We saw a week ago how the iPhone could help you keep your (good) resolutions at the start of the year. And among these, there must certainly be the following: “reduce sugar”, “get back into sport”, “prepare for the return of sunny days and summer swimsuits”, etc.
As part of our weekly files, here is an update of the one dedicated to sports apps. One, two, one, two… Here we go!
Most of the applications presented here are free, paid ones are mentioned as such.
For running (and other sports!)
Adidas Running
Here is one of the references of the genre. GPS tracking, statistical analysis (height difference, top speed, average speed, distance traveled, etc.) everything is there. The application is pretty, in French and very regularly updated. It also has its Apple Watch extension to retrieve heartbeats.
A voice comes regularly in the headphones to tell you where you are (duration, distance, speed). The app is almost infinitely configurable. Training, increase in difficulty, you do as you feel and on arrival, all you have to do is analyze or admire the route on maps or graphs (speed, elevation).
It is possible to choose your discipline from around fifteen sports, download training plans and the Apple Watch and heart rate monitors are supported with training zones in terms of heart rate.
All your performances are archived and can, for those addicted, be synchronized with the website.
Runkeeper
Runkeeper is, as its name suggests, an application that you can use when you have put on your sneakers to go jogging or running, whatever you want to call it. This does not prevent you from using it for bike rides, rollerblading and even for cardio classes on an elliptical bike. All this is configurable. It uses a principle that we will find in several applications in the rest of the post: GPS tracking and voice guidance while supporting the Apple Watch! Indeed, thanks to the GPS chip contained in the iPhone, the app will be able to faithfully transcribe the journey, how long it took and monitor progress, past records and progress (distance, speed).
Of course, it is possible to run to music and a voice provides information on the performances. Take a photo while running, it will be automatically geotagged… No more excuses to take breaks! I won’t tell you more and let you try it, because this application, which in my opinion is one of the best of its kind, is free.
Strava
This is one of our favorite apps for running or cycling. Like others, Strava allows you to track your activity, measure speed, distance traveled, number of calories burned, etc. GPS tracking of the route is also included, but that’s not what is most interesting.
Indeed, in many places in France, Strava users have created sections. On each section, you can discover the best times and compare your performance, and thus know where you stand. the app also offers small challenges such as running 10 km in January. We can also compare ourselves with our friends. It is also this social side of Strava which is particularly interesting.
Other alternatives
Daily activity!
Moving isn’t just about doing sport, it’s also about preferring to walk instead of taking the metro for 2 stops, it’s also about preferring to go up the stairs rather than taking the elevator, etc. Finally, moving can also mean being active for a while during the day on a regular basis, without necessarily being a great sportsman. The following apps will help you maintain regular fitness activity.
Fitbit
Fitbit is one of the manufacturers of bracelets and other connected devices allowing the calculation of energy expenditure and other parameters of wearers. Associated with its devices, the accessories maker offers an iPhone application allowing you to track your activity. For owners of iPhone 5s and later, no need for a bracelet! In the app we find in graphs, but also in values, the number of steps per day or hour by hour, as well as the level of activity: light, moderate or intense. Fitbit also allows you to track your running outings. The app is also simple and quite pretty.
Fjuul
Fjuul has the merit of working on iPhones without the M7/8 sensor. As soon as it is launched, the app will make itself forgotten and scrupulously count all the steps and then transform them into points. To try to be as fair as possible, Fjuul will use the iPhone’s sensors to evaluate the intensity of the effort and award even more points.
Obviously, in order not to miss anything, it will have to continually run in the background which has, let’s be honest, a slight impact on the autonomy of the iPhone.
Of course, counting points wouldn’t be of much use if there wasn’t a means of comparison. First of all, it is possible to set a daily goal. You can choose to take it more or less slowly, to compensate for excess food (!), or even to measure yourself against yourself or the average of other users. Then, you can compare your score with that of your friends and believe me, in the editorial office, it’s a lot of fun for us to see, at each moment of the day, who has the highest score. For those looking for a way to force themselves to move a little more, Fjuul may be just what you need.
Fitness
Nike+ Training Club
Once again, it is a sports equipment manufacturer that offers a quality application. In this app in French, it’s a real coaching program that Nike has decided to offer, with videos, advice and everything to get you back in shape in less than a month.
7 Minute Workout
Even for those who don’t have time, there are no more excuses, 7 minutes a day is enough to get in shape. This app offers a series of varied exercises to do in just a few minutes every day.
Simple to implement and the program should be sufficient for those who want to do a little exercise every day, but who don’t necessarily have a lot of time to devote to it.
5 Minutes of Pilates
After 7 minutes of activity, here is 5 minutes of Pilates to improve flexibility and strength of the body. Why not alternate the two?
5 Minutes of Pilates includes a whole series of well-detailed exercises, requiring almost no accessories. The app is free, but a paid subscription offers programs over several weeks or even months.
In the same collection, you will also find:
Abdominals
Strengthening your abs is very difficult. But I found this app that might help you. The principle is simple, it offers a list of daily exercises of a few minutes each. The French app offers no less than 100 different exercises. No more weariness and hello rock-solid abs.
Here is another app which will allow you, in its basic version, to create a real program over one month. Many videos are available there. Level 1 is free, however, if you want to go further, you will have to checkout. The same thing exists for the pectorals. The fact that there are two apps is not an excuse not to try one or the other.
On the same principle, try:
Not just during exercise
Heart rate measurement
Because a good athlete knows how to monitor his heart rate and because the iPhone is able to tell you a lot about it, here is an application that measures heart rate using the photo flash on your iOS device:
There you have it, you no longer have an excuse not to take up sport this year with the iPhone and a good dose of willpower!
Happy New Year to everyone once again!
By: Keleops AG
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