While there is no shortage of running apps, not all of them are made equal. Some apps are better suited for competing with your Facebook friends, other expertise in tracking your individual runs. However, if you are planning to run 10k (or even a marathon) you need a training app. These training apps provide you monthly running schedule, weekly mileage goals, as well as audio navigation. After trying out a bunch of training apps, below is my list of best free training apps to prepare for a 10k race. Let’s begin.
Best 10k Running Apps
Most of the Android phones have one or the other fitness apps built-in by the OEMs. The Samsung ones come with the Samsung Health app, Mi phones have the Mi Fit app and the stock Android ones have Google Fit. While these apps can do tracking for you, they don’t build a training plan for you.
1. ForRunners
The most annoying thing about popular fitness training apps is third-party trackers. After using them for a while, you start seeing ads all over Instagram and Amazon. The only solution to it is the ForRunners app which is open-source and can help you to train for 10k. The app can only track and log your run using the phone’s GPS.
However, ForRunners doesn’t have a built-in training plan which is where you can use the ones available on websites like the Cool Running, VeryWellFit, RunnersWorld, etc. These websites generate a generic plan based on your level of expertise. You can choose a beginner plan, intermediate, advanced, or competitive plan based on the number of miles you run per week. For instance, here is an 8-week training plan created by Redditor Arve with cross-training exercises included as well.
Features:
- Open-source run tracking app
- Doesn’t require you to sign in or login
- Allows connecting Bluetooth third-party trackers like heart rate sensors, fitness bands, etc.
- Customizable audio cues for heart rate, distance, and time
- Allows exporting of workout data in “.gpx” format and can be used with other training apps
What’s missing?
- No internal workout training option
- Random crashes while navigating through the interface
Download ForRunners
In case you are actively running and have been in a 5k race before, 5k to 10k is the best app to start with. The app is simple and straightforward. It doesn’t require any sign-in or entering details. You open the app and it has a 9-week training plan laid out for you. I loved the fact that the workouts are based on running intervals rather than distance. This has been a key problem with me and most of the runners that start long-distance running. You should run the time rather than the distance.
The 9-week training plan is quite generic and cannot be customized. It does, however, include tempo run, recovery run, and speed training. The runs are audio-guided with some cool in-app characters which keep the entire run entertaining. In case you listen to music while you run, you do have an offline music player.
5k to 10k is a great app for an intermediatory runner. I would have loved an option to at least alter the current training plan. Moreover, the app cannot integrate with external Bluetooth sensors or trackers.
Features:
- 9-week diverse training plan with tempo, speed, interval, and recovery runs
- Audio-guided runs and cues
- Integrated offline music player
- Event section to notify about nearest races and runner’s meet
What’s bad?
- Cannot modify the entire training schedule
- Cannot connect third-party trackers or sensors
Download 5k to 10k (Android | iOS)
3. Couch to 5k & 10k
Couch to 5k & 10k is a minimal training app with no sign in or registration required. The 10k race is a 6-week training plan with 3-workouts per week. The training consists of interval runs with a short cool-down period. You also have long runs towards the latter part of the training. I found the plan to be suitable for people for intermediate users who are just recovering from an injury. The app also has offline music playback controls but it’s not integrated and requires you to jump past the run tracker screen.
Like the 5k to 10k app, there is no option to alter the workout days of your training. However, you can skip past training plans in case you miss out on a few of them.
Features:
- Minimal app with no-sign or registration
- Inbuilt music controls
- Training consists of interval as well as long-distance runs
- Options to create an offline backup of your training progress
What’s not?
- Doesn’t send notifications about the training schedule
- Cannot alter the training schedule days
Download Couch to 5k & 10k
Huawei Health is Huawei’s fitness app for Android and iOS devices. Unlike the 5k to 10k app, it requires you to sign-in. You also need to enter your previous run timings and expected race-date you want to prepare for. Further, you have to enter the number of times you want to exercise in a week, rest days, and race date. Eventually, the app will prepare an extensive plan for you based on your race date.
Huawei Health was the app I used to train for a 5k race. The app has quite an intensive and diverse training schedule. Hence, it might not be suitable for people just starting out. Moreover, the schedule is not customizable and the running tracker is also minimal with no music player controls or audio cues customization.
Features:
- Clean ad-free minimal looking UI
- Set up workout notifications
- Customizable plan based on race date
- A good mixture of interval and cardio endurance runs
- Basic, Intermediate interval runs apart from the training plans
What’s bad?
- Cannot alter the training schedule or compensate for missed runs
- No cue and music controls
5. Decathlon Coach
I have always been a frequent buyer at Decathlon and was amazed to discover the Decathlon Coach app. The app is free and mostly community-driven. I could find a dozen 10k training plans within the app and all of them were created by an International trainer and Kalenji coach. I went through a couple of programs and it was surprising to see interval, tempo, and recovery runs to be a part of it. In case you want to chip in your plan, the app also has an option to add your own training plan.
Decathlon Coach has the touch of modern UI but since it’s not a dedicated running app, the interface is quite convoluted. You have to jump through a lot of hoops to get to the race training page.
Features:
- Free Training plans for races with different time-frames
- Option to create your own training plan
- Connect Heart Rate sensors to link heart rate data
- Auto-pause and audio cues while running
What’s missing?
- Doesn’t send notifications about the training schedule
- Cannot modify the entire training schedule
Download Decathlon Coach (Android | iOS)
6. 10k
10k is another fitness app offering from the popular Zen Labs Fitness which also made the C25k app. The 10k app has a static 14-week 3-day workout program. It is more for people who are new to running or just starting out. The training program is diverse with interval training and speed runs. The run tracker works on the lock-screen as well and is quite informative. The only downside is the free-variant doesn’t measure the distance and calories burnt. The distance measurement can be a huge let-off for few people but I usually train based on time.
10k app also has a paid variant starting at $5/week. It includes distance and calorie measurement with online songs curated by the 10k app team.
Features:
- Workout reminder for training
- Audio-guided training session and customizable audio cues
- Local music player built in the running tracker
- Switchable dark mode for better visibility at night
What’s missing?
- Lack of distance in the free version of the app
- The training plan is not customized
7. Nike + Run Club
Nike+ Run Club is a solid offering for anyone who is new to running and even intermediatory runners. I have been using it on my entire journey from 5k to 10k. The training program is the most diverse amongst the other apps on this list. It is totally customized based on the user input like race-date, number of runs per week, rest days, etc. The app midway gauges your training and modifies the training accordingly. You can also modify your current week running schedule based on your schedules for the week.
The Nike+ Running Club app has inbuilt local music controls whereas some the audio-guided runs have Spotify playlists. Additionally, you also get audio-guided runs and audiobooks within the app if you want to run on rest days. My most favorite feature is that you can compensate for your missed runs on other days and the app will take it into account. It really comes in handy if you a full-time working job and it becomes hard to stick to the schedule.
Features:
- Story and audio-guided runs
- Native music player and Spotify playlists
- Connect Heart Rate sensors to link heart rate data
What’s not?
- WearOS and Apple watch apps have major stability issues
Download Nike+ Run Club (Android | iOS)
Closing Words – Which is the best 10k running apps?
While you are training for the 10k, work more on your running form, stride, and cadence. An average runner has a 160-180 cadence. For a piece of good running form advice, you can watch this video. Moreover, the diet is really important if you are running long-distance because it helps to speed up your recovery and improve muscle strength. Include more complex carbs, proteins with a slight amount of probiotics like curd.
For more issues or queries regarding running apps and fitness bands, let me know in the comments below.
Also Read: 8 Best Running Apps for Android Smartphones to Record Runs
