Mumsnet Talk

i really need to know who far ive run and how fast i went - at the min im just guessing.

i have an iphone 3 (gs??) the one before the iphone4 came out....what running apps can i get that do the same as a gps watch?

i cant afford a gps watch much as id love one, but i can stick my iphone in my pocket (if that would work?)

there seem to be a lot of apps for this and could do with recommendations.
cheers.

I've got the NIKE + GPS app. Think it was £3-4.
It's reasinably ok, though the last few times I've been out it has lost me and miscalculated my route. Not sure if that's the Phone or the app though.

I use runkeeper (free) and ismoothrun 3 quid.
You see where you've run and how fast you went.

I also use runkeeper and really like it. I have the paid for app (runkeeper pro?) it gives me audio cues as i run (distance, time, pace) and then you can look atbthe details on theur website. It's really encouraging. You can also use your own music as you run which is great. Works fine with iphone 3g

thanks everyone

i will look at runkeeper i think if everyone is pleased with it. i just want something that tells me how far and how fast, accurately-ish!

thanks again

Have a look at Runmeter too...

The last update introduced intervals and target pace/distance/time features too.... So you can say I want to run 5 mins walk 2 mins etc and it will tell you when to walk or run and if you set target pace, it will tell you to speed up or slow down.... Or run fast/jog

It's about a fiver for the paid version and well worth it

Strava -http://app.strava.com/iphone Free.

Tells you how far, how fast, and compares you against the previous times you've run the same routes.

thanks all

DH is laughing at me cos i just asked if the the GPS would work if it was in my pocket...

I use my little ipod shuffle when i run - i was just thinking i would pop my iphone into my zippy pocket in the back of my running tights....would this work? or does it need to be on an arm band?

It'll work - may sometimes be a bit wonky in low quality situations, but likely fine unless you're running in canyons (either real ones or tall buildings)

no canyons! (unless you count my norks as i thunder along...but i do try and have them strapped down!)

going to test it out tomorrow.

I've used MapMyRun quite a bit, but recently started using Runkeeper - would recommend either.

well i tried mapmyrun today and it lost me within the first 30 seconds....

ill give it another go

Mapmyrun has started playing up since the last update so not impressed with it any more. It told me I did 90 minute mile today. I may be slow but I'm not that slow!

Think I may head over to runkeeper and see how I get on with that.

im thinking of runkeeper too. just got to get it downloaded....

Do these work worldwide? Or isit a different app per country? <ponders>

Think they're the same app worldwide. I used runkeeper for the fist time today and was impressed.

It didn't lose me or pause me for 45 minutes and there seems to be a few more functions on the free version compared to map my run.

Thanks, will have a look...

Sorry to hijack the thread but I'm also looking for a running app and had heard of one that chose music for you to match your pace - does it actually exist or did I make it up? I've heard a lot about the couch to 5K app, does that have music built in so to speak?

Yes, there are apps where you put in what cadence you want (steps per minute) and it matches the music bpm to match. Some stream free music at your chosen bpm. Others select appropriate tracks from your playlist (although it looked a bit complicated to get it to calculate bpm for your tracks) and some can adjust tracks to speed them up or slow them down to required bpm value. I haven't actually tried these, as the streaming one I figured would use 3G and battery more than I'd want, and I haven't actually figured out what pace I want/should be running at.