Couch to 5k - just started! Help with podcasts, iphone apps and timing please.

[TinaSurrey]

Hi all, Hoping this is the correct place to post.

I have just done my 2nd Couch to 5k "run" from week one. The 1st time I went i timed myself using the clock on my phone so I knew when to run, when to walk etc but it was far from ideal. I used the Nike app to track my run and loved the fact it told me how far I had covered, average speed and calories burnt.

This time I had worked out how to get the NHS podcast on my iphone and played that and followed Laura's instructions which was much easier.

Questions are...
Can I make the podcast play AND monitor my run on the Nike app at the same time and if so how? I couldn't find a way to do it. Secondly, is there an alternative podcast without the music. Laura was great but I'd prefer silence in between her instructions rather than their music. Finally if you are running using the podcast how do you know when to turn round (at the half way point) as I expected Laura to tell me when it was half way but she didn't so I ended up too far away from my car before I realised I should have turned round!

I am determind to do this having not done any exercise to speak of ever!

Llynnn.. Are you doing the get running as well as the nhs one ? Or is there a separate pod cast for the nhs one also..
Meant to have a thunder storm and rain weds so maybe I'll get some sleep then ...

I start the 'map my run' app on my iPhone, then start the nhs podcast. Every so often the map my run voice pops up telling me how far/fast (slow!!) I've done. I don't mind the nhs music, it does fit well with the running rhythm, but would be nice to have another option?

Thanks for the good wishes all and hope everyone else has had a good weekemd. Wonderful wonderful weekend away for my sister in laws 40th! Have been eating and drinking all weekend though. Hoping it won't have undone toooooo much of the last seven weeks diet & running.

Back to it tomorrow morning.

Llynnn - you can't, as far as I know, use the NHS podcasts without their music. It was for that reason I ditched NHS for the "Get Running" app. It cost a couple of pounds but is just as good as the NHS, same programme, similar encouraging voice etc. This allows you to run without any music or with your own songs. I use that as well as free Nike app which measures my run/speed/calories etc. Well done on your w6r1. Horrid when you have a bad run but I bet you will feel way better with tomorrows one.

Sounds like a good weekend Tina!

I mistakenly pressed the wrong pod cast this morning so did w6r3 again - mapped it & including the warm up & cool down walks did 4.8 miles & av 7-8 min/mile. No idea if that's good or not! Saw lots of bunnies eating grass while I was out running this morning which cheered me up

It was great, thanks Mog. Shame you hit the wrong pod cast. I liked being parallel with you! I need to get my maths hat on to absorb your stats as mine are set in kilometres not miles!

Taking the advice from someone further up this thread I only logged the actual running today. So I put c25k app on and held the phone in my hand for warm up walk. As it got a few seconds before starting the run I put the Nike app on too. This would be fine if it wasn't so damn fiddly to get the phone into the arm band whilst trying to run! On the plus side it meant that my music only played for the run not the warm up/cool down walks which I prefer. The run was tough but helped so so much by the cooler temp & overcast sky this morning.

So, I have nothing to benchmark this against by my stats for the 25 min run were 3.73 km. 247 calories. Can anyone give me a steer on how bad/good/mediocre this is?

Ok converted mine & it says 3.8 miles is 6.1 km

Wow Mog! Thats brilliant and way way faster than I'm running!! Is that in 25 minutes of running too? In my 20 minute run last week, including the walks, I did 3.9km.

Tina - your speed sounds good to me too, faster than I'm going anyway! Pleased you had a good weekend away. thanks for the details about the apps, will have a look at that one for a change!

I haven't been for my run since friday morning and feel like it was ages ago! I wasn't purposely avoiding it, life just got in the way! I'm going this evening anyway now the rain has stopped! W6 R2, i'm coming for you!!

6.1km!!! Blimey! That's really impressive.

Does they include the walking bits

Thanks! Yes I included the walking bits Tina.

I'm not sure if those figures were v accurate though as I did w7r1 today & included the warm up walk (but not the cool down) & did 4.28 km with an av speed of 12min/mile. I'm really not running quickly at all Lynn so don't worry! No idea if I was just going a but crazy last time or what!

I'm way overdue for my next run - Wk6/R2 - but it's just so bloomin' hot at the moment! For various reasons I haven't been able to get out first thing, and as the heat just doesn't seem to be dying down in the evening I haven't been able to face it.

I was hoping with the storms that the air might clear, but it doesn't seem to be making any difference.

I know biwi - I am absolutely roasting when I finish! I then have a shower which makes me even more hot - have to stand in front of the fan to cool down!

