Would anybody else be interested in a motivational app?

[oneNCN]

I'm a few weeks past graduating and I am still running!

The last few runs I've been running the week 7 run (25 minutes) with Sanjeev Kohli (I love his voice!), because I now know that a 25 minutes run is something I can easily do, and this way it's easier for me to make the decision to go out and run!

I don't want to aim for longer/faster or attend an organized run, I just want to keep running 25-30 minutes, two or three times a week. But I'm afraid I'll get tired of hearing my lovely coach Sanjeev Kohli again and again.

So I was thinking: why not create a motivational app myself for people who want to keep running for 30 minutes, like me? I have the time and resources to create one (although I don't know any famous persons who would want to act as a coach).

I was wondering, are there any other graduates out there who don't like the other apps that are already here because you don't like competition (like Strava) and don't want to measure everything there is to measure when you run (like Map my run and Runkeeper) and get scared when they hear shooting while running (like Zombies, run) but would enjoy an app that builds on the couch to 5k app?

What features of a motivational app would help you keep yourself motivated?

[Hidden]

I know what you mean I really miss Mr Smooth so much so that I keep him for every third run or so to keep me going.

Can we create our own stars as voice over coaches, for example if our two mentors would talk... like many folk I take their advice over and over again, so I’d be interesting in hearing them actually speak.

For me I’d love one that helps me increase distance but like the 9 week plan, gradually so you feel you’re doing the right thing...

The thing for me is I don’t like being shouted at, so one app I tried was a horrid shouty man, I am much better being encouraged as a milestone is reached, and little hints and tips throughout because sometimes clock watching is a pain. I’d love things like did you know Elton John is also a runner - the kind of quirky facts that keep you interested..

Don’t know if that helps at all but good luck with it.

[icklegui Graduate]

This sounds like it would be delightful. I don't know any famous people either, but like Jancanrun I think I'd love to hear some of the voices from here the random running facts sounds brilliant too, maybe stats about world record holders, what's happening to your body, runners of the animal kingdom (ooooh how entertaining would an Attenborough voiceover for running be) etc.

Or something like Zombies but more adventure-y rather than scary?

For motivation, the thing I need most is help scheduling, so if it integrated runs into a calendar app that would be sweet!

[LittleNell83 in reply to icklegui]

David Attenborough is soooo soothing. Brian Blessed could be fun though.

Brian Blessed and Jean Luc Piccard doing a space/ steam punk adventure would be great

[oneNCN Graduate in reply to icklegui]

Thanks for your ideas! I was actually thinking about asking Alice Roberts (the biological anthropologist / physician) to give us some interesting facts about the human body and running. I’m a real brainiac and it’s when I learned that one of the things that might have helped our ancestors to outrun animals and thus being able to hunt them down, has been our capacity to get rid of extra body heat by sweating, sort of got me thinking that the theory I had in my mind that some people are made for running, others for cycling and others for swimming (I thought I belonged in the swimming category) was nonsense (it’s proven to be!). Keeping motivated is difficult without a particular goal so I’m still brainstorming on that. Do you think it would be helpful if one of the things you could do in this app is make a virtual date, say I make an appointment with you that we’re going to run today at 10 o’clock. And we see that the other one is keeping his or her appointment? (Maybe by using movement sensors like the Active 10 app does)