Doing C25k without a phone

[zelbazinnamon]

So at the moment I don’t think I can do C25K because a) I don’t have any pockets to put my phone in when I run b) my phone is one of those daft ones that doesn’t have a headphone jack, but I don’t have any blue tooth headphones either. I also don’t have a watch. Excuses, excuses. But presumably people went for a run before smartphones?! I do have a stopwatch so was wondering about writing it all out beforehand & taking the stopwatch. Or I get online and order one of those phone pocket things & a set of headphones... Anyone managed a low tech C25k?

I just hold mine when running. You could just play it through the phone without headphones? Not like there's anyone around to annoy!

You can buy Bluetooth headphones like the Apple AirPods much cheaper now. I'm not sure how much. I have the Apple ones and they work well, but there are now other types for much less.

I just stick my phone in my bra as have no pockets either!

I carry my phone in my hand
No problems

I got a £5 running belt with a pouch for my phone plus a £10 pair of Bluetooth headphones. If you have an iPhone the lightning jack headphones are about £25

Or you can just count in your head/check your watch regularly (I do this though I can't claim to follow the C25K instructions 100% perfectly).

Just count :-) You might have to run a couple of test runs in the garden to see what number you need to get to for 30 seconds (I'm doing a running training programme at the moment with intervals, and though my watch tells me what to do, I prefer to count down, and 30s of full out running actually needs me to count to 50, when I'm walking, counting to 30 does it) - but the exact numbers don't matter. When you get to longer intervals, if you have something to play music on at all you can do 1 track for every 3 minutes. I have a tiny MP3 player which I prefer running with to my phone

Before C25K was invented (before smartphones and smart watches too, for that matter!) I got myself jogging by just running for a count of 10 or 20, then walking to get my breath back, repeat for suitable time or distance. Then gradually increase the running count.

I've also done similar using a Tabata timer app on my iPod and just carried it in my hand - the bleeps are ok without using headphones if you're somewhere quiet.

So it's definitely possible to do something like C25K low tech.

When I started running (aged 49), I didn't know about C25K but I had some vague idea that I shouldn't just try to run 5k in one go although I was fairly fit from regular bike riding.

Close to where I live are streets of Victorian and Edwardian terraces. So when I started I just ran one block then the next time, a block and a half etc.

If you have an MP3 player, the nhs have a podcast you can download for c25k.

You don’t need a phone or any app really. We run marathons from starting running about 3 years ago and never used an app. If running on roads, day 1 run between 3 lampposts, walk 3 etc. Then increase runs, decrease walks. Build up distance over a few weeks. In parks, fields etc, run to a tree, walk a bit. It may be mentally harder but running is mentally hard work as well as physically!

You don't need a phone or an app. Another one here who now runs marathons after doing c25k with no tech at all. I used an ordinary watch when I first started out, and that did the job well enough - though I've now invested in a Garmin to make life easier