Hi folks,
Just a quick question for the graduates really, as these are all block runs did you guys n girls stick with Laura or have your own play list.
I can't help feeling that the runs will be much easier/enjoyable if I had my own placelist.
Or am I better off sticking with Laura until graduation.
I feel your pain - I abandoned Laura at the end of week four because I didn't get on with her taste in music. I downloaded the cool running app, which just gave me the prompts but used my own playlist. Here's the link coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/ . Click on the right of the screen - it's free for both apple and android. (now I'm going to run for it before I get lynched by the Laura-loving bunch :D)
I ran without Laura from W1R1. It is possible 
The NHS app doesn't have music though, does it? Are you using the podcasts?
I'm with you here Saul. I was thinking the same thing. I do love Laura telling me how far I've got but I do have my own music on in the background on my iPhone.
I am at this minute trying to work out how to sync my playlists to my phone without much success! I shall shout a teenager in a minute for advice!!! Haha!
Let me know what you decide!
Elsie xxx
Hellooooo,
High chance that I will use my own playlist but am intrigued by who Julie is. so may just do one run from each week with Laura.
I'm gonna let the kids choose which order the songs go in, that way I don't what the last song is going to be and that way the run is over without me knowing. This is a simple site that will let you make a nonstop playlist audio-joiner.com/
The app does have a music button on the bottom and it lets me listen to Laura and my own music. It's the nhs choices app the brightly coloured one with yellow background.
Ooooo yes I am intrigued by Julie too!!!!!!
E xxx
I had the Android app, which allows you to access your own music - so had my own favourites all the way through☺.
I stuck with Laura for those weeks. I have since graduated and gone to my own playlist.
I do miss Laura telling me every so often that I was x far through or had x far to go etc. Although Laura's music choice is pretty dire!
I don't suppose it matters whether you stick with Laura or have your own playlist. I think all that matters is that you run for the stated amount of time without stopping/walking.
If you feel you don't need Laura to talk you through it or encourage you then go with your own playlist.
....... My own opinion, others may have a different view
I used my own playlist in those last few weeks. There is now an app you can use your own music with but still have Laura talking to you - sounds like the best of all worlds!
Any idea what the name of the app is?
I'm afraid I don't Saul, but others on here use it so should be able to tell you.
I always ran with Laura because I loved her motivational words. But my taste in music is way better which is motivating. No matter what you choose, you must run at least one session of week 8 with Laura so you can meet Julie. She's a right of passage and I believe that's the week she shows up.
Hi Saul. I stuck with Laura but must admit I wasn't feeling the music and there is a point when you get very angry at her (30 min run and she tells you when there us 20 mins to go. Aaah)
That said my hubby gave up on her early and started with his own music, but he struggles to do 30 mins in one go as his breathing isn't as regulated ( he runs too fast I think)
I say Laura was the one that got me to this stage so she should be with me at the finish... she does talk you through it too which is helpful. ( except that 20min
promp)
Maybe do run 1 of each of the last weeks. Then you will get' me and Julie'
another classic like 'you're kind of the world baby'...
Typo.. king of the world baby...
I liked that king of the world one Jan ! Ha ha .
And who could forget " Julie " She is part of C25k folklore ! xxx
I would stick with Laura. You will soon be at Graduation and then can do the Laura c25k+ podcasts after which time you will be ready to start the journey to 10k
The music is a bit pants but if you can cope with the music then you're ready for anything. Listening to the coaching is important I think. Well, it certainly was for me.
Oh yeah, you need to listen to Julie!!!!!!
"Truly, I've had enough of you and Julie" LOL I feel all nostalgic now
It's funny, I absolutely loathed that song , pre graduation... I agree with your sentiment though, I am a bit nostalgic about it! Bizarre! 😀
I abandoned Laura in the latter weeks. I'm lucky enough to be able to run in some lovely scenery so I don't bother with anything at all. In fact, it was a relief not to have anything stuck in my ears and to be able to be totally in my environment. At this stage in the game I think it's nice to be able to experiment with what suits you best.
I used the iPhone app listened to Laura and played my own music. I didn't know she had a playlist until I saw people talking about it so I must've switched it off somehow. Now just have the lady on map my run who tells me how fast I've done each km and my own playlist
I have the NHS choices android app and there was no music playing in between Laura (I believe ther should be but for some reason it wasn't) so my husband synced his spotify account to my phone. I can now access that through the C25k app and have it on shuffle in the background. The volume of music lowers when Laura speaks. It's early days for me and I need the reassurance of Laura 😀 it's definitely the best of both worlds.
Hi Saul, I just finished week 7 without Laura, I set my stopwatch and put my music on, by this stage you can run, Laura said so! Haha yesterday I downloaded a true stories murder case and that was brilliant, I ran the whole run without thinking of the running.
I won't be using Laura until after I graduate and move to the next level.
I downloaded the C25K app & then used my own music on my iPhone through the app but could still hear Laura when needed telling me time etc, the music goes quiet when Laura speaks. Good luck
As a person in week 9 (last run should be tomorrow!) I can definitively tell you that Julie shows up on week 8 during the running bit, and again in week 9 in the warm up. I had not realized that she was so famous when commenting last week on 'the creepy song about you and Julie'. I have stuck with the podcasts, as they seem to be working for me, music and all. But my reward, next week, is going to be switching to my own playlists and to an app.
I agree Joanee. There will be plenty of time to run without Laura after graduation, I enjoyed her telling me OK you can stop running now you've made it.
I made my own running list up for a treat after graduating too.
I ditched Laura's playlist on W1R2. I would have run directly under a bus otherwise. You can use the app and add your own playlist or just Google C25k playlists: I did C25k with just an MP3 player so had to use prerecorded ones. I found a site that had the whole programme with Aerosmith or the Beastie Boys and other such stuff. The day I did W5R3, I accidentally clicked the wrong download and found myself with 20 minutes of Taylor Swift and Britney, but it was too late to do anything about it by the time I realised. That was not my best day.
Oh but you have missed so much. The music is quite entertaining in a perverse sort of way. The electronic stuff is totally bland, but the tempo is good. Some of the songs are really outstandingly awful and this has kept me quite diverted from any new-runner anxieties. And I have almost no traffic where I run, so the bus temptation is not there.
Thank you for all the replies, advice and suggestions. I will download the app and play around with it and see how I get on. Will be nice being able to have the best of both worlds.
I maybe an old biddy but I absolutely love the Beastie Boy's FIGHT for the right to party 😊
I dumped her (sorry Laura) at week 7 and listened to the music I liked from then on
Well I've made a playlist, downloaded the app onto the phone and let's see how it goes tomorrow.
If you're using the app you can press the headphone symbol at the bottom of the screen. This should take you to your music library where you can select a playlist to listen to. That's how mine works on my android.
Goodbye 👋🏼 Week 7 Hello Week 8 (eek!)
Week 7 done...dreading week 8
Goodbye week 7, well hello week 8!
Finished Week 7 on to 8
Week 8 run 1 - easier than week 7!