Me too BIWI, w6r2 tomorrow. Am aiming for a 6.30 getting up so I can do it before work. Hope endomndo will work this time so I can get the distance but my phone often seems to drop one app if I try to run zen c25k, endomndo and music

Hope everyone else manages to get out this week. It's made me feel much less motivated, being so hot for so long. And an excess of socialising means I'm 3 pounds up so all in all I need to get back on track. Gives self stern talking to, over a couple of pieces of dark chocolate. Whoops!

Mr (app expert) Surrey has just looked at my Get Running stats and so I now know which figure is the average speed. So my average speed for running the 25 mins was 6mins 50seconds per km.

So I now know that based on that speed (I can do maths just not iPhone apps!) it would take me about 35 mins to run 5k. Feeling a bit better now as if I complete the programme to 30 mins at current speed I will only have to build up to a further 5 mins running to run 5k.

My wish (and secret plan) is to run 5k at a place that is very special to me on a specific date (that I have booked to go there) so am v pleased that whilst it will by no means be easy it is not a completely unrealistic target!

I really can't go tomorrow morning as I have a job interview!

Tina that is a really good plan and something to really aim for and keep in your sights. You've actually got me thinking about my first 5km attempt...

I did w6r2 tonight, it was so muggy here, no air at all but I really pushed myself especially through the last half of the second run. I managed 4.7km (including the walks!) but that so doesn't seem too far off the much wanted 5km!

BIWI good luck with your interview!

Hope you get out soon Mitten, this weather is draining!

Hi everyone
How did the interview go BIWI?

Mitten if your combination of apps has let you down you can do all those things with the free Nike app (it plays your own music thro the app so music starts when you start measuring the distance) and Get Running to give you the c25k bit. Works without a single hiccup for me anyway!

Did wk7r3 this morning. A little slower than Monday's run. My next one will be 28 mins. I need to find/buy some new tunes as the same 8 or 9 tracks each session is not doing it anymore!

I am secretly dreaming about what it will be like to run in winter gloves etc when it's cold. This heat is v hard going!

Meant to add...
Is anyone else taking Regenovex? Can't remember who recommended it on this thread now! I bought 3 packs on 342 at Boots and have been taking 2 a day for about a week but not made any difference yet - how long did it take to help other users? Hope it works as it was pretty expensive. My knees really ache! Am th

Am thinking I perhaps need to get that gait analysis thing done. Friend said he paid podiatrist one off fee of £120 which included the inserts to go inside trainers. Said it made the world of difference.

Interview went well, thanks - they have already said they want me to go back for a second interview.

Tina - it was me that recommended the Regenovex! I did take it for a while, and then suddenly realised that I wasn't having any problems with my knees. I only take one now, and have actually forgotten to take it recently - because I don't have the problem any more.

Gait analysis at The Sweat Shop (Teddington) was free. The tailor-made inserts were £45

BIWI - well done on getting 2nd interview. No mean feat in the current climate.

Did the improvements you got tie in with taking the supplements and having the inserts? No idea if there is a sweatshop near here. Will investigate. Thank you. £45 is about what the supplements cost so I am happy to pay that to try inserts. Going to investigate places/prices. My knees really feel bad tonight and top of one foot hurts too :-(
I need to fix this as if I don't stick to the schedule that will be me out I just know it! Do you now wear the inserts every time you run?

To be honest, I really don't know if the supplements helped, or if I just got used to running. It was sort of eclipsed by my shin injury in the end!

I wear the inserts all the time, because they are what sort the gait out.

Well done BIWI on the 2nd interview - fingers crossed for you. And for you Tina in getting your knees sorted. Mine were really bothersome when I started but I'm less aware of it now. Have v good trainers though that are slightly raised at the back - not too flat - and that really helps. My very flat converse seem to make my knees ache when I walk a lot in them.

Well done Lynn on the run - I managed to do w6r2 on Weds and really liked it - but i was v slow and only covered 3.8k inc the walking bits so need to speed up. I definitely could have done so - didnt feel completely wrecked at the end - but was nervous of running out of steam. What's the verdict on going faster - quicker steps or longer strides?

And thanks for Nike app recommendation Tina - I might try that although on this last run all went well - i think its about opening them in the right order.

Thanks, Mitten!

Managed to get out this morning and did W6/R2. It was lovely and fresh after a massive amount of rain last night. Also meant that the ground was a little bit softer, which can only be a good thing.

And my phone/music/Get Running app all behaved themselves today, so I didn't have to listen to the sound of my heavy breathing!

Congrats Biwi on that interview & good luck!

Well done everyone on their runs. I'm hopefully going to attempt w7r2 later...

Thanks, Forgetful!