Programmable timer

January 8, 2011 9:30 PM

I'm considering starting on the Couch-to-5k program. But I want a programmable stop-watch of some sort to help me out.

Since there is a lot of "do 30 seconds of this" then "do 90 seconds of that", I want to be able to focus on the workout and not have to watch a timer and stop to do the math. Is there a kind of stop-watch or something that I could program beforehand to beep at certain but irregular intervals, in order to make the workout a little more seamless?

Thanks.

posted by greta simone to Health & Fitness (26 answers total)

Response by poster: I should probably mention that I would like for it to be as cheap as possible. I don't need anything fancy at all. Just something to do the job, with no bells and whistles.
posted by greta simone at 9:32 PM on January 8, 2011

If you have an mp3 player, you can use an audio track.

Robert Ullrey's Couch to 5k Podcasts
How can I create my own Couch to 5K running podcast?
posted by zamboni at 9:38 PM on January 8, 2011

I was doing a similar program for a while and used a Vibralite watch similar to (if not the same as) this one. It was great because I could be listening to music or whatever and still know it was time to switch from running to walking or vice versa because the alarm would vibrate as well as (or instead of) making a sound. I don't know what your definition of cheap is, but the Vibralite did the job perfectly for me! It's around $60.
posted by hansbrough at 9:40 PM on January 8, 2011

This allows for two different intervals to be set and it vibrates as well as beeps, which is nice.

Slightly off topic, but if you have an mp3 player there are lots of podcasts where they tell you what to do. I used this one and LOVED it. I thought the music was fun and really liked the guy's (very minimal) commentary.
posted by mjcon at 9:42 PM on January 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

The Gymboss app for the iPhone could do this for you. I'm not sure if there is an Android version, but there is also a standalone version.
posted by Fuego at 9:43 PM on January 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I really prefer to not run with my iphone/ipod, or with any headphones in at all. I plan to be running on streets and I like to be able to hear what's going on around me. Hence the request for a stopwatch :)

I would ideally like something that will allow multiple programming intervals. One of the C25k workout looks like this:

* Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
* Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
* Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
* Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes)
* Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
* Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
* Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

I'd like to be able to program for that, knowwhattamean?

Thanks so far!
posted by greta simone at 9:52 PM on January 8, 2011

I tried to find something like you're after a while back and came up with nothing.

It's a shame the iPhone is out, as there is a very nice C25K app. No programming required, as it has all the intervals pre-loaded. A synthesized voice tells you when to run, walk and cool down. Would a compromise be to take the iphone, and just put in one earbud to get the voice prompts? You can set it to play an itunes playlist if you want it, but there's nothing stopping you just running with the voice prompts alone.
posted by tim_in_oz at 10:17 PM on January 8, 2011

I do this with my Timex Data USB watch... I can program intervals until the cows come home.

Unfortunately, Timex has stopped manufacturing it. Fortunately, it still seems to be widely available. T5C291/T53722/T5B111 are all the same, they just have different stylings, if I recall correctly.
posted by Theloupgarou at 10:24 PM on January 8, 2011

Whoops, I meant Timex Data Link. I really love this little watch; I must do it justice.
posted by Theloupgarou at 10:27 PM on January 8, 2011

I take that back, on checking the sales pages I linked to, they seem to be by and large out of stock :( Sorry about that.
posted by Theloupgarou at 10:35 PM on January 8, 2011

Maybe you could pre-plan your route based on how fast you anticipate running, and then use memorized geographic cues? A little chintzy, but should work fine.
posted by threeants at 10:46 PM on January 8, 2011

Sorry if this is obvious or dodging the question, but is there a reason you're focusing on time rather than distance to decide when to switch? Couch to 5k lists both, as you've noted. You could use a program like Google maps or Map My Run to get basic distances on your routes. It might be too much memorization in the beginning, but as you continue with the program, the instructions get simpler with fewer switches and it could be a good solution if the stopwatch doesn't work out.
posted by sparrow89 at 11:29 PM on January 8, 2011

You may be interested in this article outlining the features of some programmable gym interval timers. Some of them are really cheap!
posted by hepta at 11:44 PM on January 8, 2011

You're probably set on the one you have, but in case it helps (or helps anyone else), there is a much simpler C25K which is easy to follow on a normal stopwatch:

Run three times a week or every second day.
First week, run for 30 seconds, walk 4mins30secs, repeat six times (= 30 minutes exercise).
The next week, run for a minute, walk for four minutes, repeat six times.
And so on.

