One of the best perks of my job is working a stone’s throw from The Mad River Path. For those who are unfamiliar, this well-groomed trail in Waitsfield curls around the Mad River, complimented by an ideal backdrop of mountains and fields; it’s heavenly. As the weather began to warm up in the Spring, I decided I wanted to find a way to really take advantage of the path while getting myself and my lab, Toby, in shape. I decided to take up something completely new and a little scary for me—running.
I’m a gadget lover, which should come as no surprise considering my career choices. Oddly enough, one of the main exercise motivators for me is technology. The one true exercise program that I’ve stuck with for years is on my Nintendo Wii (My Fitness Coach ). So, it only makes sense that if I’m going to run I want to enhance my experience with technology. Luckily, I have the perfect tool for outdoor activities right in my pocket—my iPhone!
I had been turned on to the Couch-to-5k program as a gradual way to learn to run with a low incidence of injury. After doing some research, I decided to go with the Get Running iPhone app from Splendid Things. I love that it uses simple GUI, has integrated iPod controls and motivational prompts from a soothing human voice. I paired the program with Vibram KSOs which are minimalist running shoes to simulate barefoot running. Personally, I think an awesome pair of shoes is a great example of technology despite the lack of flashing lights and an LCD.
The nine-week program went swimmingly and I found myself left feeling excited to have run a few 5k durations, but once I hit week 10, I was on my own and wasn’t sure where to go next. I learned that while I enjoyed exploring further distances, I really had more fun running quickly. I decided I wanted to focus on speed rather than distance, but for that, I needed a way to measure my pace. Ok, what fun and affordable gadgets could I use now?
I started with Nike+ after picking up a sensor for only $2 at our famous Garage Sale. After a few runs it was deemed that either the sensor was defective or my Vibrams weren’t able to hold it in the correct position. The tracking was way off from reality and I honestly found the Nike+ iPhone app to be limited and dry. It was time to really take advantage of my iPhone and turn my attention to GPS-enabled apps.
I started with RubiTrack, on a recommendation from a friend who is a serious runner. The free version yielded accurate results, but I again found the interface to be a bit boring and if I wanted to stick with the system and sync with my computer I was going to need to shell out $14.99 for the full iPhone app and a whopping $39.99 for the computer app. I just couldn’t justify that for a seasonal hobby.
I owe great thanks my blog reader who turned me on to RunKeeper. I love it! The free app does a beautiful job of tracking my runs and it automatically syncs to the easy-to-use and well designed RunKeeper website. One of the things that frustrated me with Nike+ is that I had to plug my phone into my computer for the data to sync to the Nike website. As a MobileMe user, I very rarely plug my phone into my computer, so it seemed like an unnecessary hassle. RunKeeper wirelessly syncs my data and allows me to see full Google Maps of my runs, watch how my pace changes, track elevation changes, and it even estimates how many calories I’ve burned. It does all of this without my needing anything but my iPhone and the app; no clunky sensor for my shoe.
I recently upgraded to the RunKeeper Pro version for $9.99. I personally think it’s worth every penny. The pro version gives me integrated iPod support and allows me to set targets and training schedules. For those of you in more populated areas, the RunKeeper website can hook you up with runners in your area for support and group runs. You can also create and share your favorite routes. I’m so pleased to have found a GPS-enabled iPhone app that works well, is regularly updated and is affordable; I highly recommend it!
Do you have a favorite app for exercise? I’d love to hear about it!