Laura

[Perfectly_imperfect]

Hello All! I am new to c25k and am wondering about "Laura". I am only on w1r3 but I don't see Laura as an option anywhere on my app. It seems as though she would be a great motivator but I can't figure out what I am missing. Any suggestions?

[lozzi23 Graduate]

Do you have the nhs couch to 5k app? xx

[Perfectly_imperfect Graduate in reply to lozzi23]

I have 2 of them but neither appears to be the one with Laura. I just went to the App Store and searched for nhs couch to 5k and couldn't find anything. Idk.

[ElsieW Graduate]

Download the NHS podcast, she's there!!!!!! xxx

[ridingstar Graduate]

Podcast all the way and the cheesy music is a right of passage. If you don't use it you will never know about Julie !!!

[Perfectly_imperfect Graduate in reply to ridingstar]

Julie? I thought it was Laura?

[louisella Graduate in reply to ridingstar]

I'm intrigued about Julie! (I'm on w4r1)

[ridingstar Graduate in reply to louisella]

You will find Julie soon ! x

[GoogleMe Graduate]

There are lots of different (although not radically different) Couch to 5k/beginner runner programmes around. The vast majority of the time here we're talking about the UK NHS version and I am right with ridingstar on this. There is an app version (this is Laura's coaching but not the whole programme including the music) but it is not all that robust... and allows you to fuss about making playlists rather than adopting the essential discipline of 'just do it' - it matters not whether you like the music or not (I have discovered I have a different taste in music for running to normal listening, would never have done that without the podcasts). If you hate a track, then it is a great incentive to complete that week instead of having to listen to it more times, and you have a ready made incentive to graduation, to run with your choice of soundtrack. And yes, 'Julie' is a rite of passage...

The thing about Laura (she is a real person and used to post on this forum when I was first on it) is that she is (or was) 'one of us' rather than the stereotypical personal fitness/sports coach/trainer. There are one or two bits of guidance that most of us dispense with (views on the breathing suggestion are mixed, the vast majority would say that the instruction to strike the ground heel first is actively inappropriate) You'll find a few around for whom the chief value of Laura is that they have someone to rebel against.

[Perfectly_imperfect Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

Lol. Thanks for the information. I read somewhere that you should try to land in the middle of your foot as directly underneath you as possible. I know the most important thing is just to do it. I have downloaded two c25k programs and both are pretty much the same but still no Laura. I might need to put nhs in there or something. It's not that important. I've done well so far but I'm just starting and I know sometimes it's easy for me to lose motivation when doing things alone.

[Perfectly_imperfect Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

Maybe I can't find it because I'm in the U.S.? Idk.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Take the'advice and make sure you download the correct programme..she is there and you really need her...she is so supportive.

Hope you find her!

[Perfectly_imperfect Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks. I'm going to search for nhs c25k. I've downloaded 2 programs. Both say they are the "official" program but neither have a Laura.

[AnnieW55]

Download the podcast. You won't regret it as it gives you things to think about, get fed up with and generally help make it all interesting and informative (barring, as mentioned above, the heel strike and nose breathing info). Many of us brave the music and use the podcasts and the 5k+ after graduating too as you can incorporate them into your runs in different ways.

And you really should meet Julie 😉

Meant to say - I love your name.

[Perfectly_imperfect Graduate in reply to AnnieW55]

Lol. Thank you. It really does sum me up pretty well.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Laura is our 'adored' mentor on here. You will find her on the NHS choices Couch to 5k podcasts... agree with the others about the music it is a right of passage.

[Rignold]

I would rather pour liquid lead in my ears followed by fire ants than endure Laura's music again.

[Perfectly_imperfect Graduate in reply to Rignold]

What kind of music is it? I generally have pandora or something playing in background when I use the other apps. My music is very important to me lol. Makes running much more bearable because really and truly I HATE RUNNING but am trying to learn to love it!

[Coddfish Graduate]

I have a different view about this. The really important thing is to do the elapsed time progression of the programme, moving from run/walk to longer phases of running. How you do that is entirely up to you. I tried Laura and didn't particularly get on with having someone talk me through it. A lot of that is I find in-ear headphones really uncomfortable, and I also don't think it's wholely safe to be so engrossed in phone / app / music or whatever that you aren't paying attention to how your body feels and also to your surroundings. Do what works for you, the only rite of passage that matters is your progression to being able to run for 30 minutes.

[Unfitdad59 Graduate]

I used the NHS app with Laura and just set the music on my phone to random. This worked fine for me but I can understand that some people need The Beat to be appropriate for running. I run with my heel striking the ground first. My local running shop said it would be too disruptive to change now, so that's how I run.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

Hi there,

With all the confusion, I'm surprised no-one has pointed you here: nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/...

From there you download either the Week-by-Week podcasts - i.e., individual/standalone mp3s, which you simply play on your phone/mp3 player, OR you can download the app - the big yellow on the right

Happy running!

John,

UK

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to John_W]

And it is our gift to the world - others outside the UK have successfully used the NHS presentation (some others are only 8 weeks... and possibly do anticipate running 5k in 30 minutes which the NHS certainly doesn't!)

[Perfectly_imperfect Graduate in reply to John_W]

Thank you so much. That is what I needed. 😊

[John_W Graduate Ambassador in reply to Perfectly_imperfect]

You're very welcome. Happy listening and more importantly, running

[barmybint Graduate]

Well, this is odd. I have the correct version and I get Laura telling me when to start / stop running but I don't get any music or any other instructions about how to run / breath etc.? I'll have a check in case I've switched something off in error

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate in reply to barmybint]

Sounds like you have the app not the podcast. There is music in between Laura's coaching...

See John's link above.