Any good free running apps?

[LadyWithLapdog]

I'm after a basic app: distance and time.

I can't get my head around Strava and Runtastic stops after 2km. I mean it still registers but doesn't tell you while you run. You need to pay for the enhanced service.

I'm not a cheapskate but i want to try before i buy. I don't need anything more fancy at this stage. Any suggestions? Thank you.

Would the Activity app (if you've got an iPhone) do what you want? Or do you have an activity tracker (Fitbit etc?). I think the Nike + Run Club would have what you need - I used this before I got activity trackers. Or Runkeeper possibly?

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have a look at them. I have a cheapo wrist band which is, frankly, a waste of time. It is widely inaccurate regarding distances. I mean the order of showing 3.5-4 km instead of 5!! I should just bin it.

Run keeper is a pretty good free app.

Apps are all different and good at different things, but you would do well to get a tracker watch with gps, hrm, etc. I’ve got the tomtom spark 3, which was £99 from wiggle. It’s great, and has the tomtom app and connects to myfitnesspal, Strava, and dozens more. So you can feed the more accurate data to the app you like best.

If you’re happy to run with your phone in an arm strap or bum bag ten great, but mine just used up its battery well before the end of a run and I was kind of forced to buy an activity watch, but don’t regret it at all.

(That doesn’t really answer your question, sorry!)

Run keeper or map my run?

Thank you for more suggestions. I've downloaded Runkeeper and I'll go out later to test it and see if it does what I want, e.g. a reminder at every km run. My DC will show me around Strava, it didn't look so complicated on his phone. If I get better at running I'll get a watch or look into other, more expensive options. (I don't want to be "all gear, no idea".)

Nike+ Run Club definitely does what you want and is free.

If I get better at running I'll get a watch

To be perfectly honest, if you're new to running then you would be better completely ignoring distance. IMO.

Better to focus on how long you can run non-stop. The NHS Couch to 5K pocasts are free. They don't track how far you run for, they train you to run non-stop for increasing distances.

Once you can run continuously for 30-40 minutes, then I'd start looking at your distance and getting it towards 5k. But if you are new to running, all the training programs focus on how long you run for not how far you run.

I've done the C25K and I'm trying to improve my parkrun time. My wrist band is so rubbish it was underestimating my distance; demoralising when you're just starting out.

I use Runkeeper (free version)

It'll do what you want. Make sure you have your units set to km. Then in settings scroll down to 'coaching' enable audio stats and under 'how often/which stats' select 1km.

Then choose your coaches voice (audio cue) I have the bracing Drill Instructor, but there are 6 to try out to find which you find most motivating (or least 'll show you other useful stuff too, about your splits, the elevation, your pace and your cadence.

Thank you for the step by step suggestion with Runkeeper. It does exactly what I want it to do. The Drill Instructor was... startling! 😂 I'd set both time & distance audio cues and that was a bit intrusive so I'll play around with the settings. Thank you very much.