Podcast and App Reviews
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Great thread. Saving for later as I've just started playing with the idea of getting back into running. Also, just got myself a new Android phone and it's pretty amazing what the little thing can do )0
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I used the Christian Indie Tracks from: http://www.buriedtalentsband.com/C25K/
The music helps me to relax while motivating me to keep running.
I tried another one (Podrunner?), but it set my teeth on edge.0 -
I use the zenlabs app on iphone-its good on the treadmill but the pause button sometimes get pushed by accident when out and so sometimes the lady doesn't talk to me!!0
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My phone isn't terribly smart, so I use podcasts. My fave has been the series put out by NHS (http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k.aspx). I like the music, and love the voice commentary. The encouraging comments are not too frequent, and timed perfectly. I like that she throws in some running tips each week too. Also, I do fancy that British accent.
same here. first time i listened to it at home i thought i would hate it, but nobody made a metal version so far haha.
once i start running i dont really hear the music anymore, so its okay
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I use Run Double on my android phone.
I use it with Pandora or you can use it with your own playlist. When it comes time to switch intervals it pauses my music, vibrates my phone and the voice come on telling you what's next followed by a summary of what I just did (miles, pace, etc).
It also has a website that it uploads your progress to as soon as you're done with your run so you can see all the stats as well as a map of where you ran.
The first 2 weeks are free but to upgrade it is $1.60. I felt it was worth it. 80s Pop is always fun to run to on Pandora!0 -
I use Run Double for Andriod. It comes with a free two weeks and after that is is $1.60 and it is well worth it. It lays out the schedule you'll be running, shows your stats at the end and uploads them to the Run Double website in your account. You can use your own music playlist or internet radio like Pandora. It has remained glitch free and I still use it for 'fun runs' and will be using it for the 5k to 10k training. By far the best app on my phone (aside from MFP, of course
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Highly recommend C25K by BlueFin, 69p gets you GPS, customisable playlists, run pace, walk pace, average pace, distance, current pace, weight tracker, calories burned. I graduate next week and have already dowloaded their Bridge to 10K app. They also do a C210K app.0
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I've just finished week one of the 5K101 podcast, which is from the Running Mate website. I like it so far-- the music is motivating, and there's a real person giving the prompts. I haven't tried the app yet. Maybe if I get tired of the music, that will be a good option.0
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I just used the free "A HIIT Interval Timer" for my Android and plugged in the splits for training session myself. Can use it simultaneously running Endomondo (for GPS to get distance, calorie burn, etc., speed, split-times, etc.) and any type of music you want (Pandora, Tune-In Radio, your own playlist, whatever).
No voice. It just starts a warning countdown and then dings when it's time to change what you're doing but, obviously, if you're running, it's time to walk or vice-versa.0 -
I use the C25k bye zen labs was free and my music or audio book in my case plays over it its great
I find the audio book helps with pacing and keeps my mind of the running0 -
if the lady isnt talking to you usualy means you have hit the silence tab on the side I lock my phone down when I am running so no buttons get pushedI use the zenlabs app on iphone-its good on the treadmill but the pause button sometimes get pushed by accident when out and so sometimes the lady doesn't talk to me!!0 -
I use the c25k app from Active.com. It works nicely, I play my own music. I "log" my workouts on it and if I run outside it tracks my distance and my pace, which I really like.
Just finished W7D2.
I use this app also. I love that I can build my own playlists to listen to and also get the voice prompts simultaneously. Great app!0 -
I do all of my training on a treadmill. I'm up really early (4:30 am) and it's way too dark and dangerous for me on the streets. I've been using the C25K Free from Zen Labs app on my Android for 6 weeks and it works just fine for me. I can play my own music; the voice prompts pause what I'm listening to to tell me to run, walk or cool down; It tells me when I'm halfway done; and it's free!!
The only issues I have with it are that sometimes the voice is too quiet and I miss my cues (usually only when my song was really loud and I had to turn the volume down) and one time it quit on me and I didn't know it... so my last 5 minute run before the cool down turned into almost 7 before I realized it. Oh! and the ads are kind of annoying but not too bad.0 -
Sorry if this has been mentioned - didn't read back through the whole thread - but I am in love with RockMyRun.com! You sign up & get a free credit each month, which you can use to download the 30-min playlist of your choice. You can filter by genre, length, & BPM, which is PERFECT for keeping your legs moving when you run. If you save your credits to accumulate, for 2 you can get 60-min lists. And if you just love love love the playlists so much you want more, you can purchase credits very cheaply.0
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I use Run Double on my android phone.
