Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Running applications
19 views
Skip to first unread message
Ed Prochak
Apr 22, 2013, 10:04:58 AM4/22/13
to
Since I haven't been around for a while this may have been covered, but here goes.
Have folks been using any smartphone apps? I am using two.
One is just a simple stopwatch app with lap splits and can keep multiple runs (the total just restarts for the next run) It doesn't keep run dates or comments.
The other is called Runtastic. It is supposed to be a multi-sport application, mainly variations of running and biking, but I see it has skiing too and some others. This has GPS so when it can get the satellite signals, it is really nice. It will automatically mark split times (Imperial or metric units). You can then upload results to their server to access on-line. If you have a supported heart rate sensor, it will track that too. With the GPS it shows elevation as well. You can see your pace. elevation, and heart rate graphed together.
Downsides of Runtastic include not being able to mark lap splits. So unless you want mile or kilometer splits, use a watch. When the GPS doesn't work, results can get confusing. (for example a run where the GPS doesn't work until partway into the run, and then fails again before the end). (and GPS on the DroidX sucks battery power big time, so not so useful on longer runs.) Runtastic web site is still beta.
I'm kind of a cheapskate, so I'm not interested in a $300 GPS stop watch. So tell me: Do you use a smart phone app for logging runs? What features do you like and, more importantly, do you not like?
Thanks for any feedback.
Have folks been using any smartphone apps? I am using two.
One is just a simple stopwatch app with lap splits and can keep multiple runs (the total just restarts for the next run) It doesn't keep run dates or comments.
The other is called Runtastic. It is supposed to be a multi-sport application, mainly variations of running and biking, but I see it has skiing too and some others. This has GPS so when it can get the satellite signals, it is really nice. It will automatically mark split times (Imperial or metric units). You can then upload results to their server to access on-line. If you have a supported heart rate sensor, it will track that too. With the GPS it shows elevation as well. You can see your pace. elevation, and heart rate graphed together.
Downsides of Runtastic include not being able to mark lap splits. So unless you want mile or kilometer splits, use a watch. When the GPS doesn't work, results can get confusing. (for example a run where the GPS doesn't work until partway into the run, and then fails again before the end). (and GPS on the DroidX sucks battery power big time, so not so useful on longer runs.) Runtastic web site is still beta.
I'm kind of a cheapskate, so I'm not interested in a $300 GPS stop watch. So tell me: Do you use a smart phone app for logging runs? What features do you like and, more importantly, do you not like?
Thanks for any feedback.
Dot
Apr 22, 2013, 8:41:16 PM4/22/13
to
already have one - over $600/yr up here, depending on provider and
contract. (and they won't let you buy one without a contract)
Battery life on iPhones used for tracking may be as short as 2 to 4 hrs.
If I'm tracking and taking pics, usually 2 hrs is about max. It's died
several times on me. My running gps has about 20-hr battery life; while
my handheld is probably about the same and uses AA batteries so can
replace on a long trip.
I don't use cell phones usually (except for coordinating volunteers on
race or work days), but got an iPhone (and iPad) about a year ago for
trail work, map distributions, connecting kids, etc. The app for
tracking recommended to me was MotionX GPS but some others use MapMyRun
and Gaia GPS and some others. I've played with them but prefer a GPS
because of the battery life.
That said, while my iPhone doesn't take as good pictures as my camera,
it's smaller and geotags the pics, although fairly rough lat/long. My
handheld gps takes decent pictures as long as light is decent, but it
geotags them really well. What I run with now is Garmin 910xt (has
barometric altimeter for better hill data). Sometimes my phone goes
along to take pictures, but I don't have it tracking while I'm running.
When I'm after serious data, I use my handheld and camera.
I can geotag my regular camera pictures later if needed.
--
Dot
"Surrender to the run and allow it to take you, rather than trying to
control or force an outcome."
Ed Prochak
Apr 23, 2013, 9:18:44 AM4/23/13
to
Hi Dot, thanks for the reply.
On Monday, April 22, 2013 8:41:16 PM UTC-4, Dot wrote:
>
> Actually, a gps is cheaper than a smartphone contract if you don't
> already have one - over $600/yr up here, depending on provider and
> contract. (and they won't let you buy one without a contract)
>
Well, the cell phone is paid thru work.
