App to replace treadmill readings

actresskat
actresskat Posts: 120 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi, I just found out that the distance/speed on my treadmill is probably completely wrong. Anyone know of an app I can download to track my speed and distance without having to purchase foot pods etc? (I have an iPhone 4S) Thanks for your help!

Replies

  • Stage14
    Stage14 Posts: 1,046 Member
    All of the apps that I'm aware of use GPS to track distance and time to figure out your speed, so they wouldnt work for a treadmill. I don't think it's possible for a phone to track that stuff for stationary exercise.

    Why do you think your treadmill is inaccurate?
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    I don't think an app would work. A cheap pedometer might though.
  • actresskat
    actresskat Posts: 120 Member
    Well, I've been jogging at 5.5km speed for an hour and I've been told that an average person could walk for an hour at that speed and distance. I can hardly run at anything over 7.5km speed so everyone thinks my (now old) treadmill is inaccurate.
  • RoyBeck
    RoyBeck Posts: 947 Member
    Your treadmill won't be far wrong.
  • actresskat
    actresskat Posts: 120 Member
    It's just weird though as someone of similar fitness level to me runs at 10-11km speed and my feet would not keep up with that speed. Also my pal (again similar fitness) did a half marathon in two hours but at my current jogging speed it would take me 4 hours to run it supposedly which seems really really long. If so, I'm very unfit as y
  • actresskat
    actresskat Posts: 120 Member
    You should be able to walk a half marathon in four hours. I'm just a bit confused about the progress I'm making.
  • KinoM
    KinoM Posts: 359 Member
    Map out an outdoor running route (using MapMyRun or similar), run it at your normal tempo & time yourself. Divide your time by your distance & you'll get a pretty clear idea of what kind of pace you've been running at. Bear in mind it's easier to run on a treadmill as there's no wind resistance to push against & the belt helps pull your feet back as you're running.

    Your other option would be something like a Nike+ sensor & your iPhone. It'll measure your runs with a footfall sensor, and they're cheap enough.
  • actresskat
    actresskat Posts: 120 Member
    Is the Nike+ any good? Do you need Nike shoes or can you use it with any shoes?
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    Fitness is not the same as speed. Ability to run fast has a lot to do with how you're built. Fitness of course plays into that as well. But, some of us are meant to run slowly over long distances and some are meant to run quickly over shorter distances. And then there are the rare individuals who run quickly over long distances.

    I am a slow runner. I completed my first half in 2:51. You will get faster with time, but you may never be 'fast'. I won't be. I'm hoping to eventually do a half under 2.5 hours but I don't think anything faster is really possible for me.
  • actresskat
    actresskat Posts: 120 Member
    Thanks for your reply - you have a really good point there! Fitness should be the focus and I'm forgetting that. Well done on the significant weight loss and on running a half marathon - I hear its tough!

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