Let your ears lead the way
From coaching to fun games to podcasts, Liz Connor picks great ways for runners to fill their headphones
Whether you’re looking for the right tunes to soundtrack a jog, a smart coach to push you the distance, or a podcast to help the miles fly by, here are eight of the best digital tools.
Couch to 5K
Running is simple and free to do – but that doesn’t mean it’s easy at the start. If you’re not sure how to get past that wheezing-after-a-minute stage, this app is designed to get you off the settee and running 5km within nine weeks. Following a schedule of three runs per week with a rest day in between, this app has motivational virtual coaches that give runners prompts of when to run and when to walk so you can slowly build up endurance. It also displays a countdown timer, so you can see how long you’ve got left before you can reward yourself with that post-workout coffee. www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couchto-5k-week-by-week
Well Far: The Running Podcast
Amy Lane’s motivational podcast is the perfect way to fire up your appetite for hitting the pavement ahead of a Sunday long run. Lane, Women’s Health magazine’s digital editor, chews through all of the weighty run chat from lacing up the right pair of shoes to the joy of finding your running tribe. She’s joined by expert guests, including sprinter Dina Asher-smith, personal trainer Alice Liveing and TV presenter and keen runner Katie Piper.
Download from itunes
Strava
If you’ve got a competitive streak, pit yourself against Strava’s millions of worldwide members. The app uses GPS technology to track your runs, measuring your speed, distance travelled and route, and displaying your metrics in an easy-to-digest format which you can then share. A big draw is its “segments” feature, which allows you to name sections of pavement, turn them into a race course, and see how you rank in your local area. Game on.
www.strava.com
Weavrun
There’s nothing worse than running to a bunch of songs that are completely out of sync with your pace. This handy app clocks your stride and matches songs that stay in time with the rhythm of your feet, making the miles more effortless. If your plan is to reach a quicker pace, you can also set your desired tempo and use the music to push you that little bit faster.
https://run.weav.io
The Couch to 5K app is designed to get you off the settee
Charity Miles
Add an element of philanthropy to your workout by logging everything with Charity Miles, an app that lets you convert your regular jogs into fundraising efforts for worthy causes. Once you’ve signed up, every mile you run sees approximately 17p donated from a corporate partner to your chosen affiliated charity, of which there are currently about 30. Run good, do good.
https://charitymiles.org
Zombies, Run!
If the thought of improving your heart health isn’t enough to get you out on a run, the idea of having to scarper from blood-hungry zombies might just do it. Interactive app Zombies, Run! gameifies your run with a creepy audiobook that’s designed to get your heart racing and legs moving away from the undead apocalypse. By building your mileage in the real world, you can collect medicine, ammo and batteries, all of which can protect you in your efforts against the enemy.
https://zombiesrungame.com
Roadid
Staying safe on your run is really important, but it isn’t always easy to let others know if you get lost or hurt. If you regularly jog solo, this app pairs with a wearable band that can let someone else know if you ever encounter any danger. Sharing a digital breadcrumb of your route, the app responds to inactivity – if you stop moving for five minutes, and don’t answer an alert within one minute, it’ll send an SOS message to your emergency contacts, letting them know exactly where you are.
www.roadid.com
Marathon Talk
You might think being a good runner is just about clocking miles, but it also depends on strategy. Marathon Talk is a weekly podcast dedicated to running advice and training tips from different experts in the field. Athletes Martin Yelling and Tom Williams discuss everything from nutrition to pacing, arming you with all the advice and inspiration you need to complete your next 26.2 miles. n
https://marathontalk.com