Running is a hugely popular form of exercise in the UK, with almost seven million people (6,822,900) participating in running or an athletics-based sport in 2020.
Whether it’s to train for competitions, a way of keeping fit or to socialise with friends, it’s useful to be able to track your progress and set targets to help you improve.
With this in mind, the experts at Mobiles.co.uk have highlighted the best mobile phone apps available to do just that.
- Strava (available for iOS, Android)
This well-known app for running and cycling is growing at an impressive rate, gaining two million new members a month last year.
Strava lets you track your running with GPS, allowing you to record all the metrics for your exercise, including distance travelled and speed.
Not only that but becoming a Strava member enables you to connect with others in the same community, sharing your routes and maps whilst engaging in a series of fun challenges for the more competitive runners out there.
Your free subscription also gives you access to a number of workouts of varying difficulty to help you train as safely and efficiently as possible.
App store rating: 4.7/5 stars
- Runkeeper (available for iOS, Android)
In partnership with Asics, Runkeeper allows you to track every element of your run using live GPS information on your phone. There are a number of different routines for your exercise as well as personalised plans on offer to help you reach your goals.
When out and about on your run or cross-country training, there is also the option for audio guidance to keep you updated on your progress mid-exercise, which can be easily synced to any mobile phone via Bluetooth and is also compatible with smart watches and fit bits.
App store rating: 4.8/5 stars
- MapMyRun (available for iOS, Android)
Developed by Under Armor, this exercise app provides a comprehensive breakdown of everything you need to know when running. Whilst syncing to your phone’s GPS to track your distance, you gain live insight into the pace of your run, as well as the elevation gained on your route, which you can log in order to track improvements for when you next hit the pavement.
Using this app you have the ability to analyse your heart rate and the zones of your run where these peak and trough, which allows you to tailor your exercise to match your needs and goals.
App store rating: 4.8/5 stars
- Zombies, Run! (available for iOS, Android)
Breaking away from the traditional apps, this product combines the valuable components of exercise tracking with an adventure game to add some fun and excitement to your run.
The audio commentary immerses runners in a world where the aim of the game is to run away from the threat of nearby zombies, encouraging users to push their boundaries to run for their lives. To improve the adventure further, you can incorporate your own personalised music playlist to tie into the exercise, with the added threat of zombies helping you reach new personal bests which are all tracked on your phone.
App store rating: 4.8/5 stars
- Google Fit (available for iOS, Android)
If you’re looking to lead a healthier and more active lifestyle, Google Fit has everything covered. This all-inclusive app not only tracks all the measurements of an afternoon run or early morning jog, but acts as a hub of physical activity, allowing you to input data from other exercise apps to have all your progress in one place.
You also have the option to document the full history of your running or other exercise sessions into a virtual journal to get a clear idea of improvements you’re making to help you hit those targets regularly.
App store rating: 4.2/5 stars
Andrew Cartledge, mobile expert at Mobiles.co.uk, comments: “It was no surprise to see a significant upturn in exercise in Britain last year, with many people turning to running and other exercises to help them get through the lockdowns.
“Our mobile phones are now capable of a number of impressive feats, with GPS tracking making it easier than ever to monitor your exercise and achieve your goals, and a number of free apps available to help you keep all your data in one place whilst making the process exciting and engaging.”
To learn more about other running and exercise apps available, visit: https://www.mobiles.co.uk/blog/must-have-apps-for-runners/