Not too long ago you needed a single purpose peripheral to track your running, but now smartphone apps make it easier than ever. You have a lot of choices on both iPhone and Android. Some are feature rich with lots of stat tracking, and others are fun games to distract you while you work out. This week we’re going to look at the five best smartphone running apps.
Now with your smartphone you can track not only runs, but pretty much any kind of training you can think of from walking to cycling to strength training and more. You can track your personal records and set goals for yourself, whether it be a weight loss goal, a distance goal, or something else. You can then view your past goals, set future ones, and see which ones you achieved and which ones you didn’t.
iOS/Android: Our favorite run-tracking app RunKeeper, available for both iOS and Android, is offering a free download of their pro version through January (normally $10).
The free version of RunKeeper is great by itself, tracking your run on a map using GPS and logging your speed, calories burned, pace, and all kinds of great information—which is also can automatically sync to their web site (see screenshot below). In addition to the basic features, RunKeeper Pro adds customizable audio cues (you choose when the personal trainer in your ear updates you on your run stats during your run) and advanced coaching (a tool that allows you to plan your workouts and set goals), among a few other Pro-only features.
The new year is fast approaching, and god knows how many of us have fitness near the top of our resolution lists. RunKeeper isn’t the only running app for Android/iOS, but I’ve used a lot of them, and it’s consistently my favorite. (I even paid for the Pro version, and I have a serious and silly aversion to paying for software.) Point is: It’s worth a download.
iOS – Download Now
Android – Download now
