iPhone app for running

[PrincessAndrea'sMom]

Hello Everyone! I am new to running and am training for the 2012 Princess Half. I have read alot of you rave about the Garmin watch. Does anyone know of an iPhone app the works similarly? I mainly am looking for something to track my speed, distance, and per mile speed. Thanks!

 

[hauntedcity]

I just started using Run Keeper, and like it a lot. It tracks and saves my route, distance, minutes per mile, and more. Plus it's free, so check it out.

 

[cewait]

There are a few out there. By far the leader of the pack is Nike+ followed by RunKeeper.

I use the subscription version of RunKeeper. It is a minimal subscription fee but the added advantage is that the subscription version plots your current run online live. Therefore no uploading of runs is required. We use that for race spectating. My crew can follow me live and know when to be looking for me at our appointed spots. It works well for that.

The Nike+ and RubKeeper both use GPS for pace and speed. The Nike also includes a foot pod option great for treadmills and track work.

Note that any App that uses the phone GPS will drain the battery quickly if you do not set the phone up correctly. When using the iPhone for a GPS receiver make sure to turn both the WiFi and 3G antennas off. I find that when you do this the phone will work for the entire race plus additional time. Note that you leave the cell antenna on. You can still make and receive calls in this mode. I also use the coaching and iPod features while using the RunKeeper.

The negative...... The GPS feature of these apps is not as accurate as a unit designed for monitoring r inning activities. It was just not designed with that thought in mind. The integration/averaging of data is not as granular as say a Garmin. I also found that a poor view of a satellite can cause wonky results. As an example the stretch of the marathon through the tunnel in DHS caused the unit to fail last year.

I have used the RK since January and am still pleased with the unit - despite the negative above.

 

[PrincessAndrea'sMom]

Wow, thank for the great advice!!!

Is the Nike app free? Do I have to buy a special shoe?

Is the only differnce between the paid and free RunKeeper that it automatically sends your results on line? I am going to find theses apps right now!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

To answer your Nike+ question, you donor have to buy a special shoe. I have used a holder for the unit that attaches to my running shoe (lace lids I think) bought a long time ago.

Once you buy the unit, I did not pay for the Nike program. It links via iTunes.

I find Garmin more accurate.

 

[Goofed98]

I've just started using endomondo (granted, for the BB, but it is available for the iPhone), and I've been pretty happy.

The best part is, even with the free version, my family can follow me live online (the link brings up a google map with a blue line tracking my progress, speed, etc., and it autoupdates pretty frequently), and my battery will last at least 2:30 hours using it (longest use to date).

 

[airman]

I have used Endomondo for the BB and now the iPhone, it's a really good program and gives a lot of info about your run. For people that like to do run/walk intervals you can use the app IntervalTimer in the backround while using endomondo to track your run.

 

[Princess Roo]

I use runkeeper and it's great for the price. As noted above, the GPS isn't perfect. It does well enough over the course of the run for giving me my pace every 5 minutes, but the 30-second splits are way off. It does seem to work more precisely with each newer model of iphone.

I run intervals and it's great for that. I'm not sure if the Nike one will let you program intervals or not? The only thing I wish Runkeeper would let you do is skip to the next interval (for example, if you just ran up a big hill and need your recovery walk a little sooner, but want to keep it the same length).

 

[PrincessAndrea'sMom]

Wow, thanks everyone!

I downloaded all three. I will give them all a try and see what one I like best!

 

[acwinsett]

Hi! Nice to meet you! I'm a newbie too, hoping to run the Princess Half in 2012

I'm using an iPhone 4, which is multi-tasking enabled and has built-in GPS. I have two apps that I use when I run, Nike+ and C25K (there are several versions - I use the one that says "Powered by RunHelper"), and this setup has been working really nicely for me!

I use Nike+ for overall "big picture" progress tracking, and C25K is the training program I'm using to get started. I turn on the Nike+ program first, click the start button and then turn on C25K and click the start button on that one. It works best if you keep C25K in the foreground and play your music through C25K. It's really neat because the male voice in C25K chimes in with the "walk", "run" and "cooldown" prompts and the female voice in Nike+ chimes in every five minutes with progress info - duration, distance and pace. At the end of the run, I just let the music continue to play through C25K if I want to extend my run or cooldown - C25K stops measuring, but Nike+ keeps tracking. And when I arrive back at my apartment, I switch over to Nike+ and finish the run there. At this point, I'll usually get a motivational message (like congratulations from Lance Armstrong on beating a personal best) and the data automatically loads up to my Nike+ account online. I love logging in to my Nike+ account online after each run to see my overall progress, an animation of my route, progress toward my goals and seeing where I stand in challenges that I've joined. It's so fun and motivating!

