made of.

Small Milestones

Although the eventual aim of this is to run 5 kilometers, there are much smaller milestones which you can look to achieve each day, and these are what will keep you motivated. Even just doing the run is an achievement in itself, and then of course you can feel happy if you have successfully completed the 3 days in the week. These small milestones will absolutely keep you going.

It Works

Honestly I couldn’t believe it when I finally completed that last run of the program, and clocked up a 3.1 mile run. When I first set out on this journey I really didn’t think that I was going to be able to achieve it, and thanks to this app I was able to. I have since shared the app with many family members and friends of all ages, and there has not been a single person who hasn’t managed to get to the 5k mark.

If you want to manage your weight easier and get running, this is a great place to start, a wonderfully designed app which will help you to reach your goals.