So I have been training for the Lincoln, Nebraska Marathon in May this year. 26.2 miles. Am I crazy? Maybe. Am I committed? You bet!
But getting to the point where I am now in my running has not been easy. It is actually part of a goal that I set as a New Year's resolution for 2009--to run a 10K in 2009, a half-marathon in 2010, and a full marathon in 2011. And I'm on track to complete the third and final goal!
However, many of us who start taking up running can use a little guidance from someone who has been there, done that. In steps Olympian Jeff Galloway, the legendary runner who developed the infamous run-walk-run technique for long-distance runners. His technique, which encourages timed walk breaks during extended runs, not only helps reduce fatigue from using the same muscles continuously, but can help keep you injury-free during your training!
Now for me, a program that goes through the run-walk-run technique for 5K race preparation (essentially 3.1 miles) seems a little elementary in terms of where I am at in my training. However, if you are someone who is interested in running or are wanting to improve your 5K time, this Jeff Galloway Ultimate 5K app for the iPhone may be a great purchase.
At $3.99, it is an extremely reasonable price. Think of it as an investment in your health and well-being. And $3.99 is a small price to pay for something that can keep you from experiencing injuries during your training--definitely trumps a $50 copay for a doctor visit and some meds after you've ignored shin splints or strained your hip flexors.
To sum up this app in one word? Amazing.
I have used the Nike Plus app for my iPhone before, using it to track my time and workouts, but found it lacking in some helpful, useful "extras" that are utilized in this Jeff Galloway app. In addition, there are a number of freebies that you get with the Jeff Galloway Ultimate 5K app, such as 15 free songs and downloadable coaching lessons from Jeff Galloway himself.
When you initially set up your app, you can select whether you want to work up to a 5K run, or improve your 5K run pace. It sets up a specialized program based on the pace that you want to meet, and gets you set up with a daily and weekly schedule for running. It sets you up for a 7 or 8 week session, and gets you going with three workouts a week. What's great is that you can use the Jeff Galloway Ultimate 5k app on outside runs using the GPS tracking, or inside on a treadmill.
The coolest part? Jeff Galloway walks you through the entire workout! He'll get you warmed up with some helpful hints, then tell you when to start running, when to walk, and let you know how far into the workout you are and how much longer you have to go. This, combined with the beat-sync technology, allows the program to create a music playlist from the downloaded song collection to match the pace of your run. How ingenious!
Can this app be improved? Absolutely. How, you ask? Well, personally, I would LOVE something like this for my upcoming marathon. Basically an app that is the exact same, but allows you to enter in the distance you want to train for and the number of weeks you have available to train. Then it would calculate a specialized workout for you according to the pace you want to meet and the number of days each week that you want to train. If I had an app like that, I'd be set!
All in all, the Jeff Galloway Ultimate 5K app is brilliant, and well-worth the $3.99! It is a great guide for anyone wanting to start running, or for those of us looking to improve our 5K time for upcoming races and events. No matter what kind of runner you are, the Jeff Galloway Ultimate 5K app is the perfect app for you!
If you want to learn more about the Jeff Galloway Run-Walk-Run technique, check this article out!
Click here to purchase the Jeff Galloway Ultimate 5K app from the App Store!
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