I need a coach

[Trying2run]

Hello all. I graduated last week and did one run with just my music and found it tough. Did another with Sarah Millican and my music but just turned it on after my warm up, so I ran for longer.

I don’t really want to keep doing this though it worked. So I guess I’m after suggestions of a voice that talks to me from time to time over my music.

I downloaded the stepping stones podcasts but I can’t run to someone else’s random music. Any ideas gratefully received thanks 🙏

[misswobble Graduate10]

Yes you can! Stepping Stones are fabulous pieces of work and will bring your running on no end. They are interval training sessions, voice coached by Laura. You want a coach, you got one! Free too and hours and hours of practice. You don’t need to run them every time out. I still run the sessions regularly as I left them on my music player. Brilliant stuff. You can food without your own music now and again. You can run with no music at all 👍

[Trying2run Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

I find listening to my music a good distraction that I don’t think I’ll get from Laura’s tunes.

And I couldn’t run without anything. I sound like an exasperated warthog when I run 😂😂😂 I blast music loudly to disguise the sound ha ha

[wightdiamondgirl in reply to Trying2run]

I couldn't agree more Trying2run. I would find it hard to run without music. The Stepping Stones programme is fine, but the music leaves a lot to be desired.

[AlbertRoss Graduate10]

Some of the Tracking Apps can do that, although you might need a Premium Version. I'm using Endomondo at the moment, and there's a "Voice Coach" that chips in with info on pace and distance every so often, and if it's part of a training plan (intervals etc) it tells you when to go etc. I did find though that I needed a reasonable spec phone to do make it work - my rather old Moto G wasn't up to the task of doing tracking and playing music at the same time.....

[Trying2run Graduate10 in reply to AlbertRoss]

Thanks. There’s a voice that tells me on map my run app, how far I’ve run and time etc. I just quite like someone telling me I’m amazing because I e run for 20 minutes or whatever. Ha ha ha.

[damienair Administrator]

Try Zombies Run. It’s pretty good. You can have your own music on in the background. The App runs a story where you are the central character. As you run the voices in the app are telling the story and at times during the run they will report if there are Zombies chasing you. You have to pick up your pace then for a few minutes. It’s good fun, takes your mind off the run in a way and nothing like Zombies chasing you to keep the pace going.

Try it, it’s something different.

[Trying2run Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

That sounds fun. I’ll try that. Thanks

[Gillma]

Hi Trying2Run. I have been seeking a Bridgeto10k version of the C25k app, too. I think that’s what you mean? I haven’t found it sadly - I make do with iPlayer radio and my wristwatch and Strava - but I too miss the verbal encouragement and time keeping and the way my own music/radio obediently fades in and out. Is there any way Health Unlocked could be persuaded to make one, admins??

[Trying2run Graduate10 in reply to Gillma]

Yes thank you that’s exactly what I mean. Encouragement rather than a statement of facts. A “well done you’ve run for 25 minutes” rather than “13 minutes 1.6 km, split 8.23”

[Biddy62 Graduate10]

I use the free version of Runkeeper. You can choose a voice from a variety including 'Drill instructor' and 'Your conscience' 😂 You can set it to tell you when you've run a certain distance e.g. 1kn, pace etc and the voice gives you a range of comments alternating between encouragement and abuse 😂 I switch it in and listen to my podcasts. It interrupts and pauses them whilst talking. Good luck and Keep On Running 😜🏃🏽‍♀️

[Uphill-downhill Graduate10]

Strava (without premium) will also interrupt your own music and update you re distance and time splits, lacks Sarah Millican's warmth but works

[Trying2run Graduate10]

Thanks guys one and all. Guess it’s the warmth im missing

[Sarakc Graduate10]

I did my my C25K with Sarah Millican and I had my own playlists with my favourite music I played on shuffle. I graduated about a month ago and I just kept re playing week 9 when I went out as I was so used to Sarah and her friendly encouragement!!! I was nervous about doing anything different but yesterday I tried the stepping stones podcast and found it really good! A refreshing change! And i am such a creature of habit! It’s worth giving it a go! I switched to my own music on my long walk home afterwards but I’ll definitely be using Laura again! 😀

[Trying2run Graduate10]

I used zombie run today. The story was a good distraction but when they were about to eat me I just couldn’t run any faster, and then the second zombie pretty much caught me because I was waiting for the lights to change at a pedestrian crossing 😂🤦🏻‍♀️