Tracking my runs is something I obsess over. Not because I am in some sort of Olympic training program but I think it helps to keep me accountable and I take pride in my steady, though slow, progress.
Over the summer, Runkeeper began to give me fits. My GPS would stop tracking as soon as I woke my screen up. I would run 5 miles and have Runkeeper tell me I went half a mile at a pace of 32 miles per minute. I tried changing the sleep settings, nothing seemed to help.
Reluctantly, I tried a few other aps. Map my Run has too many advertising features and it seemed like the most useful stuff was a premium upgrade. I settled on Samsung Health. It gives me all of the useful data which for me includes, current pace, average pace, distance and duration. You can also monitor cadence and elevation, which isn’t available on many free aps.
My biggest complaint is that I find the interface difficult to use when I am actually running. Runkeeper has that tacky orange and blue but easy to read screen. I have a tendency to think I am running faster than I actual am so a visual reminder keeps me on pace. Yes, I am one of those old ladies who runs with her phone. What if I need to make a phone call? What if my kids have an emergency? What if I need to send a cell tower ping for my last known location so the FBI can track me? What if I see the perfect sunrise and need to take a photo while being kidnapped?
Running with your phone presents some difficulties. In the beginning of my running journey, I would just hold my phone. After one race in particular, I developed a neural cyst I believe from squeezing my phone in my efforts to break the sound barrier.
Arm bands do not work well for me. Like many runners, I have spindly little arms and every arm band I tried wound up around my wrists. In addition, I am a fiddler, it is too difficult for me to navigate spotify and my running ap while staring at my under-developed bicep.
A simple hand held holder works best for me. I can still take a photo when I unstrap the phone, it’s a little clunky but much easier than trying to fish my phone out of a slot type holder.
I am going to work on toggling my settings for Samsung health, the ap provides a lot of data which is great to review after a run but I need to find a away to make it more user friendly whilst running.
