Yesterday's run. I think the miles were pretty accurate but those splits? If I'm running that fast, watch out world! At least, watch out women in my age group....
I've been a runner, it seems, forever. I always talk about how running is fun, that I don't ever want to take my training too seriously--otherwise it feels like a job. Normally, I don't track my miles or my times, I just run by feel. But when I'm training for a long distance event, I like to know my miles on my long runs. Knowing that distance keeps me honest plus it gives me the confidence to know I can go that far.
In the past, I always used Endomondo. Endomondo has a great looking interface.
This is from last fall... |
The app was a little quirky--sometimes it would quit in the middle of a run, and I'd have to stop and restart it. Overall, tho, I was pretty pleased with it. I felt that it was pretty accurate, and my split times reflected what I believed I was actually running. But then I ran the Fox Valley Half Marathon last fall. The app started calling out miles before I passed the mile markers in the race. Every mile was shorter than those marked out on the course. Hmmm.
So this winter, I thought I'd try Map My Run. This is a really popular app, and a lot of my runner friends seem to use it. But I'm having even more struggles with this app. First of all, my splits are crazy fast. Come on, I've been running a long time, and I know how fast I run. I'm a 9 minute miler at best on long distances. When Map My Run calls out my splits, I laugh out loud! Mile 9 7:25? Hahaha! You've heard of vanity sizing? Maybe Map My Run employs vanity timing!
The other issue I'm having with Map My Run is that it quits suddenly. Then I have to stop and restart the app. Sometimes I stop to take a picture with my phone and that also makes Map My Run quit. So frustrating!
I could go back to Endomondo...the splits were certainly more realistic...Or....
I'm actually considering getting a Garmin. Normally I love gadgets, but not while I'm running. I think I've talked about this before. The iPhone is ideal for me...all my gadgets in one handy device...music, run tracking...phone. Plus I don't want to be one of these people:
The great thing about those running apps is that they are FREE! But considering all the issues I'm having with my mobile running apps, a Garmin may not be a bad idea. So readers, I need suggestions. I don't need bells and whistles. I just want time and miles, accuracy, and the ability to upload my routes. Something economical. Small, watch-like. And easy to operate.
Any suggestions?
Do you find your Garmin to be pretty accurate?
Have you ever run a race and found your Garmin miles to be different than the race miles?