>
> Actually, a gps is cheaper than a smartphone contract if you don't
> already have one - over $600/yr up here, depending on provider and
> contract. (and they won't let you buy one without a contract)
>
>
>
> Battery life on iPhones used for tracking may be as short as 2 to 4 hrs.
> If I'm tracking and taking pics, usually 2 hrs is about max. It's died
> several times on me. My running gps has about 20-hr battery life; while
> my handheld is probably about the same and uses AA batteries so can
> replace on a long trip.
>
>
>
> I don't use cell phones usually (except for coordinating volunteers on
> race or work days), but got an iPhone (and iPad) about a year ago for
> trail work, map distributions, connecting kids, etc. The app for
> tracking recommended to me was MotionX GPS but some others use MapMyRun
> and Gaia GPS and some others. I've played with them but prefer a GPS
> because of the battery life.
Thanks. I'll check those out.
>
>
> I don't use cell phones usually (except for coordinating volunteers on
> race or work days), but got an iPhone (and iPad) about a year ago for
> trail work, map distributions, connecting kids, etc. The app for
> tracking recommended to me was MotionX GPS but some others use MapMyRun
> and Gaia GPS and some others. I've played with them but prefer a GPS
> because of the battery life.
>
> That said, while my iPhone doesn't take as good pictures as my camera,
> it's smaller and geotags the pics, although fairly rough lat/long. My
> handheld gps takes decent pictures as long as light is decent, but it
> geotags them really well. What I run with now is Garmin 910xt (has
> barometric altimeter for better hill data). Sometimes my phone goes
> along to take pictures, but I don't have it tracking while I'm running.
> When I'm after serious data, I use my handheld and camera.
Wow. the 910 does generate some serious data. Probably overkill for me, but it is leading me to some of the other Garmin models.
> That said, while my iPhone doesn't take as good pictures as my camera,
> it's smaller and geotags the pics, although fairly rough lat/long. My
> handheld gps takes decent pictures as long as light is decent, but it
> geotags them really well. What I run with now is Garmin 910xt (has
> barometric altimeter for better hill data). Sometimes my phone goes
> along to take pictures, but I don't have it tracking while I'm running.
> When I'm after serious data, I use my handheld and camera.
[]
>
> --
> Dot
> "Surrender to the run and allow it to take you, rather than trying to
> control or force an outcome."
Okay, now you got me thinking about a GPS watch. Looks like I have some research to do. (It would be nice to run without holding my phone.)
> --
> Dot
> "Surrender to the run and allow it to take you, rather than trying to
> control or force an outcome."
Enjoy, And Thanks for the ideas.
Dot
Apr 23, 2013, 3:47:26 PM4/23/13
to
On 4/23/2013 5:18 AM, Ed Prochak wrote:
>
> Hi Dot, thanks for the reply.
> On Monday, April 22, 2013 8:41:16 PM UTC-4, Dot wrote:
>>
>> Actually, a gps is cheaper than a smartphone contract if you don't
>> already have one - over $600/yr up here, depending on provider and
>> contract. (and they won't let you buy one without a contract)
>>
> Well, the cell phone is paid thru work.
Yea, that changes the economics a lot.
>
> Hi Dot, thanks for the reply.
> On Monday, April 22, 2013 8:41:16 PM UTC-4, Dot wrote:
>>
>> Actually, a gps is cheaper than a smartphone contract if you don't
>> already have one - over $600/yr up here, depending on provider and
>> contract. (and they won't let you buy one without a contract)
>>
> Well, the cell phone is paid thru work.
>
>>
>>
>> Battery life on iPhones used for tracking may be as short as 2 to 4 hrs.
>> If I'm tracking and taking pics, usually 2 hrs is about max. It's died
>> several times on me. My running gps has about 20-hr battery life; while
>> my handheld is probably about the same and uses AA batteries so can
>> replace on a long trip.
>
> Hmm. 20 hours could handle a small ultra. The iPhone is getting better battery life than this Droid with GPS on. A running GPS is starting to look better.
A lot depends on what you want to do.
