Couch to 5km

1) Gradually ease yourself in – If running is something new to you, there is no point trying to reach 10km on your first encounter. Easing yourself into a sport is the best way to see progress and the easiest way to assess your ability. By using a couch to 5km app, you are able to enter your own ability and set up your own personal time scales and goals.

2) Take it at your own pace – It doesn’t matter if it takes you longer than you anticipated to be able to achieve the full distance of each run. Taking things at your own pace will allow your heart rate to gradually adjust to the exercise and help you build up the length of time you run for, in manageable stages.

3) Easy to monitor with phone app – Track your progress, weight loss and distances with the easy-to-use smartphone apps. You can download a free couch to 5k app on almost all devices, meaning that there is no excuse not to give it a go!

4) Share progress and compete against your friends – Bring out that competitive side and compete against your friends. Most apps are able to link to social media, meaning that you can see the progress of others. Send motivating messages, or having someone cheer you on is an easy adrenaline rush for that last 500m.

5) Most importantly … Get fit! – Do we need to say much more? Challenging yourself to a couch to 5km, is one of the simplest and most rewarding answers to getting fit. By taking each step at your own pace, you will be the first to notice a change in your health.