Sorry Laura, but you're boring me now...

[TryingSoHard]

Nothing personal, but I just prefer running to tunes I recognise. So, I've made myself a little playlist of songs that make me feel happy and bouncy, and have progressed to listening to that while I run. (I still can't believe I'm actually referring to myself as a runner).

But.... lovely as they are, they don't tell me how far I've run, or more importantly how much longer I have left.

I've dabbled with Runtastic, Runkeeper and Map My Run, but to be honest, don't find any of them particularly intuitive (perhaps I'm just too much of a luddite), so was wondering if anyone had any recommendations to make.

My needs are quite simple - I'd like a voice to tell me how long I've been running for and how far I've gone. And then at the end I'd like some kind of performance data comparing my various sessions.

Maybe I just need to try harder with the ones I've used, but I thought I'd ask in case I'm missing something wonderful!

Thanks all.

[Raindog]

I've just uploaded Radiant Tap's app which I found simply by searching for From Couch 2 5K on Appstore. If it's as good as it looks - and the review on the link below suggests it might be - it might work for you. You get the 1st 2 weeks free.

radianttap.com/couchto5k/

telegraph.co.uk/technology/...

[TryingSoHard Graduate in reply to Raindog]

Hmmmm... looks good.... but I can't find it on Android. Thanks anyway.

[gdeann Graduate]

You might check into rundouble, we used it with our phones. The lady is not near as nice as Laura, but there is no talking, just prompts. Gayle

[TryingSoHard Graduate in reply to gdeann]

I tried this one on tonight's run, and I'm pretty sure this is the one for me!

Easy to use, straightforward, does what I want it to do! The only thing it doesn't seem to have is a little map that shows me where I ran. But I guess I know that already!

Mine is a man, not a lady, though. And he sounds like he should be telling me to take cover in the nearest nuclear fallout shelter. But even that is good - it reminds me that there are worse places to be than trudging the streets!

Thanks for the recommendation.

[gdeann Graduate in reply to TryingSoHard]

Hmmm...if I remember correctly, there was a free app or you could pay a bit more for a deluxe app? We were able to track distance and pace I thought. I could be getting that confused with endomondo...used that too! Now we have Garmin watches!"! I hope the man prompting you on doesn't get called the names the lady did that prompted me!

[Oldgirl Graduate]

If you have an iPod why not try Nike Fitness which is built into most of the latest iPods, gives you times and distances as you run/walk/cycle. Not sure if you can download it to other MP3 players though.

[greenlegs Graduate]

Garmin watches are pretty good. Not cheap, and don't play you music, but great for statistics and data as you run. I stopped listening to music, and have decided I much prefer running without earpieces etc. I hear lots of birds too!

[TryingSoHard Graduate in reply to greenlegs]

I like the idea of that, but in reality, it takes more than birdsong to distract me from what's going on with my body!

[greenlegs Graduate in reply to TryingSoHard]

I know most people seem to prefer running with music - fair enough! I've started doing yoga again recently, after a many-years gap, and the yoga mindful body awareness sort of thing (not explaining myself well here!) works really well with running for me - I found that the music and ipod/cables/earbuds etc were more of an annoyance than a distraction and I cope much better when I am actually more focused on my body, and adapting to it. But I'm still learning about that, so can't really explain it! I'm not trying to persuade you though - just think it's worth a mention, as I wouldn't have thought about it if others hadn't mentioned it to me in the past.

Anyway, enjoy running, however you do it! There are many different ways!

[Tiger79 Graduate]

I use endomondo

[RainbowC Graduate]

I don't think RunKeeper does a 'how long to go' countdown, but mine is set to talk to me every 5 minutes, and tells me how long I've been going, how far I've gone, and my average pace. At the end of the session it says how long it was, how far I went, and average pace for the session. I can look back through previous activities, and on their website I can look at pretty graphs too! I'd recommend having another look at it, as it seems to me that it pretty much meets your needs.

It also works with my playlist - just speaks over the top of the music when it has something to say

[fatgirlruns Graduate]

Invest in a Garmin!! best thing I ever brought and I love listening to my own music....but I do miss Laura!!