So each week you increase your run by 30 seconds and decrease the walk by the same amount. It still requires a stopwatch, but you can follow the timings at a glance.
posted by penguin pie at 1:35 AM on January 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

You want a GymBoss.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:01 AM on January 9, 2011

Riffing on Theloupgarou's post, any of the Timex Ironman watches that have the interval timer function can do this. Toggle to the INT mode of the watch, set up the first interval for 30 secs (or whatever), choose "CHRONO at end", set up the next interval, etc. You can program up to 9 unique intervals. There are dozens of Ironman models grouped into different families; I believe that only the "Ironman Core 100 lap" models have the interval timer. Depending on the specific model, expect to pay $45 and up at a big box retailer. I'm a huge fan, have been wearing various iterations of the Ironman for many years now. Good luck with your couch-to-5K program.
posted by kovacs at 4:25 AM on January 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

Timex 100 lap flix is the one that has 9 intervals which will meet your needs. Many of the other ones only have 2 or 3. I've used this watch for years and can vouch for it.


150 lap tap has 16 intervals but I would not recommend this watch due to the fact that the tap technology has some sensitivity problems.
posted by robokevin at 5:34 AM on January 9, 2011

The new iPod touches have speakers, meaning you wouldn't need headphones to use the C25K apps.
posted by blue_beetle at 6:18 AM on January 9, 2011

I tried to find the same thing when I did Couch to 5K and eventually gave up; there really aren't that many weeks with complicated interval sets, and it's not too onerous to reset your watch alarm in the "walk" phase every time. I stashed a run summary in my pocket in case I forgot what I was supposed to be doing.

By the time you're at the end of week 6, you won't be doing weird intervals anymore anyway.
posted by base_16 at 7:24 AM on January 9, 2011

As others have said, I use my Timex Ironman for this. Interval timers are also useful for certain gym workouts which are time based and have 30 seconds of activity then 10 seconds of rest.
posted by smackfu at 7:48 AM on January 9, 2011

You can buy any number of Timex watches at Target for around $30 that will do this. But what you want to look for is a watch that allows you to set multiple intervals. All the ones listen above will do that.

I LOVE mine and still wear it even though I now have a Garmin for training.
posted by Brittanie at 9:10 AM on January 9, 2011

I use my ipod touch for this, with the c25k app. I play my own music, and the app voices over my music with instructions on when to run and when to walk. It also has a timer and a daily workout check-off.
posted by raisingsand at 9:18 AM on January 9, 2011

I also use a Timex Ironman 100 lap. Like previously mentioned, there are way too many Ironman models. I just went to Target and looked at each one looking for something with a large number of intervals. Mine has 9 and that's plenty for me.

In the end, I've found it's easier (but less scenic) to run interval training on a track of a known distance loop. I run mine in the park by my house on a lap that close enough to a half mile. I figured out my loop using http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ but you could use a gps or smartphone.
posted by advicepig at 10:59 AM on January 9, 2011

This is super nerdy but what about a lab timer from VWR? You can set 4 different countdown timers (so in your example, you could set #1 to 90 seconds, #2 to 2.5 minutes, #3 to 3 minutes, and #4 to 5 minutes), and they auto-reset if you "double-click" the start button. These usually have a clip with a magnet on it, so you could clip it to your shorts or something, and as a bonus you could also stick it on the fridge and use it as a kitchen timer. It looks like it can also be put on a lanyard if desirable.
posted by en forme de poire at 1:00 PM on January 9, 2011

I've done couch to 5K a couple times while ramping back up from a layoff and just did it again. There are really only a couple workouts that are this choppy, mathwise. I just used my digital watch with secondhand, and I used the 5-minute walking warmup to figure out/rehearse in my head what I was going to do by translating it into the time on the watch when I would change. So it would be like this:

Starting from the 0 mark after the warmup (it helps to end your warmup on a nice even number):

* Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) = RUN AT 1:30
* Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) = WALK AT 6:30
* Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes) = RUN AT 9:00
* Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) = WALK AT 12:00
* Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) =RUN AT 13:30
* Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) = WALK AT 18:30

And so on.
posted by Miko at 2:18 PM on January 9, 2011

You want a GymBoss.

Agreed. A $75 watch will do this, but so will a $20 timer. This is what the trainers at my gym use.
posted by smackfu at 6:47 AM on January 10, 2011