We have selected several trending fitness apps, which not only track and record your exercise routines but also boost your motivation by integrating social media. Featured: Runkeeper, Strava and Zwift.
Runkeeper
Runkeeper fits a wide range of training programs, including strength training, but is optimized for runners, walkers, and hikers. Although its live stream tracks most (but not all) of the same variables as Endomondo, and it shares the same routing and social networking features, it probably holds an edge over the latter when it it’s about setting personal goals when you’re a beginner. Runners can choose from several categories, such as “Run”, “Learn to Run”, “Get in Shape” and “Lose Weight”, when designing their training program. Each of these categories was created with input from professional running coaches. Do you want to run a 10 km? Runkeeper, which is owned by Japanese shoe company Asics, offers three different run preparation programs to help you achieve the results you want. It also syncs seamlessly with other general health tracking apps like MyFitnessPal (reviewed earlier in this article) or wearables like Fitbit, just like the most popular apps in this category, including Endomondo. Free for the basic version; $13.99 monthly or $54.99 annual for premium features; offered in French and English.
Strava
In Swedish, Strava means “to strive” and, as such, is aimed at intermediate and elite level athletes. “It is more intended for people who are already motivated,” underlines Mr. Le Bire. These individuals have experienced the phase of encouragement and preparation that beginners need. Today, running or cycling is already an integral part of their lives. In its most basic form, Strava offers the same tools as Runkeeper and Endomondo – tracking speed, duration, calories, GPS mapping, and more. – but given that it targets elite athletes more, its social media component is more competition-focused. (Literally, in some cases, it encourages competition between users taking the same routes.) After the workout, your results are automatically pooled with those of other users, from which the app generates leaderboards and crowns a mountain king or queen. More advanced stats, graphs, and features are only unlocked with the higher version, like Suffer Score, a popular feature that rates the difficulty and intensity of your workout in concert with a heart rate monitor. Although aimed at more experienced athletes, Strava can still prove a boon for relatively active people who have just temporarily left their training regimen, allowing them to get back on track and find a new goal. Note that this app has been criticized in the past for its overly cavalier attitude towards user data privacy. Therefore, trust the settings to make sure you are comfortable with the information you share. Free for the basic version; $6.42 monthly or $76.99 annual for premium features; offered in French and English.
Zwift
As Mr. Le Bire points out: “We live in a country with long winters, and all these applications that we have talked about are designed to be used outdoors. As our winters are difficult, many people are at risk of giving up. Zwift fills this gap by giving runners and cyclists an interactive indoor training experience. It connects a treadmill or one of the newest smart bike trainers to your computer or mobile device using Bluetooth or Ant+. This visually rich app then functions as a multiplayer game, allowing users to compete or train with friends or even professionals in various 3D virtual worlds. It is perhaps the closest experience to a real race in the Alps or in the Mayan jungle and its ruins. Setting it up can be a bit tricky, so make sure you have the gear you need before you commit. Note that if you don’t have access to one of the new smart bike trainers, several older models will do just fine with the addition of a speed sensor. Zwift took the cycling world by storm when it launched its bike version in 2015. Today, there is even a professional esports cycling league that relies on this app. The runner version of Zwift may only be a year old, but it already has thousands of followers. For its efforts, Zwift was recently recognized by Fast Company magazine as one of the most innovative companies in the sports industry. $18.99 monthly
