By Brittany Lieu, Marketing Consultant at Heinz Marketing

This week’s app is for all the non-runners out there, for all of us who’ve maybe grown up playing team sports or admired runners, but could never fall in love with the form of cardio ourselves.

 

The Nike Run Club (NRC) may be your answer.

Although a new app user myself, the Nike Run Club and it’s expansive library of guided runs has begun to shift how I understand and perceive running.

It was a new concept to me. Just like how there are apps for guided meditations and podcasts, there are guided runs.  It’s just you and this voice and to my surprise a very motivating one. 

“You’re a runner. Want to know how I know? Because you’re running.”

It only took such a simple but profound statement to demystify running for me. Spoken by the narrator behind the NRC guided runs himself, Coach Bennett coaches with relatability and proved to me that I didn’t need to be a pro to engage in the sport. He’s the Nike Running Global Head Coach and the only person that has convinced me running doesn’t have to be hard. 

His motto is “every run has a purpose,” whether that’s to become a better runner, add movement to your daily routine or to challenge yourself. After exploring NRC and easing into running, here are a few runs and app features I found most valuable. 

My Favorite Guided Runs

Once you’ve downloaded the free app and created an account, the running world is your oyster. In the app, on the tab designated for runs, you’ll be able to browse through various collections of guided runs categorized for different purposes. From “Every Day Runs,” “Mindful Runs,” and “Athlete Stories,” every run can bring a new narrative. As a newbie, here are a few of my favorite runs that are helping me build a runner’s mindset. 

  • First Run – Appropriately named the “First Run,” it’s the best guided run to set the foundation for how all runs should start, progress, and end.
  • Next Run – After you’ve done the hardest part – run the first time – this guided run encourages you to maintain momentum and put what you learn the first time to practice the second time.
  • I Don’t Want to Run Run – Probably my favorite run, the “I Don’t Want to Run Run” allows you to let go of the negativity you may have created in your head about running, your day or your situation. It’s what I consider a true stress release in the form of exercise and very worth trying after a long day. 
  • Treadmill Run – For the times you find yourself at a gym, the “Treadmill Run” incorporates incline and will definitely help you break a sweat.

Other Valuable Features

Although I find the guided runs the best part of this app, there are a few other features worth mentioning. With NRC you can also:

  • Track Runs – With every run you can record your performance over time. The app will track pace, distance, and exact route so you can see your improvement over time. 
  • Join a Challenge – On the club tab of your app you can set goals for yourself as well as join an active challenge to keep yourself accountable and working towards a number of miles run over time.
  • Engage with the Community – Tap into the greater community of runners and add friends to keep up with community activity.

Let’s Run

It would be cheesy to say “just do it” but with this app, I’ve learned how I can run and continue to enjoy running towards the next finish and start line. If you’re on the market for some inspiration and sweat, I’d give the NRC a try!

Looking for more app recommendations? Check out other apps of the week we’ve featured in the past.


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