I use it with Pandora or you can use it with your own playlist. When it comes time to switch intervals it pauses my music, vibrates my phone and the voice come on telling you what's next followed by a summary of what I just did (miles, pace, etc).
It also has a website that it uploads your progress to as soon as you're done with your run so you can see all the stats as well as a map of where you ran.
The first 2 weeks are free but to upgrade it is $1.60. I felt it was worth it. 80s Pop is always fun to run to on Pandora!
i use this also. i just use playlists from within roundouble rather than bothering with another music app. apparently it will also work with certain HRM's. mine is an el cheapo but it worked with the machines at the gym i went to which supposedly only worked with Polars, so im hoping that it will work with rundouble as well, i just have to put a new battery in it.
my only gripe (and this isnt just a rundouble issue as i had the same issue with runkeeper on my android, and pretty much any other gPS running app on a phone) is that i do an out and back run rather than a loop. so when i get the halfway reminder, i double back and head home. the problem with this is that unless you turn right on the moment of a gps update, your intervals on either side of half way are going to come up short in distance.0 -
Oh, and I've also used Zombies, Run! I've heard they're working on HIIT and c25k expansion packs, but for now I just run it over Runkeeper or input my own workout. I don't like ZR as much for c25k, probably partly because the zombie chases are too fast for me... but also, the timing just doesn't seem to work with the interval training right now. Then again, I'm only on Week 3 right now, so if you're later in the program and running for long stretches of time, getting chased by zombies could be the perfect motivation to not stop
I use Zombies, Run! as well, they now have a c25k app that you can use that seems pretty good. I pushed myself faster than the program told me to though and injured myself and so I am having to take some time off from my training.0 -
I use 10K runner by Clear Sky Apps. I started with the 5K runner free version but it only lets you do the first 2 weeks. When looking to buy an app I knew I wanted to go onto a 10K later or at least have the option KWIM? The 10K runner app has the 5K built in so you do that first. It allows you to play your own music, voice prompts you to run, walk, warm up/cool down and tells you when you are half way done. I chose this app because it looked good and had great reviews. I think it was $2.99, totally worth it. I can also run other apps while this is going and there is no interference. I would totally recommend this one.0
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I'm using runtastic with the bluefin podcasts because I'm doing a 10k in July but just listening to the Chubby Jones pocast and I quite like the music0
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iPhone user: I am using the 5K Runner app from Clear Skies. I'm finishing week 7 today. My first 5K race will be next weekend.
It prompts for run/walks with a voice and vibration. It has controls for a music player but I don't use it. Here's what I do:
Start Downcast app to listen to podcasts while running.
Start Digifit app to record HR, calories, GPS map, mileage, etc. **Syncs data with MFP and Fitbit**
Start 5K Runner app for timing and prompts for current training level.
Here are the links:
Downcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/downcast/id393858566
Digifit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/digifit-icardio-multi-sport/id314841648?l=es&mt=8
5K Runner: https://itunes.apple.com/app/5k-runner-0-to-5k-run-training/id439852091?mt=8
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I did not read every post, but I use C25K lite. It is a free app that has every single week. I tried other apps and you had to pay to get past week 2. This is not as fancy, I use the music player on my phone and run this app that lets me know when to change my pace with a sound. Very basic but works for me.0
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Zombies, Run! Z25K for me, there's no way you'll get me even walking with purpose without it.0
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Also use Zombies Run Cto5k and Zombies Run original, I usually can not wait to get and and do the mission when my training is done I plan to use the original Zombies, Run0
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I have been using http://c25kfree.com/ It's the best free app I've found so far, I have it on my iPhone. I also use a Nike app at the same time that tracks my distance, pace, and route on the GPS. I am able to listen to my own music and I hear the cues just fine. I will be on week 6 tomorrow
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Another Zombies Run 5K user
I love it, story, get to listen to my own music... has some differences to normal C25K's last week I had 5 heal lifts at the end of each run walk exercise, this week its high knees.
