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Show HN: Run10K Trainer – Personalized Training Running Plans for Your 10K Race

8 points by alexdevcodes 2y ago

Hi HN! I’m a professional runner and programmer, and I built *Run10K Trainer*, the app I wish I had when I started training. It’s a web and mobile app that generates personalized plans for 10K races, tailored to your schedule, experience level, and race date. After months of development, I’d love your feedback to help make it even better for runners everywhere. Does this sound like something you’d use?

not_your_vase 2y ago
Is it different from the regular C25K apps? If yes, how? Let me tell my experience with those: about 5 years ago I started to live healthy. I got reasonably fit, my BMI became fantastic, I even had visible abs for some years. But I couldn't run more than 200 meters without fighting for my life. These apps have like a 30-50 days schedule: run 2 minutes, walk 2 minutes, repeat 10 times, then the walk/run intervals keep changing, until the end it reaches 30 minutes of continuous run. I did everything to the T, but still, I was struggling, and felt dying around day 7 or so. I started these a couple of times, but I have no idea who can really complete them. (Okay, today I can run 10K, but that took literally years of trial and error...) I don't know if the above sounds familiar, or makes any sense to you. If yes, is it somehow addressed in your solution?
- rpearl 2y ago
  I tried c25k twice and it never clicked. What did was getting a garmin about 3 years ago, running by heartrate and keeping it low, even though the pace was excruciatingly slow (8 or even 9min/km). You build up from there. It takes years but you get there.
  - alexdevcodes 2y ago
    I totally agree, running based on heart rate and slowly increasing intensity is key. We are working on incorporating new effort-based user aids, which helps prevent burnout and encourages steady progress over time. Thanks!
- alexdevcodes 2y ago
  Thank you for sharing your experience! It sounds familiar and is exactly what we wanted to address. Our plans focus on personalized pacing and progression, so you’re not overextending too quickly. It’s designed to adapt to your fitness level and build up gradually over time. Thanks for comment what you think!!
- mcbrit 2y ago
  It’s always you are running too fast. Slow it down, walk more, figure it out. You simply shouldn’t feel bad or even breathe hard unless you want to when doing 2 walk/2 run. If you are: too fast! Slow down! Most folks don’t slow down because they think they feel fine at the beginning of a run and feel that they should be going faster AND feel ridiculous running that slowly or… Slow down. Solved.
Oras 2y ago
Nice presentation and website, I was going to say no app needed for these, but then checked the stats and dashboard on your app landing page. I followed the couch to 10k plan 5 years ago (without an app), and it worked well. Looking back, if I wanted an app, this is what I would like to have: 1. Apple watch notifications tell me when to walk, when to run, and how to maintain my pace. 2. Calories are fine, but having heart rate logs and how this is improving over time would be really good. 3. Any chance of VO2 Max calculation? Both Garmin and Apple Watch struggle with this. I know this can't be accurate before 6 months of training, but some indications about the progress would be helpful and motivating. Good luck!
- alexdevcodes 2y ago
  Great points, thank you! The app already includes stats and progress tracking, and we’re working on features like Apple Watch notifications for pacing and effort guidance. Heart rate trends and VO2 Max estimates are definitely on our radar for future updates
rich_sasha 2y ago
How would you say this is different to eg the Garmin plans? They take some inputs and give you a schedule. IME they aren't great at adapting to your needs - if the plan turns out to be too hard and youre overtraining, or it turns out you can't make your sessions (maybe too busy, maybe tkk tired) it just kept on throwing the same 4 workouts ar you, with the same parameters. They also require you to have a target time in mind, which you'll know if you're big into running - but not so if you're new (and need a structured plan like this!) Is your approach different? Would be great if so!
- alexdevcodes 2y ago
  Thanks for your question! Our approach is different but dynamically adapting to your progress and availability is a feature we are implementing!. You also don’t need a target time upfront, we focus on structured phases and progression that suit all levels, especially beginners.
xenocratus 2y ago
So the free "plan" is not only restricted in functionality, but is only available for two weeks?
- alexdevcodes 2y ago
  Yes, the free plan includes all features for two weeks to give you a full experience. After that, basic stats remain free, but premium features require an upgrade.
  - ad_hockey 2y ago
    Which is not unreasonable. I had a lot of success with Runna, which is also essentially premium only; you get the first two weeks free, but all running plans are longer than that. Runna is about £100 for the annual subscription.
    - alexdevcodes 2y ago
      Curious! Let's see how it works. When I had the idea and created this app I didn't even know about Runna, and I appreciated that my app was unique in this aspect, finding such a complete app once I finished my development was hard but it is what it is! I hope to improve my app little by little and offer better services! thanks for your comments!
      - ad_hockey 2y ago
        Don't be disheartened, there's room for more than one app in this space! Runna doesn't get everything right. It didn't seem good at adjusting your plan based on performance, if it even tries to do that at all. My first few weeks of runs were much too easy, and I had to experiment with manually generating different plans with faster and slower target race times until the zone paces seemed right for me. Would have been great if it adjusted on the fly and I could have kept the same plan.
        alexdevcodes 2y ago

