Even more, the app is complemented by a website packed with useful tools. We were also impressed with how Strava connects to a wealth of heart rate monitors, not just the popular consumer ones. In this case, it’s Strava.Ĭhoose the kind of run you want and Strava will map it out for you. But, as with every race, there’s only one winner. We learned two important things during testing: 1) the apps work best when paired with a heart rate monitor, such as a Garmin, Apple Watch or Fitbit, and 2) all the apps we tested are good at what they do there are no real laggards in this pack.

Over the course of several weeks, we tested five different running apps: Couch to 5K (by Active Network), Map My Run (by Under Armour), Pacer Pedometer Premium, Runkeeper Go Premium (by Asics) and Strava. To find the best running app, we tied up our running shoe laces and gave some premium running apps a real workout. “Depending on what you want to accomplish, there’s a running app that can help you track your goal and meet it.” “Running apps can help runners of all ages and abilities keep track of their runs and chart their progress,” says runner Brendan Dagan, CEO of elitefeats, a company that times hundreds of races per year, including the Great Cow Harbor 10K Run, a USATF National 10K Championship race that takes place every September in Northport, NY.

Novice, intermediate and elite runners can all benefit from the data these apps provide. Premium (that is, paid) versions of running apps can include more robust items like training logs and challenges.

Free running apps can also help, offering statistics that help you chart your progress. If you want to run, you need good running shoes and a running watch or fitness tracker to track your time.

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