What can I use to monitor my running workout?
After a period of inactivity I recently started running again and want know what gadgets or tools I use to monitor my workout.
Some requirements:
It should offer workout programs (based on my level or goal)
It should graphically show my progress over time
It should be mobile, so I can take it with me during running
So what can I use to monitor my running workout?
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I have a Garmin Forerunner 305, and have used it for over a year. I love it. It offers training, and the software shows graphs and shows reports. There is 3rd-party software for even more functionality.
I've had lots of success of RunKeeper Pro
It comes with some preset training programs and you can customize them yourself. Granted, the programs themselves are only for single running sessions as opposed to a long term plan. There are also training programs (Fitness Classes) available through the site, though you have to buy them. However, you can set them up yourself as well.
RunKeeper Pro is available for free on both the iPhone and Android. Which uses GPS to track your running speed and gives you feedback during your running session. The results are automatically uploaded to their website.
When you login to their site, you can see reports of your progress/activity over time. There are also options to add reports for other workouts, like swimming or rowing and also upload heart rate reports from your Polar to get a more complete overview of your workouts.
There's also RunKeeper Elite (19$/year) that offers access to more advanced features.
I have a Garmin Forerunner 310XT with a heart rate monitor and a foot pod. I've used it for over a year for running, hiking, and hunting. It monitors pace, elevation, heart rate, and cadence. I can also do basic navigation with it like marking a waypoint and finding it later, as well as following my tracks back to the trailhead. The battery lasts for 20 hours which is the longest of any of the Garmin watches.
When I get home, my results are wirelessly uploaded to Garmin's website where I can enter a run description and view a map. Here is an example of a recent race.
I really enjoy getting data from my runs, and it helps motivate me to run more.
You can use Adidas MiCoach
What is it?
It comes in several flavors: foot pod, foot pod + heart rate monitor, iPhone App or Android App.
What does it do?
It lets you choose training programs, based on general workouts, losing weight, or more 'professional' goals like running a certain race distance or improving your race times.
You can customize your workout based on your level and the amount of training sessions per week:
And it gives you an overview of your progress + options to analyze each separate workout:
How does it work?
My version uses a heart rate monitor + foot pod. They have a wireless connecting with a 'Pacer' which stores the results. You have one earphone connected to the Pacer, which tells you what you have to do during your workout. As you can see in the image above, it will tell you to speed up when you reach the green zone or slow down when you have to go back to the blue one. For the rest, it's pretty much out of your way and you can wire it through an mp3 player, which will be muted when you get a new command.
When you're done, you connect the Pacer to your computer using USB and your workout gets synchronized to the Adidas site, where you can analyze it. It has space for 15 workouts and it will automatically download a new one after you've finished another.
Are there any downsides?
It costs 120 euro, which is expensive compared to using pen and paper or just a Polar watch. As you can see in one of the screenshots, if you 'miss' one of your scheduled workouts while having the Pacer connected, it will assume you did the workout and 'skip' it. Also, while new features are added steadily, Adidas doesn't seem able to keep up with some of the competing smartphone apps.
After a few different experiences, I've found that a sport watch really made the difference for me. The main benefits I received:
I can run lighter, without having to carry my phone in an armband or similar
As others have said, it can be waterproof, and some allow you to track many sports as swimming, cycling, skiing but even football etc. It's usually also more rugged than the phone, and less painful to replace if it breaks.
It can have advanced features as heart rate monitoring, altimeter, training plans, running dynamics analysis etc.
Usually it comes with more complete apps than are available for phones, thus providing more complete statistics
It can also track rest, sleep and daily activities (though a smart band can do the same)
Battery can last more, and doesn't affect phone's autonomy as using the phone does (for me it can be important)
Something I experienced is that looking at statistics and comparing runs motivates me, as I'm always pushed to improve my performance. Also, heart rate monitoring is really helpful to get an idea of how hard has a training been, and how well is the training progressing.
