Trying to improve your fitness? Fitness apps can help you track walking, running or biking distances giving you a benchmark for setting new goals. Several well-designed mobile phone apps and websites help map routes, keep track of distances traveled and check activity over time. Tracking activity can also show how sneaking in extra steps or pedaling during the day for getting to work, meetings or shopping really adds up over time.
Most fitness apps are available free or at a very low cost. Simply find the app that matches your activity, download, and create your online account. When you’re ready to begin your activity, just launch the app, sign in and go. Each walk, run or ride going forward will be recorded on your online account. You can also log in with Facebook and it will post your activity for you.
Here are a few popular options that make tracking simple.
Map My Ride+
(for iPhone):
This great iPhone app for people who bike ($2.99 at mapmyride.com) tracks your route via GPS while you cycle, and shows your route when you’re done. It also displays length, in both time and distance, as well as pace, maximum speed and a few other statistics. And for runners, there is a matching app called Map My Run.
Run Keeper
(for iPhone, iPad and Android):
Run Keeper is a personal trainer in your pocket. Like other running apps, Run Keeper (free trial at runkeeper.com) shows your route on a detailed map, but unlike some, your route can be viewed during your workout, not just after the fact. Using Run Keeper during a walk or hike in unfamiliar territory means you can always refer back to the map if you think you’ve strayed off course. This app also records other handy details, like your pace, average and top speeds, distance and time and lets you post your stats, progress, and goals achieved on Facebook.
For extra encouragement, one of Run Keeper’s options offers audio cues, similar to a personal trainer, through your head phones. “It talks to you while you’re on your trip,” said Emily Pelletier of Bend, who has been using Run Keeper for about two and a half years to keep track of a variety of physical activities. “It will let you know every five minutes – if you want it to – how far you’ve gone and what your pace is.”
Pelletier likens Run Keeper to a personal activity journal, which also provides reminders, helps you to set goals, and even offers encouragement. “I’ll flip on Run Keeper any time I do any kind of physical activity,” said Pelletier.
My Fitness Pal
(for iPhone, Android and Blackberry):
My Fitness Pal (myfitnesspal.com) helps you track the foods you eat, in addition to your physical activity. If achieving weight loss is your goal, try this free app that can be accessed from a variety of mobile devices. The website’s nutritional database helps you to track your calories, which it also compiles and reports to you daily. You can also add friends to your progress updates, for extra support in reaching your goals.
Nike+ Running
(for Android):
From the trail to the treadmill, the Nike+ Running app (free at http://nikeplus.nike.com/plus/products/gps_app/) accurately records your distance, pace and time with a GPS and accelerometer. Extra motivational features make this a great app for anyone who likes to get extra feedback while exercising on their own schedule. Post the start of your run to Facebook and get in-ear cheers from friends for extra motivation along the way.
Drive Less Connect
(website):
For run, walk and bike trips – as well as carpools – that replace drive-alone trips, track online with Drive Less Connect (drivelessconnect.com). This free tool for Oregonians helps people save money and reduces the toll of vehicle miles driven by finding carpool and other options to get to the places they need to go. All users need to do is sign up, start tracking and start saving!
Pelletier, who has used Drive Less Connect and Run Keeper, said the two work well together because Run Keeper calculates her activity distances in the moment and stores the data for later. When she is ready to log in and update her Drive Less Connect account, the data is at her fingertips.
Commute Options promotes choices that reduce the impacts of driving alone. For more information about Commute Options, contact Jeff Monson, Executive Director of Commute Options at 541-330-2647 or visit www.commuteoptions.org.
Annissa Anderson is a freelance writer and PR consultant in Bend.
