5 top running apps

We are all busy ladies and many of us keep our lives on our smartphones – budgeting? Cooking? Further education? Dating? Keeping fit? There’s an app for that! Yes, there are apps for everything now and that includes keeping track of your workout or helping you with motivation. Here then are the top five running apps to get you lacing up your shoes and out the door to pound the pavements:

#1 NIKE +1 

Best for……those with a competitive streak!

Available for: Android ,  IPhone and Apple Watch 

Price: Free

Nike+ keeps track of your pace, distance, calories burned and more. As it links to social networks, your friends are all notified when you head out for a run and they know what your performance is so they’ll know if you’ve been slacking and you can compete against each other for the longest distances or the fastest times.

 

#2 10K RUNNER

Best for those….just getting used to running!

Available for: IPhone and Apple Watch 

Price: Free & $ 3.99 for full package

This app will take you from the couch to 10k in 14 weeks using a walk-run programme which builds to a solid 6.2 miles by the end. Similar to the famous “Couch to 5k” this app can guide beginners who are just getting into running to improve without burning out – and it requires just 3 workouts per week!

#3 MAP MY RUN 

Best for… exploring

Available for: Android , IPhone , Apple watch and Windows Phone 

Price: Free

MapMyRun allows you to plan your training route out as well as to keep track of your stats, which is great for the directionally challenged among us. It’s most interesting point is that you can see routes which have been shared by other users to get inspiration to shake up your running route in your own town or to explore a whole new city the healthy way when away on a business or pleasure trip.

#4 SPOTIFY RUNNING

Best for…music addicts

Available on: Android , IPhone and Windows phone 

Price: Free. To escape the ads go premium for $9.99 a month.

Spotify running creates playlists based on the tempo at which you run – just click play and the app picks up on your pace and sets music accordingly. Perfect for those who need a soundtrack to their lives, or even just to their workouts!

#5 ZOMBIES RUN

Best for…runners who don’t like running

Available on: Android , Iphone and Windows phone

Price: Free on Android and IPhone, $1.99 for Windows phone users with in-app purchases on all OS to access extra missions.

Find running boring but really need to get in shape? Zombies Run is the app for you! As you run, you listen to an adventure story in which you are the main protagonist and during which zombies could pop out to chase you at any time – be ready to make a run for it! With 33 missions for free and a cool 120 in total this app makes running exciting again.

Written by Paula Clarke