A lot of people might think that running is a boring slog, but the amount of benefits it offers in terms of overall health and getting in shape means it should be a serious consideration for anyone to take up. If it’s still difficult for you to commit or get into the routine, these apps can help you turn it into an indispensable part of your week!
MapMyRun
The first tricky part about getting a running routine down is figuring out where you can run, but MapMyRun pretty much covers that entire concern instantaneously. The app already contains over 70 million routes in total, so finding a few in your area shouldn’t be difficult. This will help you identify the best places to go and the ones which fit the distance you want, and it’ll also help you coordinate when you want to get your run in depending on the location. Do you want to know if your best route is near home, or perhaps there’s a great place close to work to consider? MapMyRun can help.
Couch-To-5K
Okay, so for the average couch potato, a 5-kilometre run might seem just as good as a full marathon, but if you follow a training plan that gradually leads you through it, then hitting that goal isn’t impossible. In fact, the Couch-To-5K app is designed to take a beginner or someone not used to regular running, and get them to run a 5K within a 9-week period. After picking your type of virtual trainer (from relaxed to a tough drill sergeant), you can then follow the training regime that the app sets up for you, and as you go along, you can even use it to track your progress and share achievements with friends in the app’s newsfeed.
Audible
People often feel like running could be boring because there’s nothing to do distract you during the run – which is why music is such an important companion for a lot of runners. If music isn’t quite your vibe, though, perhaps having an audiobook as your running-buddy is a better option? Audible has over 200,000 books in its library, allows you a 30-day trial so you can test out the service, and only costs $15 (around R180) per month for its subscription. So if there’s a public figure’s biography you’ve been curious about or a historical period you want more info on, then learning while running is a pretty optimal use of your time.
Zombies, Run!
If you’re a gamer-type with a vivid imagination, how about turning your run into a zombie apocalypse type mini-game? Luckily some clever developers have put an app together that gives you that experience… without the potential danger of actually being attacked by a bunch of ravenous zombies, of course. When turning on the app ahead of your run, you’ll be tasked with some audio stories, missions, and even objectives to achieve in the game that incorporates your own music, too. Spice up your run by reinforcing your base, collecting supplies, and potentially saving humanity all while you burn calories!
RoadID
If you’re going to be doing road running then safety is a pretty paramount consideration, especially considering the driving habits of your average Joburger. RoadID is probably more well-known for their bracelets that help identify users to emergency services, but they’ve got an amazing app as well. It lets you not only share your location with friends and family, but also sends out an emergency notification if you don’t move for five minutes or if you don’t respond to the app’s notifications. The people you select to recieve notifications don’t have to have the app on their phones either, as notifications are either SMSed or emailed through!
Stock up on all your essential running gear here.