is it just me or is the music on the podcast a... - Couch to 5K
is it just me or is the music on the podcast awful! no offence to anyone!
Definitely not just you. However, it is pretty varied and it's not supposed to be 'nice' but to help you do what you've got to do - you're not there to 'listen to music', you're there to run. In fact I found that not wanting to have to listen to some tracks more than I absolutely had to was great motivation to keep going and complete each run successfully. And sometimes it did make me smile when something corny came round again.
I agree it is atrocious but in a weird way seems to motivate you to keep going!!!!!!!!!
I liked it.
an app called get running for yr ipod will allow you to use your own music. The programme is the same as Laura without the helpful tips. Someone will tell you when to run and when to walk (Aussie accent). I often play Laura on my rest days so I can recall her tips while I'm running to this app. I like to run to classical to a beat: classical cardio 2 is my favourite, but I have enjoyed some of Laura's tracks 
On the whole the beat really helps me to keep going, even if I don't like the song. At one point in the 8 minute run this week I was so obsessing about getting to the end of one track - willing it to end really - that the time passed more quickly! I'm looking forward to the day I can listen to my own music or dispense with music altogether, even if I will miss Laura!
It's a mixed bag- it does change week on week, but I have to agree with you that 95% of it isn't to my taste. I nearly burst into a fit of giggles one run last week where the music suddenly sprung into 'fields of green and flowers and trees'.
However, I felt it was worth doing the podcast once (at least) as I tend to find the first run of any new week is the hardest. I then move the intervals onto runkeeper with my own music. I tend to find that I run a bit faster with my own music, but I do miss Laura- the odd "next interval" in a robot voice is a bit jarring at times. I think apps like runkeeper work best when you're a lot further into a program, where you have eight minutes or so of music rather than at the beginning where you perhaps need Laura's guidance and encouragement.
I'm not a huge fan of the songs but some aren't half bad. I have the C25K app on my phone and although you can run to your own playlist I still stick with the podcasts beacuse they've helped me so far and I can save listening to my own music for Graduation
Some weeks are better than others! There are now some songs which I would happily delete from my memory forever thanks to this programme, but it's not all bad. I would much rather have generic music with no lyrics than the pop rubbish though.
I added my own songs in the podcast. Downloaded audacity which is an audio editor. I just silenced the terrible music and mixed my own current tunes in. Took a while on the first one, now im a pro, takes 10 mins and well worth it if you like laura's info but need your music to boost you. Wouldn't be couch to 5k without me having to swear at Laura when she tells me to run. Would miss her x
I dont have a fancy phone and managing with an I.pod, i confess that after week 6 I downloaded my own play list and ejoyed that much more. I missed Laura but followed the times off the web site info for each week. The dance type stuff on the pod casts not my style....much happier with my eclectic mix of The Jam, Billy Idol and others from my youth!
I'm a total convert to jog.fm which helped me choose a playlist of great songs. Top tip---use your 'wished for' pace rather than your 'current pace' when working out the beats per minute you want as otherwise the music will actually slow you down-I find that having bpm slightly faster than I am comfortable running at encourages me and helps me feel bouncy!
Yes some of it is awful! the lyric that always made me laugh was I think around week 7/8 which was "the way you make me feel... you make me go red" haha
Although a lot of people seem to hate it, I loved 'You & Julie' and always found it made me go faster!
I loved You and Julie too - was gutted they used it in the warm up for W9 - what a waste!
I liked You & Julie too. Could never understand why people were so down on it. In a sense it almost doesn't matter what the music is, the important thing is that it's there and it sets a beat to run to. And anyone with an iPod etc has the means to make their own list anyway (although without Laura; major downside!!)
I think its probably got some subliminal motivation messages in, that can only be coded into particularly odd song choice! Otherwise why would you listen to it? Worked so far so I will still with it.
The last 40 seconds of Week 9 are a really silly sounding song the lyrics of which are "you just gotta do it". It makes me laugh every time but spurs me on for that final burst of energy needed!
Wow, I just don't know why some people just can't thankfully accept a free product or service without complaining about it. There are lots of C25K programs available for small fees, and you can customize the music on many of them.
