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Looking for the app to run for you who are just starting out? On the run the mobile phone becomes an irreplaceable tool not only because it fulfills its primary function, but because it has replaced and improved the work done years ago by virtual watches, concentrating everything in a single corpus. The running apps allow you to monitor the time of the run, be aware of the length of the track thanks to the GPS, monitor cardiac activity with the heart rate monitor, calories burned and more.
Always evolving in terms of technology and therefore efficiency as well as in number, the applications downloadable from mobile, both free and paid, have been popular for years to accompany our routine. Select the best running app from the list to constantly monitor the parameters and reach them more easily set goals.
Runkeeper
The icon of a running man on a light blue background is the brand logo Runkeeper – GPS Running Monitor, this is the full name of the no-cost app that allows you to reach your running goals, monitoring your exercises and defining a measurable result by studying your progress along the track. Suitable for both the neo lovers of running, whether to prepare for a race or set up an individual record, the running app welcomes more than 12,000 reviews with a more than satisfactory efficiency score. It connects with the heart rate monitor belt automatically and gives you the opportunity to decide which stats to know by getting a voice response. The languages available are many, including Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French and more. It is compatible with iPhone (requires iOS 12.4 or later) and iPod touch (iOS 12.4 or later).
Strava
One of the most used is Strava, released since 2009 by the homonymous developer company in San Francisco which today welcomes about 50 million users. The app allows you to interact with social networks: Strava was one of the first to offer this tool, thus giving the opportunity to share your goals, results achieved, doubts and advice among runners. You can too launch challenges as well as share their performances on social networks, which allowed the app to be advertised at no cost by its users (runners and cyclists). As for routes, you can predetermine routes and then follow them via the navigator or export them to use them with your own sportwatch.
One of the peculiarities of Strava are the KOM: you go out on foot or by bike, you register and the racing app analyzes your movements, indicating where you are in relation to others who have made the same route. For some time, however, this option has not been free: the analysis has been defined as rather laborious by the company, for this reason a paid plan has been provided. What remains free? You can explore or create new segments, see their results, add photos to workouts and upload them. The user can take a 60-day free trial of the new paid version and then can purchase a subscription for $ 5 (€ 4.57) per month.
Adidas running
It used to be called Runtastic, for a few months has the same name as the German sportswear giant. It presents itself as one of the longest-running and popular apps to start running among runners. It has a free basic version, flanked by one premium of 5 euros per month for the annual subscription. Similarly to Strava, it has the social sharing function that allows you to interact on various channels. Adidas running in fact, it welcomes the “challenges” function to give life to a competition to the death with friends or virtual acquaintances on a specific goal. As if it were a real race in which more people participate, allows the virtual acquaintances to cheer and encourage the user during training. In addition, it tracks the kilometers traveled so as to warn of the need to replace shoes. Compatible with iPhone (requires iOS 13.0 device) or iPod touch (iOS 13.0 or later).
Nike Run Club
An app visible on the market since 2016 and which has experienced exponential growth over the last few months is Nike Run Club: born from the American minds of Nike, the creators have invested in the homonymous social channel through the testimonials from industry specialists and not that they provide everyone with advice for running enthusiasts. Over 18 thousand reviews testify to the efficiency of the app that offers all the tools you need to run better. In fact, you can count on the ride tracking via GPS, let yourself be guided by pre-established races, get involved with weekly, monthly and personalized distance challenges.
Also, reference can be made to coaching programs tailored to their goals together with the cheering of their virtual fans. Nike Run Club uses a blog with a series of trainings scheduled for help runner ttake a gradual path that varies according to the objective to be achieved. They range from short runs, to long runs, to treadmills and so on. In addition, a series of motivational audios (currently in English) are also available to improve the runner’s performance during his performance. The app also integrates Nike e-commerce.
Endomondo
Also Endomondo, free app for Android and iOS, it cuts its share of users at the running pace, becoming one of the most used apps for tracking. It counts on an intuitive and simple interface, offering integration with the app MyFitnessPal, to provide dietary advice to keep during the different phases of training – the basis of good performance. Endomondo is also available in a Premium version, with a monthly subscription of € 3.49 or an annual subscription of € 21.99. Before starting the workout, the app will ask you what type of activity you intend to do (including running outdoors, at home, on a treadmill, pedaling), after which the timer will activate to start tracking your workout. Obviously, you can check the many parameters available on the other apps and keep them in storage as well see progress, maybe sharing them on Twitter or Facebook. Endomondo Sports Tracker is compatible with ANT sensors for speed, breathing and heart rate. You also have the option to integrate it into the Sony Ericsson SmartWatch as a SmartExtra.
Runmeter
The l continuesista of free tools for android and ios. Even if accessibility is the sine qua non condition of platforms and in particular of applications, Runmeter seems to have grasped the teaching to the maximum, presenting itself as an instrument of incredible simplicity and immediacy that decree its workhorse. As in many other cases, Runmeter has the basic functionality free, if you want to level up in terms of performance, the paid version is available, called Elite, which offers various extra features, including integration with Apple Watch on iOS. The subscription starts at € 10.99.
Born for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and iCloud, it turns your iPhone into a training-proof computer thanks to graphs, maps, intervals, laps, divisions, announcements, training plans and more. It’s possible start and stop recording data by pressing on the screen via the remote control of the headphones or with the Stop Detection. In addition, it detects heart rate, bicycle speed and pedaling cadence with the system Wahoo Fitness ANT + system (available separately).
Sportractive Running & Fitness
It has a very high score earned on 40,000 reviews, making it one of the best running apps. Allows you to monitor several sports activities including hiking, walking, running, biking, but the list goes on. It tracks your activities, stores them in memory and helps you reach them set training goals. Before starting to run, remember that, during the registration phase, you will have to proceed with the insertion of your data including weight, height and age.
In particular, Sportractive is able to analyze over 25 sports activities, measure times, running speed, calories burned, altitude and other values through specific diagrams and maps created ad hoc. Of course, it includes the ability to set goals to facilitate their achievement. The application allows the Bluetooth connection for heart rate monitoring and has some voice directions customizable.
Conclusions
As you have seen, the best running apps they can be styled according to needs and have various characteristics in common, including the ability to monitor different sports activities at the same time together with the possibility of connecting the sensors for measuring heart rate via Bluetooth. If you are a beginner, I recommend you download two or three to start getting familiar with the interface and insert it into your routine. Also, another easy tip is to appreciate the free features, only after you have gained some experience we recommend that you move on to most sought after features, as basic free features might be fine for your purpose. Try several, interact with word of mouth and on social networks to understand which is the most suitable for you. Now you just have to start running.
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