There are too many running apps, and it makes it impossible to find the best one

Date:
Sun, 15 Aug 2021 06:30:55 +0000

Description:
With countless running apps available to download, its hard to find ones that are suited to specific needs.

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Search running in the App Store or Play Store and youll find hundreds of
apps. There are apps for pairing devices, apps for logging your runs, apps
for comparing your distances with others, even apps for gamifying your workouts. Where am I? (Image credit: End to end)

Column number: 12

Date written: 12/08/21

Days in: 165

Current location: Afton, OK

Distance traveled: 649.36 miles

Distance left: 1628.64 miles

Current tracker: Polar Vantage M2

If youre looking for a running app, then, youre spoiled for choice. But no
one will ever simply say to themselves I want a running app. An app for what, exactly? The possibilities are almost endless.

Im in a bind. I need an app to help me retrain after an injury, but I dont want a generalized running app, because Ive already got too many of them, and Ive tested loads in my quest to run the entirety of Route 66 in two years .

Its impossible to know if theres actually an app out there that fits my
needs, because there are so many jack-of-all-trades platforms. Its made me realize that there are far too many generalized running apps out there, and maybe not enough for specific tasks. Running on empty

As detailed in my last running column, Im recovering from a foot injury , but in less than five weeks Ive also got a half marathon that I need to train up for Im going from zero to 13.1 (or 21.1 if you want to be all metric about it) in a month.

Thats a totally plausible goal: when I started writing my running columns at the beginning of the year, I ran my own half marathon without training for it just to prove to myself that I could. But it was tough going, and I turned in a pretty poor time compared to actual organized half marathons Ive participated in.

For my upcoming attempt I decided to look for online training plans, and via
a quick Google search I found a few options that promised to help me build up to the full distance in a month. But these seemed designed for people who hadnt run much before, but who also had loads of time on their hands, and neither of those things is appropriate for me.

But while I was looking up at my computer for a training plan, my phone made
a little ping - it was some game begging me to play again after a whole 24 hours away. And thats when I realized that my phone, and its apps, could be the driving force I need. Run, Zombies is a way of making workouts fun by... imagining a horde of flesh-eating ghouls is hot on your heels. (Image credit: Run, Zombies!) Runny business

What I was ideally looking for was a training app into which I could input my running details and training goal (half marathon, in this case), which would then tell me what kind of workout Id need to do each day to hit that goal. Even more ideally, Id then report my actual performance, and the app would adjust the predictions and plans accordingly.

Being a tech writer and specifically a tech writer writing about running
apps I didnt just download one or two apps, but filled a whole screen on my phone with a selection, ready to try out. However, not one of them provided what I was looking for.

Many of the apps let me record my height, weight and other personal details, but then just put me on some generic plan that I couldve found online. Slightly worryingly, all of these random services now have my personal
details and I didnt even use the apps for running.

There are plenty of paid apps out there, though what you actually get for
your money in most cases wasnt clear and Im too poor to afford some regular subscription, especially if I dont know what Im paying for.

After testing dozens of apps, I felt like Id just seen the same platform in different skins none had provided me what I was looking for.

Thats not to say theres no such thing as an in-depth marathon-planning app; I just didnt find it. And thats the problem. Too much of anything

Search running in the App Store or Play Store and youll find hundreds of different apps. There are just too many running apps out there and if you
just want a simple way to log your exercises or track your progress, its impossible to know which one is right for you, or even what they all do.

And if thats the case for me a seasoned runner and tech journalist who has some idea what to look for then a novice runner who just wants a virtual companion to help them learn how to run, will be in the deep end.

With far too many lookalike generic running apps, it feels like youre
drowning in options. And if, like me, youre looking for something specific, its like looking for a needle in an app-store haystack.

So whats the solution? Well in a perfect world wed zap out lots of the filler options, but in due course we probably wont need to. With tech and exercise devices getting smarter and smarter, its likely that all the tools and features I, or anyone else needs, will get introduced into the popular apps, or wearable tie-in apps.

Training modes are fairly smart already, though not quite enough for what I need. Before long though, Im sure Ill be able to program in the exact
training schedule that I want. Its just a shame that, until then, the running app situation is so confusing. Turns out running with a camera phone has really helped me focus



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/there-are-too-many-running-apps-but-also-far-to o-few/


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