Best running app?

[Stella1001]

I have been trying to decide on a post-Laura running app. I have C25K+ but I'm looking for an app which uses my phone's GPS. There seems to be thousands of them out there. I want to be able to track my runs and view my progress. Any thoughts?

[simonwilliamstutor Graduate]

Have you considered a GPS watch? I hear they are more accurate than most phones. I can heartily recommend the Garmin Forerunner 10 - several of us on here have one.

[Stella1001 Graduate in reply to simonwilliamstutor]

I have an iwatch but it doesn't have a GPS but as it works with the phone which does, I don't want to get another watch really. One of the bonuses of having a son-in-law who works for Apple and gets a good staff discount!

[JoolieB1 Graduate]

I downloaded Runkeeper to my phone. It was free and gives me all the information I need - shows a map of the run, distance, speed, pace and even calories burned. I can track back and compare my last run with previous ones for speed etc. On settings, you can ask for verbal prompts during the run to suit you - every five minutes, speed, pace, distance covered. I can listen to music and it just cuts in throughout the run. I like it

[Hidden]

Hi Stella - I used to use Endomondo, which is good for recording stats, storing up your distances, marking your personal bests etc. It does use the phone's GPS - however, the distances that it measures are far from accurate - especially when it's close to trees, buildings etc. That is a fault of the phone GPS, rather than the app.

Because of this, I personally wouldn't use a phone app, unless I wasn't too worried about it's accuracy (or you've got an expensive phone with a very good GPS). Now I use a Garmin watch and download the info into Strava and Endomondo.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

GPS watches are more accurate than your phone, but they cost. I use Runkeeper because it can be programmed with intervals very easily. I also port my runs to Endomondo, via Tapriik, because it does a better job of tracking and displaying PBs, which are at the root of tracking progress.

[Stella1001 Graduate]

Maybe I will go with Runkeeper - the free version. I've only just graduated so I'm not sure I want anything but a free app at this stage! Thanks for suggestions!

[Hidden in reply to Stella1001]

That's probably a good idea - wait and see what you want it for. I use my phone app to record all my walking, because it's not so crucial to me what the exact distance is, and if it's out by 1k it doesn't matter so much

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

I use Runkeeper and find that perfectly adequate.

[Sandraj39 Graduate]

Another vote for Runkeeper, although I do find its distance tracking via my phone gps wildly innacurare! Having said that you can edit runs and correct the routes on maps. I also use it to plan new runs.

[Caroline69 Graduate]

I've used mapmyrun from early on with c25k and its fine for me.

Records distance , splits and average pace. I've kept all my runs and its great to look back . Also can use with or without music . I've got it on my iPhone 5 🙂

[beatricerose Graduate]

I'm a religious runkeeper fan! I find it so easy to use, great at keeping track and love setting my own goals/getting emails when I've got a new record.

Apart from a few glitches occasionally I find the gps fine- but I do run mostly for pleasure. I like the 5 minute updates and I like being able to customise to time/distance/pace. And I like the numbers slowly building when I look back on the months. And I liked the global 5k the other day and all the stats they emailed us! Their blog is quite

Motivating too

[Stella1001 Graduate in reply to beatricerose]

Runkeeper fans - do you pay or just use the free bits?

[beatricerose Graduate in reply to Stella1001]

As a poor student I use the free version! If someone were going to pay for me I would love it.. haha cant justify it quite for myself. However, if you use it and get a record (which obviously happens quite a bit at first) they will give you 24 hour discounts on the full version and suchlike. It's worth trying the free version and seeing if thats enough. The full version offers 'tailored running plans' but I like planning things myself and there are plenty free training schedules out there- some free ones available on the app itself- and also 'insights' to compare workouts, but I find I can usually compare and analyse enough for my running myself.

[JoolieB1 Graduate in reply to beatricerose]

I am happy with the free one, plenty of information - all I need anyway. I am not working right now, volunteering and enjoying life - gives me time to run too - poor but happy LOL. Julie 😀

[Ullyrunner Graduate in reply to Stella1001]

Free version!

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Stella1001]

The free version for me.

[ViaM Graduate]

Read this? Any useful?

macworld.com/article/289509...

runnersworld.com/gear-check...

I don't know exactly why but my friend, who has an iWatch, uses Nike+ Running.

[Stella1001 Graduate in reply to ViaM]

Thanks. This is really useful. Run keeper doesn't work with the watch so for simplicity I have gone for Nike as well. If runkeeper ever add a watch app then I will switch.

[the_tea_fairy Graduate]

I use the free version of runkeeper and it's fine for me. 🙂

[Hidden]

my favourites are runkeeper and ismoothrun, I slightly prefer ismoothrun as it seems to handle the pauses better. As for Apple, runkeeper is indeed fantastic on the Apple Watch.

[Stella1001 Graduate]

I didn't realise Runkeeper worked with the watch. I couldn't find it in my list of apps there. I will have another look. I wondered about ismoothrun too.

[Hidden in reply to Stella1001]

Both work on the watch, but I don't use ismoothrun on it as it is great with the pause so I can stop it on the phone

Give a try to runkeeper on the watch it is really great.

[Stella1001 Graduate]

I'm finding it impossible to get Runkeeper on the watch - it doesn't appear on the list of watch apps. Trying to work out what to do! Nike appeared on the list immediately.

[Hidden in reply to Stella1001]

Do you have the latest OS on both (phone & watch)?

[Stella1001 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I have just downloaded the new iWatch OS and there it is! Thanks so much - I was getting worried!