Pick of the Joggers’ Apps

Posted by Nikoletta Ventseslavova

Read if: you want to learn more about the sports applications for smart phones

The development of iPhones, Android and Smartphones has changed the way we train immeasurably. Back in the day you might have had a stopwatch, a pedometer and a Sony Walkman if you were lucky. Now, a whole host of gadgets and apps can help you with speed, distance, health, nutrition, routes and absolutely everything in between. But with so many running and fitness apps out there, which ones work the best for your workout? Here are some favourites…

RUNKEEPER PRO

Probably the best known, and one of the most expensive, running apps on the market, Run Keeper Pro offers the whole package. Calories burned, running history, speed, distance and GPS tracking are all available in an attractive, easy to navigate interface. There is even an option to shuffle songs from your MP3 player to really get your heart pumping. Plus all your results can be stored and monitored on the RunKeeper website and shared with friends. While the pro version is pricey for an app, there’s a free version with less features and advertisements available.

C25K

Perfect if you’re just starting out on your new racing regimen. This app takes you through a whole nine week training course, for an easy beginning of walking and running to a full 5k jog. If you pay a little extra, you can also include GPS capabilities with the package. Oh and the weird name stands for Couch Potato to 5K.

GHOST RACE PRO

Motivation can be tough with a lonely pursuit like running. But if you can’t find a real human person to compete against, then how about yourself? Ghost Race allows you to challenge little old you, attempting to beat your previous best distance or pace. It can get a little freaky when your hear real time updates telling you how well you are doing as you battle against yourself.

FITNIO

Easy adaptable and versatile if you mix up your running with cycling or walking, Fitnio is handy for recording a number of pursuits. As well as keeping track of your times, pace, distances and calorie expenditure, it also has an emergency contact option, immediately alerting someone if you have problems during your workout.

RUN COACH

If you’ve been running for a while and then find yourself out of ideas of what to do next, then Run Coach might be perfect for you. Like having your very own gym teacher in your pocket, the app helps to create a variety of training routes and schedules designed personally for you. It even provides feedback on your efforts and eating advice.

EIGHT GLASSES A DAY

One vital element of running fitness and exercise training that’s often overlooked is the need to re-hydrate. This simple, attractive app reminds you to drink the right amount of H2O each day, rewarding you with fascinating facts when you reach your goal.

ULTRATIMER

Perfect if you like to mix things up with sprints, stretches, circuit training or any other timed activity. As well as providing a number of sample training regimens, you can also input personalised fitness information and training schedules.

STOPWATCH

If you want to keep things traditional and don’t want to bother with GPS signals or disembodied voices barking instructions at you, here’s a simple and productive stopwatch application. Use it in the traditional way, or enable the countdown function to enhance your training. You can even easily skip between different timers if you’re involved in multiple pursuits, such as jogging and sprinting.