C25K suggestions?

I use the Zenlabs C25K app for iPhone and so far I have had success. I am currently on week 6 and I have signed up for a 5K on September 15th and I feel that I will be able to complete it.

I used the clearskyapp C25K on my iphone about a year ago and had good luck with it. I believe any of the C25K apps would work well....my wife used a different one than I did, it had her run walks a bit different, but it lead to the same place in the same amount of time - completion of a 5K.

I used the NHS C25K podcasts, which I loved. Hadn't run since school, started C25K at the end of January and now I'm training for a 10K. Most of the C25K programs follow the same plan, it's just down to personal preference.

Any of the c25k programs will work for a beginner. I was commenting today that 5 weeks ago I had difficulty running for 45 seconds straight. I am in my 5th week of the program and ran for 8 minutes straight.( total running minutes 18). These build endurance so that you can run for 30 minutes straight.

I used 5KRunner for iPhone. I had zero running experience and was not doing exercise of any kind when I started last Jan/Feb. I also weighed 224 pounds. I have run 2 official 5K races and I am working toward 10K. (Also, since then I have lost 50 pounds!) Any C25K app would probably be just as good. These programs all can take you from zero to capable of running 3.1 miles. Pretty awesome!

However... !!!!Warning for your wife!!!! C25K is a gateway drug, before you know it she will identify herself as a runner and start getting wild notions about 1/2 marathons. She will likely spend crazy amounts of money on proper running shoes and various running gear. It also greatly increases the chance that she will develop interest in other cardio activities, such as biking and swimming. But if you already run, you probably already know this and have warned her sufficiently. Good luck!!!! :-)

I agree with the previous poster's warning!!
Used zen labs c25k free as well!
Went from never ever running to wk 6 this week- I'm now running 24 mins straight!!!

I just started 5k runner. I am only on day 2 so clearly not an expert. I picked it because it was recommended, and I liked the name. The term couch to 5 k turns me off. I am not sitting my fat *kitten* on the couch eating Pringles, actually my *kitten* is no longer fat, I go to the gym daily, play tennis, attend a spinning studio, and have recently decided to run. The name 5k runner sounded like what I wanted to achieve. Probably not the greatest reason to chose an app, but there you have it, and I got to have a little wee rant as well.

Another vote for ZenLabs on the iPhone. I'm currently using it to get to 10K in November (I'm at the end of Week 3) and I play it alongside Spotify on the treadmill. It's all totally manageable and I like how it counts down rather than up. There's a free version of the app, so you can try it and see how it goes, nothing lost.

I also agree though that there isn't much difference between all the apps. I used Cool Runnings free podcasts to get to 5K about two years ago. At that point I didn't have an iPhone, so I was stuck either listening to their tracks on my iPod (I hated the music) or just jotting down their run/walk timings on the back of my hand and listening to my own music (that works too!).

When I started Couch to 5K I had not run for about six years (since school) and I was unfit even then. It felt like it nearly killed me, but I think if you can walk 5K you can definitely do the Couch to 5K programme. Having said that, I have no medical knowledge at all, so just use your own instinct, listen to your body, and enjoy the beginning of your running career! Best of luck!