I've tried few different devices, starting from entry level ones (TomTom, Amazfit) to the more advanced Garmin Fenix. I've discovered that, contrarily to what I initially thought, the app matters as much as, if not more, than the device's hardware. In the end, I like to see statistics, and a poor app leaves much to be desired and takes much of the satisfaction out.
I use Sports Tracker for many years. There is version for Android, iPhone, Symbian, Windows phone, and there is also Web service that sync with mobile application. It is free. You can connect it with Heart Rate monitor (Polar, Sports Tracker etc)
You can find it HERE on Google Play.
I have had success using a combination of Garmin Forerunner 405 (with a heart rate monitor) and SportTrack 3.
The watch have all the usual capabilities as well as the ability to "execute" advanced goal-oriented workouts. Unfortunately the battery is only good for 6-8 hours of active use, which can limit for some types of exercises and races.
SportTracks comes with a large number of plug-ins can do just about everything from keeping track of the use of your equipment, your weight/body far, the weather during runs, your current CTL/ATL, training plans, VO2max, your records, etc, etc.... After 3 years with SportTracks, I have a rather comprehensive diary of all my cardia exercises - apart from swimming :-)
Not everything has to be super automatic, cost a lot of money, and generate cool graphs.
I keep a table, and I run the same route each time (so the distance is fixed, measured with my car's odometer/Google maps "walk" once)
ROUTE A
(Can draw diagram of route here)
Date Time Notes
2/3/2011 12:50pm 32:11:450 Cramp @ 23:50
2/5/2011 8:30pm 32:22:501 No food before
2/7/2011 6:00am 31:12:100 Breakfast banana + bread
(if I ran more than one route I'd keep a separate table for each route, since hill information is embedded in the times)
All you need is paper, a pen, a stopwatch, and discipline.
I'm really surprised Runtastic (PRO) hasn't been mentioned, since it's the second-most-downloaded of its kind (after Endomondo), but the top rated actually.
Runtastic and Endomondo has equally useful and high-quality implementations of features, but I like Runtastic better, because it has more accurate evaluation and statistics features, both on the Runtastic website. Runtastic also has many other fitness and helper applications, and the company makes valuable accessories, like bluetooth heart rate monitors, watches, or cadence monitor for bikes.
Endomondo has more social features. That's all. I would consider between Endomondo and Runtastic. Just check features list and pick the right application for you. (Also check their fitness-site's capabilities.)
If you are looking for something different, try PaceMaker for iPhone and Android.
It is a unique application that help you maintain a certain pace as well as tracks your run. It has integration with dailymile.com, so you can post your runs to that popular running site, rather than to it's own site like many of the other apps out there.
You basically set a desired pace, like 9 minute mile, and it audibly tells you to "speed up" or "slow down" as you are running in order to keep you on pace.
It does the basics as well like keeping a history of your runs and creating GPX files you can either download, or upload to Dailymile.
pacemakerapp.com/
Finding free software that is good at tracking your runs may be difficult to find. One suggestion that I have, but have not used yet is the Nike+ system:
Nike+ helps you track your distance, pace, time and calories burn while you run. After your workout you can send you run stats to Nike+ online. Where you can set goals, join challenges and connect with friend in the Nike+ community.
You can use an iPod to listen to music, while tracking your run stats, or use their "Running Band" instead. The software app for Nike+ for the iPod is 1.99 and the gear to use Nike+ cost money as well: ~ for sports band, iPod sensor is .
While I've never used this myself, I've been very interested and will hopefully be using soon and be able to give more personalized feedback. However the advantage appears to be in the seamlessness of the tracking, syncing and reporting of all your runs.
I would suggest Endomondo which is available for all mobile platforms and synchronizes the results to a web application. There's a strong focus on social networking and other users or friends can leave comments on your workout. You can also create challenges that other have to beat or let others track your progress live.
The Endomondo Sports Tracker PRO (.99) also features some additional features. Though not yet on all platforms.
Beat yourself: Set a previous workout as your target and the audio coach will help you perform better this time
Headset control: Use the headset media button to get audio feedback and pause/resume a workoutt
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