Many of us have a love-hate relationship with running. While we might feel great afterwards, adopting the mindset to get out there and get it done can be a struggle. Some of us may also love the idea of running but feel unsure where to start. Or run the same routes regularly, but want to increase our speed or distance.
For years, I battled with myself about getting outside to go running. And, when I did, I always huffed and puffed through a 5K or less. I also never ran consistently enough to see any real improvements in my fitness, but became curious to find out what my body could do if I did.
I understood that a large part of achieving this consistency would be about discipline – pushing myself to run on days I didn’t fancy it. It might sound like a cliché, but I found that using quotes around this mentality as an anchor point was incredibly helpful. One particular quote that stuck with me was by Woody Allen: “Eighty percent of success is showing up.”
Having said that, for me, the key to showing up was finding something that made doing so as easy as possible. And this is when I came across Runna app, which is essentially a personalised running coach in your pocket. Available on the App Store and Google Play, the app offers a one-week free trial, and costs £15.99 per month or £99.99 per year thereafter. While this may seem steep, the improvements I’ve seen in my mental and physical health are huge.
I went from struggling through a 5K to running 10K in under an hour in just seven weeks – something I’d never have believed I could do until I did! I’ve now been inspired to sign up for a 12-week half-marathon training plan and I feel more confident in my running ability than ever.
I also didn’t realise how much this confidence would carry over into other areas of my life; and it’s encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone in other ways too, from travelling more to trying a spin class (something which used to fill me with dread!).
So, what exactly does the Runna app have to offer users? And can it really make that much difference to your life?
What is the Runna app?
Runna is a fitness app designed to enhance your running experience and help you achieve your running goals. Whether you’re a beginner aiming for a 5K or an experienced runner training for a marathon, Runna provides personalised running plans, coaching, and a supportive community.
Training plans range from six to 26 weeks, and you can choose how often you want to run and on which days, depending on your schedule and fitness level. Plans are ranked as beginner, intermediate, and advanced. To be classed as intermediate, the app advises that you need to run 5K regularly. While I could struggle through a 5K, it definitely wasn’t a regular thing, so I went with a beginner plan.
To get a clearer idea about your current fitness level, you’ll also be asked what your 5K time is. I hadn’t run for about a year before downloading Runna and my old time was about 30 minutes, so I went with 32 minutes just to be safe! Your 5K time is used to calculate the paces and distances in your plan – you can update your 5K time as it improves, and the rest of your plan will adjust itself accordingly.
You can also choose to do runs outdoors or on a treadmill. I did all mine outdoors because I work a full-time desk job, so I was keen for more fresh air.
Each scheduled run offers short warm-up and cool-down routines to enhance your performance, prevent injuries, and support recovery. The runs themselves provide plenty of variety to beat boredom and help to push you towards your speed/and or distance goals.
Examples of types of runs that may be included in your plan are…
- Easy runs – runs at a conversational pace or 60-70% of your maximum heart rate.
- Long runs – designed to build endurance and mental toughness, and last long enough to leave you moderately to severely fatigued.
- Interval runs – periods of high-intensity running alternated with walking, rest, or low-intensity running.
- Tempo runs – require sustained efforts at a challenging pace (around 80-90% of your maximum effort).
- Hill repeats – involve running up a hill at a hard effort, followed by a recovery jog downhill. These workouts build strength, power, and mental resilience.
Plans are designed to be accessed easily via the app and runs are colour-coded by type. However, you can also download and print a PDF version of your running plan, which some might find useful to stick somewhere visible for extra motivation.
Does the Runna app sync with my smartwatch?
Runna uses your phone’s GPS signal to track runs; and provide information on pace, distance, calories burnt, and more.
But you can also sync the app with various smartwatches, making it easier to manage your runs when out on the roads or trails. For now, this includes Garmin, Fitbit, Apple Watch, COROS, and Suunto – though Runna says more watch types are coming soon.The app syncs with your Strava account too.
What I loved most about the Runna app
Choosing my schedule
My goal was to be able to run 10K so I chose a custom beginner plan, lasting seven weeks, and finishing just before my two-week holiday. Runna allows you to choose start and end dates for your plan and tailors your workouts accordingly.
I also chose to run three days a week on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays. The app allowed me to select which of these would be my ‘long run’ day each week as well. I chose Sundays because these are typically when I have the most time to spare and can afford to spend a bit longer on my workouts.
Ticking off my runs each week
I stayed – mostly – on plan throughout the seven weeks and found it hugely satisfying to be able to tick off my three runs each week. There was just one week where I couldn’t complete a run on Friday as planned – so I rescheduled my run for the following day.
Being able to move my run to the next day was helpful in more ways than one. It relieved me of feeling as though I’d missed out and made me more motivated to complete my run when the time came.
Having my runs decided for me
As someone who loves structure, I also appreciated waking up on my running days and not having to think about what my running goal would be that day. The app did all of this for me.
For example, on day one – which, for me, was a Monday – my plan was a 4K easy run, which meant running at a conversational pace or no more than 7:05/km. The runs also varied in intensity, which made everything feel much more manageable and less overwhelming.