The NHS is making this, very well put together, program free to anyone who has a connection to the Internet and can download the MP3s. I am so appreciative to them for this, and am too busy getting fit using the program, that it hasn't even crossed my mind to complain about such a small thing as the music not being my personal taste.
Licensing music costs money. I think the NHS made a very good decision to choose songs that will allow them to provide a motivational tool at no cost to the user.
Even if you don't like the music, hopefully, the program has jump started your piqued your interest enough that you will seek other programs to your liking that will keep you on track with your fitness improvement.
Totally agree! I actually like the music in a Eurovision kind of way. I think it is very clever the way the beat gets heavier as you get towards the end of runs. It obviously has been carefully thought out. Even if the NHS had unlimited money how would they decide on the music?
I agree that there were some songs that made me laugh because they were a bit... silly or awkward. For example, there was a "dance remix" type song which was clearly looped at a weird spot to fit the required interval for a short run early in the program.
That said, I think NHS / program designers did a pretty fantastic job with the music, here's why: they provide music designed to appeal (at least some of the time) to a LARGE cross-section of the population, at tempos appropriate to the task at hand, especially with upbeat running tempos that very gradually get faster as we get fitter, to encourage us to pick a sustainable pace.
And the lyrics are actually pretty fantastic. Not in the sense that everyone will always enjoy all of it - but in the sense that for the most part, they are about things that make people happy. Clinically, it is shown that some mood enhancers include nature, community, safety, and achieving new goals. It can be no mistake that lyrics like "hold on, I won't let you fall", "time for your transformation", "fly through the open window", "it's a beautiful day" and so on are featured in the podcasts. If we start to associate running with these great concepts, we will be more motivated to continue through the tough bits.
H123 suggested (presumably tongue-in-cheek) that there are subliminal messages - which would only be literally true if it wasn't possible to hear them consciously by listening carefully. Personally, I think NHS would be on thin ice if they did that, but I don't think they have to. Instead, they chose music with these messages. And when you are focused on your run, you only sort of hear it, so it has largely the same effect. I say "Huzzah!" for the music selection, considering the real goals and purpose of the program, and hope that others who really want to use their own music choose their playlists with similar care.
Perhaps that can be the reward - finish the program and you can play your favourite songs!
For me the cheesy music was all part of it!
It's not the kind of music I would listen to normally but it went hand in hand with doing the programme and I knew there would be plenty of time to listen to my own music after finishing the programme.
I love love love Laura and C25k, but I find putting a new song on my playlist is something I look forward to hearing when I am out running! I do agree about some of the music on the podcasts being not entirely to my taste, but once you're running for 20 mins and up, you don't really need the timings!
i like some
I love the music. I don't know how I could run without it! It's the perfect speed, extremely positive and motivating and puts a smile on my face! 
OMG the music is absolutely appalling, BUT one day when I couldn't take it any more I played something I really like and then I discovered why that wasn't a good idea. The tune I played was really fast, so I went really fast and didn't manage my run having exhausted myself. Then I realised that the music is chosen, I expect, very carefully and cleverly to stop you from speeding along and wearing yourself out. That made me appreciate it, even though it makes me lose the will to live. Now I have graduated I play my own stuff, but try to pick something that isn't going to make me rush, and I enjoy it but I do miss Laura. The whole program is fantastic, but I can moan about the music as much as I like, doesn't mean I don't appreciate it.
Lets face it no matter what music was put on some people are going to think its awful because its not their type of music. Perhaps the only way round this is to make an app instead of podcasts so you could put your own music on.
I'm guessing the tracks are chosen because of the tempo to pace the running best, I think they've done a fair job considering what a diverse lot we all are.
Week 2 had a rock style track "Get outa my way" that used to crack me up. Agree though, the worst tracks give me a grim determination to hang on in there somehow.
I am just about to start the programe, I had a quick listen to week one yeah it does sound pretty cheesy but for something like this which is a free download, they pretty much have to use royalty free music, they can't use "proper" chart songs as we would know them. Maybe as this takes off NHS will approach well known artists to allow them to use their tracks. That would be pretty cool.
List of music used in podcast 
W6R3 complete - podcast/music help
Podcast music: How many beats per minute?
Does the music on the podcasts get any better?
Switched from music to spoken word podcasts
