Let me be clear: I don’t have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. But I am fairly obsessed with the NEED to know exactly how far I ran, what my pace was, and my total time running. I start the app when my feet start moving, I pause it at stop lights, I obsess about it. I need to hear the app tell me my average and/or current pace while running, I mentally note that pace and see if I beat it during the next time. And I often run the same route so I can see if I beat my pace for each mile or in total.
I used to spend time mapping routes on the computer, and before the websites or awesome map sites existed, I would drive routes to figure out where I’d go running the next day to get the mileage needed for my training schedule. So imagine how thrilled I was when technology caught up with what I wished existed. I was *thisclose* to buying a GPS watch when VOILA! my phone provided me with my dream come true – the ability to track my route with an app.
I’ve tried several: CardioTrainer, Endomondo, and have recently moved to Nike+. I really loved it for a couple of weeks but today – I’m irritated.
After spending half the day taking care of kids and feeling sluggish, I finally got out for the run during my toddler’s nap time. It was a gorgeous day and my first run of the year in shorts. What a treat! After about 2.5 miles, I paused my app at a stoplight (I cannot stand it ticking away for 4 minutes while I wait for a walk signal, thereby making it seem like my pace that mile was horrendous).
Suddenly – POOF! It was on the start-a-run screen. WHAT?! One reason I love Nike+ is that you can pause easily, but to finish the run you have to swipe deliberately. Anyhow, I had a bad signal there, which might have been the problem, so I couldn’t get it going again and went to Endomondo. Ran 0.7 until I got to a restroom and UGH – stopped it instead of pausing since the stop button is literally ON the pause button. A reminder of one reason I switched to Nike+.
By this point I was so frustrated, after more than 3 miles I was starting a run fresh again, with no fun badges from Nike+ to tell me how awesome I was today, and my progress broken up into several runs on two different apps. I wasn’t sure exactly how far I had gone since I had lost that first 2-something, so I went out of my way to go a bit longer.
When I got home, I obsessively mapped it on mapmyrun. Turns out my 9 miler was 9.96. If I had known that, I would have jogged around 0.04 to make it an even 10! (Honestly, I don’t have OCD…)
How was it? Awesome. My Morton’s Neuroma didn’t act up, only some numbness. I had some pubic bone pain. Otherwise, I loved the run. It felt great and I feel more secure for the half marathon in a few weeks!
(Now I’m researching GPS watches again…)
You Signed Up For What?! 