Ok I thought I would review my latest App Store purchase, Run Keeper. Its a GPS based training device designed with runners in mind. I do a little running, not much maybe 30k a week on average, I'm no expert or am I into it that much, however the app seemed appealing so I thought I would fork out the 12 bucks for it and try it.

The main features of the product are :-

Map your runs using GPS in Google maps on a personalised web page
Tracks speed and pace
Tracks distance.

This product will only work with 3G iPhones.

Ok so here goes. I set ou ton my first run with Runkeeper yesterday just to test it out. My usual 5k or so around the local oval was an ideal test run, as it just a short jog to get a feeling for the device working.

First up open the App by clicking on it, you will then be presented with a initial screen asking you to input an email address and a password, this is used to track and log your runs at the end of your session should you want to. Once that has been completed you will be presented with the actual screen that is used to start and stop your session.


The program will then start to report, several things which are of interest to runners, speed, pace and distance. They are all displayed and updated in real time, although I just used my arm band and let it do its thing until the end of my exercise. The app must remain open during your activity, however you can also listen to your ipod part of the iphone whilst using it.

The program also gives you a graph for every minute of exercise you have completed, showing average speed and pace for that minute, something that is handy to see where in your run you hit a low point.

Once you have completed your run, just hit save and your information will be saved to the device and also uploaded to your personal webpage, this time giving you a map showing the route and KM/Mile markers along the way.




All up this is a great way to track, runs, bicycle rides and even walks. It gives you a pretty accurate picture of how your performing on your activities, the big plus for me is that I can se if I am improving, I can compare my performance for say a morning run to an evening run. I can compare how fast I am on one route to another of the same distance.

There are a few things that I would have liked to have seen in the App, it would have been awesome if it could have pulled in data from the weather app and recorded the weather against each activity, as again the weather has a bearing on sports performance, also the ability to out put a file that is Google Earth compatible. Maybe these are things that will appear in future releases.

But for now I am very happy with how it has turned out and for 12 bucks its something I will use more than Super Monkey Ball.

My score 8/10

There are also pictures of the app in action on the blog, sorry hope no one mind but I couldn't be bothered redoing the pics for here

durxmeister: iPhone app review Run Keeper

Nice review.

I saw this App online before it was available and thought that it looked exactly like what I needed. I really like running but I'm not that great at it and this could potentially provide all the feedback needed to analyse my weaknesses etc etc etc.

My usual run is a commute into the Melbourne CBD- how does Runkeeper handle pauses and things (for traffic lights and such)?

Great read, seems the leaked Nike+ (for iPhone) has a decent competitor. Out of interest do you recommend the arm band you use with your iPhone and do you have a link to it? How smoothly does it support bicycle rides or does the interface imply neither.

It handles pauses very well, if a call comes in the timer stops, you can answer the call then when you re-open the app just hit start again on the timer.

You can also pause the unit for traffic lights, breaks etc.

It seems that the nike version for iPhone was a fake leak, for 12 bucks got to b worth a look. It will support bicycle rides or walking for that matter, so all good on that front.

As far as the armband i use its just a cheapo ipod touch armband i picked up from jb ages ago.

Let me know how you go.

I also did a route today to test out the mapping facilities a bit more, roads, parks and some streets with over hang roofs to test the strength of the gps signal, again all good.

Although one thing that would have been good to have known was elevation as todays run was pretty hilly

If anyone is interested in GPS exercise software have a look at iTrail, its only $4 and its got some pretty nifty features similar to the app discussed above:

You can set how often you want a GPS point read for your mapping 10, 20 .... 1 min
You can export the data from your iphone
Gives the speed and distance in real time
And plots your speed vs time, as well as distance vs time

Its highly rated on the store, and I've found it to be pretty good too.

Another good one, which is potentially better than iTrail is Trailguru.
Trailguru is free and has a better website from what I've seen.. actually displays speed and altitude graphs etc (unlike itrail which only shows them on the iphone)

Only problem with Trailguru that I've found so far is that it doesn't have a screen lock function like itrail, so could cause problems and accidental pauses if kept in your pocket like me.

I have trailguru and itrail and each has it's good points.

hahaha u say 30k isnt much?

i do 15k and i feel like thats alot!