I have found the GPS-based distance and pace information in Nike+ to be surprisingly accurate - not so much in C25K - so Nike+ for overall progress tracking and C25K for walk/run prompts. Awesome combo!

 

[PrincessAndrea'sMom]

Thanks everyone! I really like the Nike+. Great advice.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I agree with Coach. I love Nike+ and really love Runkeeper especially on race day because my friends and family know where I am on the course real time. It is a handy feature (but it does require a membership) and the interval option is fantastic if you are going the Galloway route.

 

[aes74]

Hi! Nice to meet you! I'm a newbie too, hoping to run the Princess Half in 2012

I'm using an iPhone 4, which is multi-tasking enabled and has built-in GPS. I have two apps that I use when I run, Nike+ and C25K (there are several versions - I use the one that says "Powered by RunHelper"), and this setup has been working really nicely for me!

I use Nike+ for overall "big picture" progress tracking, and C25K is the training program I'm using to get started. I turn on the Nike+ program first, click the start button and then turn on C25K and click the start button on that one. It works best if you keep C25K in the foreground and play your music through C25K. It's really neat because the male voice in C25K chimes in with the "walk", "run" and "cooldown" prompts and the female voice in Nike+ chimes in every five minutes with progress info - duration, distance and pace. At the end of the run, I just let the music continue to play through C25K if I want to extend my run or cooldown - C25K stops measuring, but Nike+ keeps tracking. And when I arrive back at my apartment, I switch over to Nike+ and finish the run there. At this point, I'll usually get a motivational message (like congratulations from Lance Armstrong on beating a personal best) and the data automatically loads up to my Nike+ account online. I love logging in to my Nike+ account online after each run to see my overall progress, an animation of my route, progress toward my goals and seeing where I stand in challenges that I've joined. It's so fun and motivating!

I have found the GPS-based distance and pace information in Nike+ to be surprisingly accurate - not so much in C25K - so Nike+ for overall progress tracking and C25K for walk/run prompts. Awesome combo!

I am using the same two apps!! Today was my very first day training, with a goal to do a Disney 5k down the road. I'm so pleased to hear you love them!

 

[TMcDwyer]

I am using the same two apps!! Today was my very first day training, with a goal to do a Disney 5k down the road. I'm so pleased to hear you love them!

Do you have to buy the Nike Sensor thing to use the Nike+ app? Also, if you buy the sensor thing, do you have to buy the shoes?

 

[TMcDwyer]

I'm using an iPhone 4, which is multi-tasking enabled and has built-in GPS. I have two apps that I use when I run, Nike+ and C25K (there are several versions - I use the one that says "Powered by RunHelper"), and this setup has been working really nicely for me!

I am having trouble finding the C25K app you mention. What does the icon look like? Thanks for your help!

 

[acwinsett]

Amy: So nice to meet you! I hope the apps work well for you, too! If you wanna challenge me on Nike+, my screen name is Andreah_Churchill

Taryn: Nice to meet you too! That's the cool thing . . . if you have a GPS-enabled mobile phone, then you do NOT need special shoes or any special sensors

Click here if you'd like to check out the app review on my blog.

Regarding the C25K app, the one I use looks like this:

Hope this helps!

 

[TMcDwyer]

Thanks so much! I am downloading the app now.

 

[slp1650]

Do you have to buy the Nike Sensor thing to use the Nike+ app? Also, if you buy the sensor thing, do you have to buy the shoes?

I think it depends on if your phone is GPS capable or not. I have an iphone so I have Nike+GPS and so I don't need the shoe pod and it is pretty accurate. I have had two cases where I've had weak GPS signal. However, in those cases I was around some canyons and pretty high mountains where cell phone signal in general sucks.

 

[slp1650]

If anyone wants to challenge me on Nike+ my name's steph_pierson

 

[TMcDwyer]

I think it depends on if your phone is GPS capable or not. I have an iphone so I have Nike+GPS and so I don't need the shoe pod and it is pretty accurate. I have had two cases where I've had weak GPS signal. However, in those cases I was around some canyons and pretty high mountains where cell phone signal in general sucks.

It is for my husband. He has a iPhone 4, but we live in Colorado and I have a feeling that some of the trails he runs on will not gave the best GPS reception. I think I will go ahead and get him the pod. Thanks all!