8 points by alexdevcodes 2y ago

not_your_vase 2y ago

Is it different from the regular C25K apps? If yes, how? Let me tell my experience with those: about 5 years ago I started to live healthy. I got reasonably fit, my BMI became fantastic, I even had visible abs for some years. But I couldn't run more than 200 meters without fighting for my life. These apps have like a 30-50 days schedule: run 2 minutes, walk 2 minutes, repeat 10 times, then the walk/run intervals keep changing, until the end it reaches 30 minutes of continuous run. I did everything to the T, but still, I was struggling, and felt dying around day 7 or so. I started these a couple of times, but I have no idea who can really complete them. (Okay, today I can run 10K, but that took literally years of trial and error...) I don't know if the above sounds familiar, or makes any sense to you. If yes, is it somehow addressed in your solution?

rpearl 2y ago
I tried c25k twice and it never clicked. What did was getting a garmin about 3 years ago, running by heartrate and keeping it low, even though the pace was excruciatingly slow (8 or even 9min/km). You build up from there. It takes years but you get there.
- alexdevcodes 2y ago
  I totally agree, running based on heart rate and slowly increasing intensity is key. We are working on incorporating new effort-based user aids, which helps prevent burnout and encourages steady progress over time. Thanks!
alexdevcodes 2y ago
Thank you for sharing your experience! It sounds familiar and is exactly what we wanted to address. Our plans focus on personalized pacing and progression, so you’re not overextending too quickly. It’s designed to adapt to your fitness level and build up gradually over time. Thanks for comment what you think!!
mcbrit 2y ago
It’s always you are running too fast. Slow it down, walk more, figure it out. You simply shouldn’t feel bad or even breathe hard unless you want to when doing 2 walk/2 run. If you are: too fast! Slow down! Most folks don’t slow down because they think they feel fine at the beginning of a run and feel that they should be going faster AND feel ridiculous running that slowly or… Slow down. Solved.

Oras 2y ago

Nice presentation and website, I was going to say no app needed for these, but then checked the stats and dashboard on your app landing page. I followed the couch to 10k plan 5 years ago (without an app), and it worked well. Looking back, if I wanted an app, this is what I would like to have: 1. Apple watch notifications tell me when to walk, when to run, and how to maintain my pace. 2. Calories are fine, but having heart rate logs and how this is improving over time would be really good. 3. Any chance of VO2 Max calculation? Both Garmin and Apple Watch struggle with this. I know this can't be accurate before 6 months of training, but some indications about the progress would be helpful and motivating. Good luck!

alexdevcodes 2y ago
Great points, thank you! The app already includes stats and progress tracking, and we’re working on features like Apple Watch notifications for pacing and effort guidance. Heart rate trends and VO2 Max estimates are definitely on our radar for future updates

rich_sasha 2y ago

How would you say this is different to eg the Garmin plans? They take some inputs and give you a schedule. IME they aren't great at adapting to your needs - if the plan turns out to be too hard and youre overtraining, or it turns out you can't make your sessions (maybe too busy, maybe tkk tired) it just kept on throwing the same 4 workouts ar you, with the same parameters. They also require you to have a target time in mind, which you'll know if you're big into running - but not so if you're new (and need a structured plan like this!) Is your approach different? Would be great if so!

alexdevcodes 2y ago
Thanks for your question! Our approach is different but dynamically adapting to your progress and availability is a feature we are implementing!. You also don’t need a target time upfront, we focus on structured phases and progression that suit all levels, especially beginners.

xenocratus 2y ago

So the free "plan" is not only restricted in functionality, but is only available for two weeks?

alexdevcodes 2y ago
Yes, the free plan includes all features for two weeks to give you a full experience. After that, basic stats remain free, but premium features require an upgrade.
- ad_hockey 2y ago
  Which is not unreasonable. I had a lot of success with Runna, which is also essentially premium only; you get the first two weeks free, but all running plans are longer than that. Runna is about £100 for the annual subscription.
  - alexdevcodes 2y ago
    Curious! Let's see how it works. When I had the idea and created this app I didn't even know about Runna, and I appreciated that my app was unique in this aspect, finding such a complete app once I finished my development was hard but it is what it is! I hope to improve my app little by little and offer better services! thanks for your comments!
    - ad_hockey 2y ago
      Don't be disheartened, there's room for more than one app in this space! Runna doesn't get everything right. It didn't seem good at adjusting your plan based on performance, if it even tries to do that at all. My first few weeks of runs were much too easy, and I had to experiment with manually generating different plans with faster and slower target race times until the zone paces seemed right for me. Would have been great if it adjusted on the fly and I could have kept the same plan.
      - alexdevcodes 2y ago