A news concept from Esendex, SMS service provider, offers training packages for runners that work by text message. Esendex is offering this service in collaboration with event organizer Nova International. This is the first service of its kind in the UK that safely prepares people for running events by giving them access to personalized training plans via SMS, email and the web.

SMS service, experts have compiled a minimum-recommended 16-week training program, which can work purely on communication directly to and from a mobile phone.

The program works like this. Budding runners register for the service in the training room on the Great Run website and, after completing a training session, the runner texts ‘felt’, along with ‘great’, ‘bad’ or ‘ok’ to the short code number 60066. On receiving the runner’s feedback, Nova then sends a confirmation text detailing the next stage of their program. Each week the computer system analyzes every plan and session to offer a new training schedule for the week ahead depending on the feedback received.

Great Run worked with Olympic coaches to gain professional advice for the program, which is available for 5k, 10k, 10 miles, half marathon, marathon distances and general fitness. Each program is targeted at beginners and can train someone from a non-runner into a race finisher.

Esendex offers a simple, intuitive solution to a recurring business problem: how to rapidly and reliably communicate to customers or employees, wherever they are. Their internet based services are used by thousands of organizations around the world to deliver SMS and voice messages quickly and effectively. Around the clock monitoring by our own in-house technology team ensures that your message is a priority, every time you press ‘send’.

Chris Kewin of Nova International says:

“Esendex provides us with the easiest and simplest way to communicate to our audience. The service works across all mobiles, which is great as it means people are more inclined to sign up and also keep it up. We’ve had a fantastic response to the service so far due to people signing up to train for our extensive year round event schedule including the Bupa Great North Run in October. We’ve targeted this training site at people who are experimenting with fitness and need entry-level tools for competing in running events. For those who feel they would like more of a challenge, there are tougher plans available. It’s all about showing people how easy fitness can be and showing them how to enter a competition safely.”