Sunday run
In this weekly column, Android Central Wearables Editor Michael Hicks talks about the world of wearables, apps, and fitness tech related to running and health in the pursuit of being faster and healthier.
My high school running coach told us that music is a crutch.What is he No What we’re told is that adult responsibilities, 40-hour work weeks, and the allure of video games can make it hard to find the time and motivation to run! Nowadays, I’m more than happy to seek out the best-performing apps and playlists to use as motivational crutches.
Below, I’ll highlight the running and step tracking apps I use (or have used and loved) that offer audio motivation, training plans (and humiliations), social motivation, and everything else you can use to get yourself out the door Something else, run at the right pace and for long enough to improve your performance.
My favorite audio motivation apps
I’ll start with the obvious: a good music playlist is the difference between getting in the zone and feeling demoralized on a hard run, out of breath and out of breath. I wouldn’t advocate a specific music streaming app, but most of the big ones have curated workout playlists that match specific heart rates or genres.
Running coaches may tell you not to rely on music, but I think it’s fine if you use it safely – try bone conduction or open-back headphones like the Shokz OpenFit so you can hear your surroundings – and don’t overtrain to accommodate fast-paced songs. I try to curate my own hours-long playlists for different race lengths or training types so that I can easily familiarize myself with what’s coming and not be confused by new popular songs that aren’t to my taste.
Aside from music, you might be surprised to know that Audible is one of my most-used running companions. Whenever I train for a marathon and increase my mileage, after a while the daily hours on the road become dull, and I use that time to indulge in old loves that are fun and non-distracting. My re-listening of the Wheel of Time series has taken me through dozens of runs and post-run walks.
You can’t go wrong with Zombie Run! and Marvel Mobile. The decade-old app originally had a simple premise—virtual zombies would scare you away if you slowed down, or “eat” you if you failed—but it added Hundreds of audio drama missions about post-apocalyptic runner survival.
Most recently, they licensed Marvel Missions, allowing you to team up with Thor, Loki, the X-Men, and other popular heroes. I like using these tasks for hard-tempo and track runs; while Audible is relaxing and can be distracting, these tasks provide brief entertainment to keep you focused, but don’t dwell on it for too long before switching back to music. Long.
Otherwise, if you’re looking for more traditional audio coaching, I’m not very familiar with the Couch to 5K app as I’ve been running 5K+ for decades, but I’ve heard really good things about Aaptiv’s personalized coaching tips.
My favorite training and walking apps
All of the music and coaching apps mentioned above will inspire you once you decide to run. But for those exhausting days, does slacking off sound more appealing? You need some kind of positive (or negative) reinforcement to force yourself to get ready and get out there, whether that’s running or walking.
I’m a fan of tracking systems like Fitbit’s Active Zone Minutes or Garmin’s Intensity Minutes, which give you goals to achieve each week and recommended daily workouts, but take into account specific circumstances and when your body is exhausted. Tell you to take a break. In contrast, daily closed-loop systems like Apple or Samsung tell you to exercise for 30 minutes without stopping, even the day after a marathon, which makes me want to ignore it.
More specifically, I like Fitbit’s hourly activity reminders so I’m not too rigid and sedentary throughout the day. Through Garmin, I can use the watch’s daily recommended exercises to improve my VO2 max, or my body’s ability to convert oxygen into energy. I didn’t like seeing my VO2 max drop during the pandemic, so I followed its recommendations for track workouts and low-aerobic running until I improved my age from “good” to “excellent” by five point.
Unfortunately, you need a Garmin Forerunner watch or a Fitbit tracker to access these tools, and I want to focus on apps that anyone can use for motivation, no matter which fitness watch you own.
I insist on getting out every day, whether walking or running, and getting 10,000 steps (or close to it) every day.Sometimes I feel too tired to run, but once I start walking, I realize Do There is enough energy.If I didn’t, I’d look for an app like Fantasy Hike – a copyright-safe walking exploration into the mountains doom A fire like the Lord of the Rings – making every step, every mile count, even when I’m not running. I just hope it’s not exclusive to iOS.
Walk the Distance doesn’t have fantasy appeal, but the premise of adding up your miles and steps to let you virtually hike the Appalachian Trail and compete with other hikers should give Android and iOS users something interesting to watch. Good motivation.
The same goes for cute apps like Pikmin Bloom, where the more steps you take, the more fellow Pikmin you have on your team, or a more general goal-setting app like Finch, where you can Take care of your pets while taking care of yourself.
Otherwise, I’d say don’t be afraid to do training tracking at low fidelity. This year, I’m using Google Docs to record the number of runs, miles, and steps I complete each month to see if I’m on track to meet my annual goals.not everything need Through specific applications!
My favorite social training app
It’s hard to recommend any best running apps because (A) they all offer very similar features, and (B) which app you choose will depend on which one your fellow runners or walkers use.
Strava, MapMyRun, Runkeeper, Nike Run Club, etc. all have their own advantages in terms of community maps, live clips, leaderboards, coaches, running clubs, etc. But it can be a lonely experience if you choose the wrong app, so I recommend waiting to join a local in-person running club and see what they use.
I love Strava’s focus on splits, which lets you compete with local runners on pace and number of finishes. For example, I was on a recent trail with several other runners trying to become a local legend, and I loved competing with others (and myself) on my favorite parts of the running route because Strava vs. Garmin A partnership was formed to showcase live footage on Forerunner 965.
I can’t say for sure which app is best for you. Some people need to compete against friends (or strangers), while others prefer games or fantasy scenarios that make every mile feel more meaningful. Beginner runners may want more in-depth guidance, while experienced runners will want an AI-based training plan like Garmin Coach based on their fitness level.
In my opinion, the important thing is that you need to find a specific, positive goal. Simply telling yourself to walk or run every day will inevitably lead to you losing motivation or overtraining to the point of injuring yourself.
But if you’re heading to Mordor with your loved ones while working on your audiobook or podcast backlog, you’re already setting yourself up for success! Or, for the more serious runner, aiming for a specific fitness goal (such as the most miles in a Strava set or significantly increasing your VO2 max) is more likely to be successful than running hard every day.