I have been working on a review of a new-ish app called Charity Miles. It is a running/walking/cycling GPS tracking app for iOS and Android that turns your activity into a charitable donation. I will be publishing my thoughts in the next few days, but I got an email from them today about a “Challenge” that they are doing with their users and I thought it was worth sharing pre-review.
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So if you are interested in joining in download the app (iOS or Android) and get moving!
Like a lot of people, I use my phone to track my workouts. I may one day get a dedicated GPS watch/unit but for now I’m sticking to the toy that I already have, as it seems to work pretty well for me. I use a HTC Inspire 4G Android phone personally, but there are apps available on all of the major smartphone operating systems that will run the apps that I am going to cover or others much like them. Please note, I am just giving you some info on the apps that I happen to use. I have tried just about every application for activity tracking that is available for the Android platform and there are a number of good ones but these are the ones that I actually use regularly.
The new face of Endomondo (8.0)
My primary app is, and has been for quite some time, Endomondo. It didn’t used to be particularly pretty but its accuracy was as good or better than any of the other and it gave me my mile splits, a decent web interface to track my workouts and let me easily export my workout data so that I could use it elsewhere. (more on that later) Beyond that I didn’t really care. It does more but that was all I was concerned with.
Endomondo got a big update yesterday which makes me even more crazy about it. (Its also what gave me the idea to write this post in the first place.) It still does all of the same things that it did before but the interface is vastly improved and they added some things that I really like. First among the changes (for me) is the ability, much like a dedicate GPS device, to configure what information you want shown on the main screen. The app will show 4 of the 11 different metrics that are available (speed, pace, average speed, average pace, calories, heart rate, average heart rate, goal and cadence) on screen at one time in whichever order and combination that you choose. This isn’t intended to be a comprehensive review so I am skipping over a number of functions that Endomondo also does very well because I simply don’t use all of its bells and whistles but I will say that for tracking my running and cycling (again, more later) I think that is the best all around option on the market currently.
I’ve been using Strava for the past couple of weeks when I ride my bike. I’m still undecided as to if I will continue or not. The app itself works very well for tracking my rides but that wasn’t my main reason for downloading it. I was more interested in the social aspects of using Strava. I am not a competitive cyclist of any sort at the moment so it is thus less compelling as that is the focus of the “social network” part of Strava. I will also say that I am also not really taken with the interface. Much as the original Endomondo interface, it works perfectly well but seems inelegant. Strava can be used to track activities other than cycling but I far prefer Endomondo for my running. I may very well drop Strava but not because it is lacking in some way just because I prefer Endomondo.
This is more game than fitness app but it has some of that rolled into it too. Zombies, Run! is an interactive story game set in a post zombie apocalypse world where you are a “runner” or messenger/gofer/pedestrian rescue person/etc. for a small outpost. The story segments are fed to you in between songs from your phone. I am not particularly impressed with the accuracy of the GPS tracking but the story is fun and compelling and makes the miles roll by a little easier. I typically run it along with Endomondo. (Zombies, Run! for fun and Endomondo for tracking)
Dailymile is my exercise related social network of choice. If you want a place to keep all of your hard work and get tons of positive reinforcement then this is the site for you. I record my workouts with either Endomondo or Strava, export the GPS files from them and then upload them to dailymile.
I will be playing with the recently updated mapmyrun/ride and the just released for Android Nike+ apps in the near future. I just can’t resist trying new toys.
Garmin has just come out with a new fitness tracking application for iPhone and Android. Like all fitness apps it allows you to use your cell phone and its built-in GPS to take the place of a dedicated hardware solution, such as a GPS watch, to track you activities. (in this case walking, running and cycling) The promising thing about Garmin Fit to me is that it combines Garmin’s experience at fitness tracking, their robust web recording and analysis site, Garmin Connect, and their ANT+ hardware sensors. (heart rate sensor, bike sensor and foot pod)
I will be running with it over the next week to get a better feel for it’s performance but so far I am impressed with the look of the interface. You can download the app for $.99 here for iPhone and here for Android.
For more information about Garmin Fit click here.
The upcoming running game that I posted about when I decided to make my very first Kickstarter contribution has completed its funding in a really big way! Their original goal of $12,500 was reached after just a few days en route to a final funding total of $72,627!! I for one am eager to see what they are able to do with it! The original kickstarter page can be seen here and for more information about the game or to pre-order it click here.
Just made my first Kickstarter.com contribution. Love the combination of running app and zombie story game. I can’t wait for it to come out!
It looks like the name of blog will be a bit of a misnomer for a few weeks as I will be restricted to perambulation as I have a stress fracture in my right tibia. I will be trying to use this as an opportunity to turn these lemons into lemonade by using my walks to start testing some Android based exercise apps at a more leisurely pace without it interfering with my training. I am hoping to work up detailed reviews to compare and contrast the various offerings that are available. I will eventually review other aids that I use to try to move myself from sedentary lump to athlete. I am particularly interested in Android apps as I have an android based phone, the HTC Inspire 4G (the US version of the HTC Desire HD) and I think that there is strong growth going on in this segment of applications for the Android platform and I’d like to help others sort their way through the various offerings.
I like using my phone as a workout tool for the simple fact that I only have to carry one gadget with me that can handle both workout tracking and entertainment/encouragement. I have nothing against dedicated exercise tracking devices, in fact I may at some point switch over to a GPS watch with a heart monitor to be able to improve my training unless a good app that is able to incorporate heart rate monitoring comes along.
So that is my plan for the remainder of August and probably September. After that it depends on how well I heal. I am planning on doing my first 5K race on the first of October even if I have to walk it.
