What's your opinion on MapMyRun?

_rachel_k
_rachel_k Posts: 243 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have two 5K to participate in on July 5th and I have been working out but not doing any actual running. I am looking for a good app to help me track my distance/progress. I have been using C25K while I worked out on the elliptical but I don't know anyone who uses it when they go running. I had one friend suggest MapMyRun but they haven't used it.
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Replies

  • craftytasha
    craftytasha Posts: 22 Member
    The Nike run app is quite good, a bit better than map my run
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    I like mapmyrun, but it's not 100% reliable. The voice feedback is good, and it synchs with my fitness pal
  • grimendale
    grimendale Posts: 2,153 Member
    I've found it to be reasonably accurate and consistent. I do a lot of the same trails regularly, and usually get consistent distances and burns.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    MapMyRun is what I used before I got my Garmin. No complaints here.
    Any of the major apps are pretty much equal across the board. It comes down to more of a preference/what you are used to than anything.
  • WakkoW
    WakkoW Posts: 567 Member
    I use runkeeper now. I have tried both mapmyrun and runtatic. So fed runkeeper is my favorite. I would recommend trying out a few.
  • ZenInTexas
    ZenInTexas Posts: 781 Member
    MapMyrun is ok, but there are better apps out there with more features. Runtastic, Runkeeper, Nike+, Endomondo to name a few.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    MapMyrun is ok, but there are better apps out there with more features. Runtastic, Runkeeper, Nike+, Endomondo to name a few.

    Not arguing - it's a genuine question because my learn to run group is currently having this discussion - what other features are available?
  • musial
    musial Posts: 5
    I prefer RunKeeper or EndoMondo. And both integrate with MFP.
  • disasterman
    disasterman Posts: 746 Member
    I prefer the Nike app but only slightly; they both seem to do the job. I like that the Nike app allows you to easily track mileage for different shoes. I wish it allowed a longer pre-run countdown like Map My Run does - on the Nike app a 10 second countdown is your only choice.
  • girlwithcurls2
    girlwithcurls2 Posts: 2,281 Member
    I'm not sure why, but my MapMyRun GPS is off by .2 miles/mile run. I know this because I tried it out on a track, several times. So I'm never sure if I really did run 5 miles or not. I do a lot of trail running, so I was curious what distance I was covering. I'm not convinced. My sister runs with me and uses Nike + and it seems more accurate. That said, I'm really only trying for a ballpark.

    Oh, and iMO, it grossly overestimates my burn. I'm not in any way convinced that I am burning 945 calories running at an 11:30 pace for 70 minutes. That's pretty slow. It would be nice, but probably not true :grumble:

    ~Curly
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    I'm not sure why, but my MapMyRun GPS is off by .2 miles/mile run. I know this because I tried it out on a track, several times. So I'm never sure if I really did run 5 miles or not. I do a lot of trail running, so I was curious what distance I was covering. I'm not convinced. My sister runs with me and uses Nike + and it seems more accurate. That said, I'm really only trying for a ballpark.

    Oh, and iMO, it grossly overestimates my burn. I'm not in any way convinced that I am burning 945 calories running at an 11:30 pace for 70 minutes. That's pretty slow. It would be nice, but probably not true :grumble:

    ~Curly

    Any GPS apps and even dedicated GPS like Garmin have an accepted error rate.

    (biggest pet peeve as a race director when people complain about the course being too long or too short based on the Garmin :bigsmile:
  • DBoone85
    DBoone85 Posts: 916 Member
    I use Runkeeper...the free version...and I love it....
  • usmcj80
    usmcj80 Posts: 58
    I use a Garmin forerunner but I upload to runkeeper. If I forget my watch Runkeeper is my go to.
  • FancyPantsFran
    FancyPantsFran Posts: 3,687 Member
    I use runtastic
  • raisealittlehell
    raisealittlehell Posts: 341 Member
    I have runmeter- I love it. The GPS is really reliable and accurate and it has a lot of different options. I have heard from others that mapmyrun's gps is off. I ran a 1/2 marathon this weekend and the people around me using the mapmyrun app were saying that it was way off and my gps was pretty on spot with the mile markers they had set up.

    But, its as always a personal preference.
  • soxobsessed
    soxobsessed Posts: 130 Member
    runkeeper is my favorite
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    What? If you're doing a 5k in just over a month, you need to get running, and running out side. Elliptical training is not running.
  • klreiland
    klreiland Posts: 14
    I prefer the Nike app but only slightly; they both seem to do the job. I like that the Nike app allows you to easily track mileage for different shoes. I wish it allowed a longer pre-run countdown like Map My Run does - on the Nike app a 10 second countdown is your only choice.

    My Nike App only gives a 3 second countdown and I can disable it for immediate start if I want to. I really like the Nike app.
  • ManjeetBhatia
    ManjeetBhatia Posts: 16 Member
    I used MapMyRun for a while, tried Runtastic for a week and have been using Runkeeper for a while now. I'm happy with it. I had the free version which is pretty good but got the free upgrade to premium now (Galaxy S5 promo).

