For any workout with set pace targets, you can enable and receive live audio cues from the Runna app via your phone's speaker or compatible running watch. This means you won’t need to look at your watch as often, making training easier and helping you stay focused on your form and surroundings!
Smartphone
For the best experience, connect your earphones to your phone to receive live coaching as you run.
In the Runna app, go to Plan → Profile (top-left) → Phone Recording
Make sure Run Splits and Pace Alerts are switched ON
You can also adjust the volume here
Then go to Record Run → Run Settings and choose your feedback distance
Outdoor audio cues include:
Get ready to start (there’s a visual countdown, but no verbal countdown)
Start running
Pace alerts (speed up / slow down)
Pausing / Resuming
Halfway information
Lap x completed in x time
Workout completed in x time
Treadmill audio cues include:
Get ready to start (there’s a visual countdown, but no verbal countdown)
Start running
Pausing / Resuming
Halfway information
Lap x completed in x time, average speed x mph/kph
Workout completed in x time
Runna Apple Watch App
Set up audio cues on your phone
Open the Runna app and tap Record Workout
Select Outdoor Run
Tap Settings (top right) → Feedback Distance
Set your preferred feedback distance and adjust the volume
Turn on audio cues on your Apple Watch
Open the Runna app on your Apple Watch
Swipe right
Make sure Audio Cues are switched ON
You can also adjust cue volume on your watch by opening Settings → Volume and turning the Digital Crown.
Audio cues include
Run splits
Pace alerts (too fast / too slow)
Start / Stop cues
For the best experience, connect your headphones directly to your Apple Watch and start both your music and your run from your watch. This ensures your music and cues play through the same device and allows the music to dim.
No headphones connected → cues play through the Apple Watch speaker
Headphones connected to Apple Watch → cues play through headphones (music dimmed)
Headphones connected to iPhone → cues play from phone and onwards into your headphones (music not dimmed)
Advanced volume control
On your Apple Watch, open Runna.
Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Use In-App Volume.
Toggle ON.
Force close the app and reopen it — changes won’t apply mid-workout.
Once enabled, go to Settings → Audio Cue Volume and use the slider to set your preferred level.
Garmin
When using a Garmin device, you’ll receive pace and interval alerts via vibrations and sounds from the watch itself. Depending on your Garmin model, you may also be able to enable audio prompts. Garmin’s available audio cues vary by device and will differ slightly from the cues provided directly by the Runna app on your phone.
If your headphones are connected directly to your Garmin watch:
Pace alerts (based on your Garmin settings)
Too slow / too fast alerts
No "halfway" cue
Next lap information
If your headphones are connected to your phone:
Pace alerts (based on your Garmin settings)
No too slow / too fast alerts
Next lap information
To manage these settings, open the Garmin Connect app, tap your watch icon at the top of the home screen, then go to Audio Prompts and enable:
Workout Alerts
Activity Alerts
Lap Alerts
Pace/Speed Alerts
After making any changes, make sure to refresh the Bluetooth connection to your watch. Feel free to experiment and enable or disable prompts to find what works best for you!
Suunto
Audio cues are only available on the Suunto 9 Peak Pro and Suunto Vertical:
Slow down/ speed up
Rest
Start running again
Open the Suunto app on your phone.
Go to Watch settings and select your compatible watch.
Navigate to Audio prompts (or Sounds & Alerts, depending on your device).
Make sure audio cues are switched ON.
Connect your Bluetooth headphones directly to your watch (audio cues won’t play through your phone).
Refresh the connection between the Suunto app and your watch to apply the changes.
Race Day Audio Cues
Flat / Rolling Races
For flat or rolling races, if you use the race workout included in your plan, you’ll be given a target pace range. Your audio cues will prompt you to speed up or slow down to stay close to the midpoint of that range.
Expected audio cues:
Pace alerts (speed up / slow down)
Run splits (e.g., “1 km completed in 5:50 min/km”)
To make sure these cues are enabled, go to: Plan → Profile (top-left) → Phone Recording and ensure Run Splits and Pace Alerts are switched ON.
