Downloads of the running plan app, Couch to 5K, have
surpassed 5 million this month (July 2021). The app was
downloaded 2.36 million times since the pandemic started
(March 2020 to July 2021) by people seeking to get more
active during lockdown. The pandemic saw app downloads
skyrocket, increasing by 92% in 2020 compared to 2019.
Couch to 5K is a free running plan for beginners provided by
Public Health England (PHE) and the BBC, helping those who
don’t regularly exercise or keep active to take positive
steps for their health and fitness.
Regular running has been shown to reduce the risk of
long-term illnesses, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes
and stroke, as well as helping to maintain a healthier weight
and improve your mood.
Designed for people who have done little or no running, the
app provides guided commentary from a celebrity coach of
their choosing and helps users to easily track their progress
by doing 3 runs per week.
To encourage people to download the app, users will soon be
able to choose Olympic champion Denise Lewis OBE as their Couch to 5K
coach, who will be a key presenter for this year’s BBC
Olympics coverage.
PHE teamed up with BBC to create the Couch to 5K mobile app
in 2016, and since then we have been working with them to
help more people access the app. This year the BBC will be
helping to encourage new users to download the app by
promoting it during their 2021 Olympic Games coverage.
The upcoming launch of the new Office for Health Promotion in
autumn will lead national efforts to level up the health of
the nation by continuing to support people living with
obesity, supporting mental health and promoting physical
activity.
,
Director of Health Improvement at PHE, welcomed the news:
We’re thrilled that so many people have been using the
Couch to 5K app to get more active over lockdown. Keeping
active is not only good for our physical health but also
crucial for our mental health, and we hope the app has
helped people to cope better with the challenges the
pandemic has brought.
It’s never too late to start introducing physical activity
into your life. With the Olympics just round the corner and
new celebrity coaches to spur you on to reach the 5K goal,
now is a great time to give the app a go if you haven’t
already. The app is made to allow users to slowly build up
their activity over time, helping to keep you motivated, so
it’s perfect for people who are new to running or who
haven’t been active in a while.
Public health minister, , said:
There’s a good reason Couch to 5K is one of the top fitness
apps in the UK and seeing record downloads – I encourage
everyone to give it a try and get moving.
Our new Office for Health Promotion will build on the
success of the app by helping people make lifestyle choices
that can improve their mental and physical health.
Speaking about joining the app as a trainer later this
summer, Olympic Champion Denise Lewis OBE said:
Staying fit and healthy is incredibly important to me so
I’m delighted to be able to play my part in helping others
get active by joining the Couch to 5K coaching team. We
know that thousands of people downloaded the app to give
running a go over lockdown, and we hope that lots more
people will be inspired to join them with the Tokyo
Olympics drawing ever closer.
You can download the Couch to 5K app on your phone through
the App Store, Google Play or
iTunes.