>>
>>
>> Battery life on iPhones used for tracking may be as short as 2 to 4 hrs.
>> If I'm tracking and taking pics, usually 2 hrs is about max. It's died
>> several times on me. My running gps has about 20-hr battery life; while
>> my handheld is probably about the same and uses AA batteries so can
>> replace on a long trip.
>
> Hmm. 20 hours could handle a small ultra. The iPhone is getting better battery life than this Droid with GPS on. A running GPS is starting to look better.
>>
>>
>>
>> I don't use cell phones usually (except for coordinating volunteers on
>> race or work days), but got an iPhone (and iPad) about a year ago for
>> trail work, map distributions, connecting kids, etc. The app for
>> tracking recommended to me was MotionX GPS but some others use MapMyRun
>> and Gaia GPS and some others. I've played with them but prefer a GPS
>> because of the battery life.
>
> Thanks. I'll check those out.
>>
>> That said, while my iPhone doesn't take as good pictures as my camera,
>> it's smaller and geotags the pics, although fairly rough lat/long. My
>> handheld gps takes decent pictures as long as light is decent, but it
>> geotags them really well. What I run with now is Garmin 910xt (has
>> barometric altimeter for better hill data). Sometimes my phone goes
>> along to take pictures, but I don't have it tracking while I'm running.
>> When I'm after serious data, I use my handheld and camera.
>
> Wow. the 910 does generate some serious data. Probably overkill for me, but it is leading me to some of the other Garmin models.
> []
I'm one of those kids that grew up with topo maps decorating my walls.
Dot
John Hurley
Apr 23, 2013, 7:40:34 PM4/23/13
to
Ed:
# Thanks for any feedback.
Don't sweat the details just get out and run ... for me any kind of
timex ironman is more than enough ...
Just get out and run and don't worry about measuring anything except
"how many days a week" and approximately "how long" ...
All the rest of the stuff ... it does not really matter ... just my
opinion.
# Thanks for any feedback.
Don't sweat the details just get out and run ... for me any kind of
timex ironman is more than enough ...
Just get out and run and don't worry about measuring anything except
"how many days a week" and approximately "how long" ...
All the rest of the stuff ... it does not really matter ... just my
opinion.
andrewl...@gmail.com
Apr 24, 2013, 11:56:27 AM4/24/13
to
I am one of the developers of Gaia GPS. I'd be happy to give out a free few copies to anyone that wants to try it out - we get a certain number of promo codes Apple lets us give out each release.
People typically use our app for hiking, trail running, and other things where you need offline maps. It will record runs and display everything nicely on the map though, and I'm curious how we might change the app to better suit runners. We have thought about building a running app, since it would use much the same code as Gaia GPS. A couple of us are avid runners.
Regards,
Andrew
People typically use our app for hiking, trail running, and other things where you need offline maps. It will record runs and display everything nicely on the map though, and I'm curious how we might change the app to better suit runners. We have thought about building a running app, since it would use much the same code as Gaia GPS. A couple of us are avid runners.
Regards,
Andrew
steinbej
May 6, 2013, 10:08:19 AM5/6/13
to
On Monday, April 22, 2013 10:04:58 AM UTC-4, Ed Prochak wrote:
> I'm kind of a cheapskate, so I'm not interested in a $300 GPS stop watch. So tell me: Do you use a smart phone app for logging runs? What features do you like and, more importantly, do you not like?
Yes, I'm using Running Log. It's simple. Let's me record what I did on any day and how much. I can enter a run as "hill work", "speedwork", "long run", "race", etc. I can enter how much by time or distance or both. I can add multiple runs for each day. And I can add notes of free text, where I often track injury status or weight status, etc. No GPS, no sync'ing to cloud for review/analysis/download of data, just keeps record of activity.
> I'm kind of a cheapskate, so I'm not interested in a $300 GPS stop watch. So tell me: Do you use a smart phone app for logging runs? What features do you like and, more importantly, do you not like?
I also have RunKeeper which does have the GPS stuff, calculates pace, and has more features, but I rarely use it.
I'm using my iPhone. I don't want extra devices like GPS watch. I just want one device, my cellphone, clipped to my hip serving every purpose and that's it.
-- Josh
0 new messages