Moderate / Hilly Races
For moderate or hilly courses, Runna will provide run splits as you go (for example, “1 km completed in 5:50 min/km”). To make sure you receive these, go to: Plan → Profile (top-left) → Phone Recording and toggle Run Splits ON.
You won’t receive pace alerts (speed up / slow down) because we can’t predict the inclines and gradients on your course, and factors like gates, narrow paths, or muddy terrain can also affect your pace. We want to avoid encouraging unrealistic targets that could increase injury risk.
You won't receive a countdown before the start of a race workout.
FAQs
Why am I not receiving any audio cues?
This may be because Intervals/Tempo on Track or Open Warm-Up is enabled.
When Intervals/Tempo on Track is on, interval or tempo laps won’t automatically end and you won't receive audio guidance - you'll need to stop these manually.
When Open Warm-Up is on, your warm-up won’t end automatically either - you’ll need to press the Continue or Lap button (depending on your device).
To turn these off, Go to Today → Profile (top-left) → Workouts and toggle OFF:
Intervals/Tempo on Track
Open Warm-Up
Why am I not receiving audio cues to speed up / slow down when recording from my phone?
This could be due to your plan type or app settings.
New to Running (NTR), Return to Running (RTR), and Path to parkrun plans use time-based workouts, so pace alerts aren’t available.
If Open Warm-Up or Intervals/Tempo on Track is enabled, pace alerts won’t trigger automatically. Turn these off via Today → Profile → Workouts.
Why am I receiving intermittent audio cues on my Apple Watch?
This may be due to a setting called 'Cover to Mute'. To disable this, go to your Watch Settings → Gestures → Cover to Mute and turn it OFF.
Are audio cues compatible with Apple Workouts?
Unfortunately not. Due to Apple’s API limitations, Runna’s personalised audio cues can’t be delivered through the Apple Workouts app. However, you will still receive Apple’s built-in notifications:
Interval notifications
Heart rate zone alerts
Split pace notifications
Haptic feedback
For full Runna audio cues, record your workout directly using the Runna Apple Watch app.
Are audio cues compatible with COROS watches?
No, audio cues aren’t supported on COROS watches due to hardware limitations. You can record your run using Runna on your phone alongside your watch, but be aware this may result in conflicting pace or distance data due to separate GPS sources.
Are audio cues compatible with Garmin Venu 2?
No, the Garmin Venu 2 doesn’t support audio cues. You can still receive full coaching and pacing cues by recording your run via the Runna app on your phone, but be aware this may result in conflicting pace or distance data due to separate GPS sources.
Are audio cues compatible with Suunto watches?
Audio cues are only available on:
Suunto 9 Peak Pro
Suunto Vertical
You can still receive full coaching and pacing cues by recording your run via the Runna app on your phone, but be aware this may result in conflicting pace or distance data due to separate GPS sources.
Why do my audio cues sound robotic?
We’re exploring more natural voice options, but live audio cues (like pace alerts) require real-time processing. Using synthetic voices allows us to deliver cues accurately and without delay, even with limited connectivity!
Why are my audio cues so quiet?
Check your volume settings:
In Runna, go to Plan → Profile (top-left) → Phone Recording → Volume and set it to Loud (100%).
On iPhone, go to Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Headphone Safety and try turning OFF Reduce Loud Audio. This can improve volume and clarity!
Why are my audio cues in a different language?
Audio cues are delivered in the same language as your Runna app settings. Changing the voice (e.g. System Default, Monica, Paulina) changes the tone - not the language.
To change the language in Runna: Go to Today → Profile → Language Settings.
iOS (change voice): Go to Today → Profile → Phone Recording → Voice.
Android (change voice + language): Runna uses your phone’s text-to-speech settings. Go to Settings → Accessibility → Text-to-Speech and select your preferred language and voice. This helps prevent cues playing in different languages.
How do I turn on audio cues for my strength workouts?
To enable audio cues for strength sessions:
Open a strength workout
Tap View workout
Go to Settings (top-right)
Toggle ON Strength Guided Workouts
With this enabled, the app will automatically guide you through sets and rests. You may still need to manually move to the next exercise - this is a current limitation we’re working on.
Any questions?
If you have any further questions or need more support with your audio cues, please don’t hesitate to reach out via the Support Tab!