Having a voice in my ear to keep me on pace – and cheer me on!
When I started my Runna plan, I had no idea about pacing, and one of my previous issues was that I’d start running far too quickly and burn out before the end of the run. But, with Runna, you have a voice in your ear, telling you what your pace is and letting you know whether you’re running at the correct pace or need to speed up or slow down.
This takes some getting used to initially – though, I quickly found that it kept me motivated and made me feel less alone on my runs. The running coach also tells you when a lap or run is nearly complete (which is hugely reassuring!), and gives you a hearty ‘well done’ at the end.
Learning more about my mind and body
I found most runs challenging but manageable. Some were very difficult but, for me, running is very much a mental game. My mind always wanted to give up before my body, and the app helped to keep me mentally strong for longer by helping with pacing and letting me know how far I’d already run.
I also noticed my fitness levels improving and my pace picking up each week, which made me want to keep going. I learnt a lot about my body too; and about how things like water intake, nutrition (even down to what you eat the day before a run), sleep, and alcohol can impact performance and motivation.
Messages from running experts
Something else I found helpful was the written messages from the coaches that accompanied each scheduled run in my plan. Upon selecting my run for that day in the app, I was offered a message of hints, tips, and encouragement.
These messages were often from Ben – the head coach, who’s a certified England Athletics Coach, IRONMAN Coach, Personal Trainer, Pilates Instructor, and one of the founders of Runna. I’d also receive messages from Beth from time to time, who was Team GB’s fastest marathon runner at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Seeing a summary of my achievements
Another favourite feature of mine is the app’s ‘Performance’ tab under ‘Activities’, which allows users to see a summary of some of their top stats. This includes personal records, like your fastest 1K, 1Ml, 2Ml, 5K etc; completed plans; total distance while using the app so far; and the number of plan runs completed.
This section of the app acts as a nice reminder of how far you’ve come, which can be particularly reassuring if you have a run that doesn’t go so well or you’re doubting your progress. This page also gives you a score, which continues to improve as you do.
For me, this page has been very encouraging and made me feel excited to see what else I can achieve.
Spotify playlists
I loved the Spotify playlists that Runna provides too! There’s one for each style of run (faster songs for hill repeats and more moderate ones for long runs), which I thought was a nice touch, and I definitely found some new favourite tunes to run to. I probably enjoyed the Easy Run playlist most!
Features on the Runna app I’m yet to try…
The community section
Runna app seems to appreciate that one of the most difficult things about running is staying motivated. So, it’s created a community section where runners can share their running stats, photos, and thoughts. Users can like, share, and comment on posts from other runners, as well as create their own.
I’m yet to try this feature, as I find it very similar to Strava and prefer to use this instead for the community aspect of running. But I’ll probably try it out during my half-marathon training plan; especially when things get particularly tough!
Additional workouts
You can also add additional workouts – strength, mobility, and Pilates – to your plan to support your running. Like the running plans, these workouts are tailored to your ability, schedule, and focus i.e. is your goal to work on your strength with a running focus or to build all-around strength?
With this, the app once again shows that it’s built with flexibility in mind, and tries to make training as accessible to people as possible; whether you have 30 minutes to exercise or 60.
While I haven’t used the additional workouts because I go to gym classes in between my runs, I can see how this feature would be useful and cost-effective if you want to save money on going to the gym – particularly as the app takes into account whether or not you have any equipment available.
Switching between miles and kilometres
And, finally, the Runna app also allows you to switch between miles and kilometres, depending on which unit you prefer. This can be especially helpful if you’re working on a treadmill that’s in miles but use a watch that’s in kilometres. For now, I stick to kilometres but might switch things up for a new perspective.
Things that I feel could be improved on the Runna app
Though the Runna app has helped me take tremendous strides in my running journey, there were some things that I feel could’ve made my experience even better.
The ability to create shorter plans
The first is the ability to create plans shorter than six weeks. For example, I had a spare week in between my plan ending and going on holiday – so the ability to create some structure for that one week alone would’ve been helpful.
Clearer voice cues
It also took me a bit of time to get used to the voice cues that the app was giving me. For example, it wouldn’t always let me know when it was time for me to walk or rest – and, instead, would just announce that the previous lap or kilometre was complete.
Sometimes it was only when I heard ‘45 seconds rest remaining’ that I realised that my 90-second rest was already halfway through. Though, perhaps this is just me not paying close enough attention to the run details before starting to run – and will probably be more of an issue for newer runners, like me, rather than experienced ones!
Final thoughts…
I had no expectations when I downloaded the Runna app onto my phone and definitely didn’t expect to continue beyond the one-week free trial period. And while I begrudged paying £15.99 a month, I decided that if I could spend that sort of money on a drink or two on a night out, the investment in an app that would benefit my health was more than worth it.
While the app isn’t perfect, it’s helped me take huge strides forward with my running. I never believed I could run 10K and I was over the moon when I did! Plus, if you told me a year ago that I’d be looking to run a half marathon, I wouldn’t have believed you, but now I’m excited to start the next chapter of my running journey.
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Have you tried the Runna app? Or do you use any other running apps? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
