Fitness App Review: Half Marathon with Jeff Galloway

 

If you’re planning on running a half-marathon, the LoLo’s Half Marathon with Jeff Galloway app for the iPhone will guide you through a structured training program to build your endurance and prepare you for those thirteen miles!

The Review:

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is the best kind of fitness training out there! LoLo’s other fitness app (Beat Burn Treadmill Trainer) was my go-to when I was training for my first half marathon, and I was really excited to try out Half-Marathon with Jeff Galloway.

Here’s how it works: the app allows you to pick your intensity, your walk/run ratio, and it syncs your music to the pace you’re running. You can use it on the treadmill or outdoors. The app organizes runs of different lengths and intensities into a week-by-week program that (ideally) you’re supposed to complete right before race day.

Jeff Galloway is an accomplished trainer, and his coaching — like all the LoLo coaching — is motivational and helpful. This app doesn’t focus on running form as much as BeatBurn Treadmill Trainer does (they consistently remind you to keep your head up and shoulders back, and I need the reminders!) but it’s still a great feature.

The one flaw in this program is that it integrates long walks into the program for low-intensity “rest” days. The walks are scarce, but I’m still annoyed by them because I do so much walking in my daily routine that when I go to the gym I want to kick butt in my workout. However, you can just as easily run through these intervals or skip these days.

So far, I really love this program! I’ve definitely seen my endurance improve, and I’m one of those people who likes adhering to a fitness schedule.

The app is a bit pricey, but it’s definitely worth your money if you’re prepping for a half marathon.

 

Tips: 

1. Get your walk/run interval right. The plan automatically puts you on a 1 min run/1 min walk interval system, which is the easiest. I hate switching the levels every minute, though, so I recommend setting it to at least 2 min run/1 min walk if you’re able to handle it!
2. Don’t space your workouts out too far. Try and do all the week one runs in week one, etc. etc. If you space out the runs too far apart, you’ll be doing a cooldown walk when you don’t need it! Get the most out of the program and try and stick to it the best you can.
3. Find a treadmill with quickspeed settings. If you’re at the gym, try and find a treadmill where you can hit a number and it jumps to that speed — it’s much easier than scrolling through all of the decimals — 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 — to get to 4mph! And if you’re doing the 1 minute run/1 minute walk intervals, you’ll drive yourself crazy switching through all the speeds.

The Verdict: LoLo’s Half Marathon with Jeff Galloway is great for newcomers who are intimidated by the thought of running 13 miles, but may be too strict of a plan for those who have their own way of doing things.

The Reality Score: 8 tennis shoes out of 10

 

 

Find the half marathon app here.