Extra plus when I return from a run and people ask how it went and my answer is "I was chased all the way home by zombies" cant help but smile
Planning on moving onto the full zombies run app when I'm done
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I'm using the NHS C25K podcasts and so far it's been great. (On W4). The music is ok but to be honest, when you're concentrating on breathing you don't really listen too close anyway, it's just background noise!
I like the way 'Laura' gives some hints and tips about running and how to slow your pace as well as telling you when to run or walk Plus its quite welcome when you occasionally hear her say "You're doing great, only 1min to go" lol
It's free on the NHS website or you can get it via iTunes and they also do a 10k series for when you're ready to move on, which I've optimistically downloaded in advance!0 -
So it's like this:
Before I started C25K I was using MapMyWalk to record my exercise and transfer the times into MFP manually.
Then I started C25K and started using Run Double - which I like. I run in the park very close to my house but I still log the walk there and back (not included in the warm-up/cool-down) so I start MapMyWalk, walk to the park, start Run Double, do my session, stop Run Double, walk home, stop MapMyWalk and use the time/pace to update MFP.
Now I see Runkeeper can sync with MFP. I've installed it and added some of the C25K sessions as custom workouts. However I'm thinking I may just use Runkeeper in place of MapMyWalk so that it can record the overall walk-run-walk. Or I could switch to just using Runkeeper and record the walk to-, from- the park as separate walking activity - I think you can do that right?
How does this stuff get so complicated?
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Inside the Mind of Suz has good, free podcasts (plus she is adding more soon). Don't mind the link name - I assure you it's clean - she even jokes about how people expect her site to be porn or something of the like, and it turns out it's her weight loss blog:
http://www.kissmyblackass.org/podcasts
She's got Bridge to 10K podcasts, too.
You can also Google how to make your own. My sister and I did C25K together in 2011 (I just had a baby, so I have to start over), and we used Suz's podcasts and then started making our own. We had a lot of fun being silly with the prompts and also with music choices. We kept the song lists a secret from the other so that we'd be surprised (and the podcast maker got to witness the orher's reaction). We'd sync when the podcast started so that we'd be in the same place throughout the workout.
For prompts, I found some pre-recorded ones by an Australian chick, I recorded my own voice on a couple, but most of the time we used a voice generator. You'd type in what you wanted it to say, then choose the robot-like voice (male/female, accent, etc). The silly stuff we came up with for our prompts was funnier in a robot voice with an English accent.
Making my own was labor-intensive to start, but after doing two or three I got the hang of it, and they didn't take nearly as long.0 -
I use rundouble for c25k, and runtastic for "other"...i like rundouble for this because the runtastic connects to mfp and rundouble has the ability to export a gpx file that you can import into runtastic...so the c25k runs are synced into mfp pretty easily...
i couldn't set intervals in runtastic in increments other than whole numbers.0 -
I'm using the Android Couch-to-5k app by Active. There's so many free stuff out there that I'm reluctant to pay for apps, but this one is the only app I've actually purchased and to me is worth the €1.50.
The app has GPS tracking and after completing your run it sums up your total time and distance. It also breaks up your data for walking/running distance and walking/running average pace. The info is kept in a log, where you have an overview of each week/day. When completed it shows a checkmark, the date and the distance at a glance.
The trainer voice tells you when to walk, when to jog, and when you're halfway there. There are 5 trainers: a drill sergeant, 2 female trainers, a dog, and my favourite: Johnny the zombie.
You can listen to your own music while running this app. You can actually go into the playlist and simply move around the sequence of the songs. This way you can change up your music without having to create a new playlist. On a note: if you use the shuffle option, the app will give you the exact same sequence of songs every time =/
The app has a search option for 5k event, but I can't review that since it's no use outside the USA.
NEW UPDATE:
With the latest update (I think it was last week or so) they added the 'Free Run' option. It simply tracks your run on GPS and this data is also kept in your log. I haven't tried it yet so I don't know if the trainers give you a cue as to time passed while you're running. But I think it's a nice addition so you can still use this app after completing the c25k program.0