    I'd say try them all and see which one you like the best.
  • ZenInTexas
    ZenInTexas Posts: 781 Member
    MapMyrun is ok, but there are better apps out there with more features. Runtastic, Runkeeper, Nike+, Endomondo to name a few.

    Not arguing - it's a genuine question because my learn to run group is currently having this discussion - what other features are available?
    One of the main reasons I switched from MapMyRun to Runtastic was Runtastic has a live tracking feature. And it's the only app I know of so far that does this. It's a nice safety feature my husband and I use to keep tabs on each other while we are out running.
  • _rachel_k
    _rachel_k Posts: 243 Member
    Wow, interesting feedback! I may have to look into Runtastic and Runkeeper. Accurate GPS is something that I think I would be interested in. Maybe if I continue running for exercise I may be interested in other features, but I just want a GPS that works calculating distance and speed, etc.

    Capt_Apollo: No worries! I am aware that the elliptical isn't the same as running. I'm not 100% sure I will be running the whole first 5K of the day. My teammates aren't in the best of shape either so I can see a lot of walking. And the second 5K of the day is more of an obstacle course than a 5K run so I'm making sure that I'm doing strength training in order to not hurt myself too much.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    i've done many obstacle course races, and have found that most people neglect the cardio-endurance factor of it during training.

    you're running/doing two 5k's in one day? you need to be able to run 5-6 miles in one clip, or i believe you will most definitely be walking the entirety of that second race.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    GPS accuracy is just as much a matter of your phone as it is the app .... the only real difference in the apps is the smoothing algorithm they use ... if it gets a signal or not and where each point plots is on the phone.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    Not arguing - it's a genuine question because my learn to run group is currently having this discussion - what other features are available?

    Personally I found MapMyFitness unreliable in terms of both tracking and synching back to the cloud, so lost a lot of sessions when I used it. I also find the website very busy and not particularly usable.

    I use Endomondo and Runkeeper in parallel now.

    Runkeeper - Reliable, although more sensitive to rain than other apps, even when they're used in parallel. That's not a huge issue, I think perhaps two or three runs in the last 14 months have been affected. Decent social interaction and a solid ecosystem of related services that use the HealthGraph spine. Premium version allows for live tracking.

    Endomondo - Huge selection of exercise types, I've found it better for tracking, but calorie estimates tend to be on the high side. Good analytical tools on the website, and with the premium version there is a lot that can be done with tags and various types of cutting up the data. Social integration is good on this as well.

    Runtastic - Again a fussy website that I found unpleasant to use. The business model is a bit odd with lots of upselling. That makes the premium options quite expensive . In practical terms I found this a bit of a battery hog, my phone couldn't last for a full long run when I was using it.

    Strava - Haven't personally used it but it gets a good reputation amongst serious trainers, I understand that the community aspect is very strong.
  • _rachel_k
    _rachel_k Posts: 243 Member
    Capt_Apollo: I know I'm not doing enough actual running training. I was going to start Monday and haven't started yet so early to bed tonight so I can get started tomorrow morning! I'm hoping to be walking most of the first 5K. The courses are also approx 4 hours apart between when the first one ends and the second one begins, that will either help or hinder me.

    brianpperkins: Interesting! I never really thought about that.
  • _rachel_k
    _rachel_k Posts: 243 Member
    MeanderingMam: what do you mean you use them in parallel
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    MeanderingMam: what do you mean you use them in parallel

    I run both on my phone at the same time. I prefer the analytical capability in Endomondo, and I use the coaching from that service, but have a wider social network on Runkeeper and I've got it hooked up to a couple of other things, including MFP.

    The only drawback is that they both access the phone GPS, so occasionally the trace can jitter slightly. I'd also discovered that if both give pace feedback at the same time it can be harder to listen to the one I want to listen to.
  • _rachel_k
    _rachel_k Posts: 243 Member
    MeanderingMam: Gotcha!! I kinda figured that, but wanted to make sure.
  • _rachel_k
    _rachel_k Posts: 243 Member
    Well, I'm not sure how it happened, but I lost 5 minutes on my "run" this morning. I was out of my apartment for 40 minutes but the app had me at 34. I'm not sure if it's because my Background App Refresh was off or not. Either way it said I completed 2.43 km in 34:23 (including warm up) and I averaged 14:01/km. I will plan my rout better so I can figure out the exact distance (I was all over the place, then I ended up home in less time than it took me to get to what I thought was half way so I had to make something up)
  • jason_adams
    jason_adams Posts: 187 Member
    I love the MapMyRun site for planning different routes.
    I use Endomondo on my phone for when I'm running.

    As to your lost time, you may have auto-pause turned ON on your tracking app. If you stop at a stop light for example, it will "pause" your workout. Depending on your route, this could add up to ~5 mins, pretty easily, So 40min door-door would have only involved 35 minutes of running.

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