running
Latest
Xiaomi and Li-Ning are working on a pair of 'smart' running shoes
Chinese mobile juggernaut Xiaomi is already in the wearables game, but it'll soon equip runners' training sessions. The phone and accessory maker is working on a pair of "smart" running shoes with Li-Ning -- a China-based footwear company with a list endorsers that includes Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade. Each pair will have chips in its soles to track activity, beaming data to a mobile app to keep tabs on progress, analyze form and celebrate training milestones. The tech is being developed alongside Huami Technology, the wearable manufacturer that lent a hand with Xiaomi's Mi band. There's no word on pricing or availability just yet, but runners in China can expect "an affordable price," according to a Li-Ning statement.
Piggybacking robot feeds you tomatoes while you run
We might have a new winner for the "world's silliest wearable" award. Japanese juice vendor Kagome has teamed up with the mechanical artists at Maywa Denki to build Petit-Tomatan, a piggybacking robot that feeds you tomatoes (which reportedly help your "antioxidant power") while you're running. This goofy helper was meant as a publicity stunt for this weekend's Tokyo Marathon, but it's a fully fleshed-out device -- there's even a timer so that you don't clear out your nutritional supply too quickly. While you're likely never going to see any serious athletes donning contraptions like this, it does make the runner's old-school water bottle look a little outdated.
Under Armour spent half a billion dollars on two fitness apps
Under Armour just outed its own fitness-tracking app at last month's CES, but the company seems keen on continually improving its software arsenal. To do so, the Baltimore-based sports outfitter paid $85 million in early January Endomondo: an app for Android, iOS, Windows Phone and BlackBerry that keeps tabs on data from running, walking, cycling and other distance sports. Endomondo also plays nice with wearables from Jabra, Garmin, Fiitbit, Withings and more. But that's not all: Under Armour also announced alongside its Q4 earnings report that it had nabbed MyFitnessPal for $475 million, too.
RunKeeper powers training sessions with Spotify playlists
Most of us like to blast a collection of inspirational tunes during a workout, and with its latest iOS update, RunKeeper is making that a bit easier. Runners who also have a Spotify premium subscription can now access saved playlists inside the fitness app. You'll need to connect the two services first, but once you do, swiping over to your fine-tuned collections and suggested workout playlists is pretty straightforward. Unfortunately, there's no mention of Android users getting the integration as part of future updates. However, RunKeeper says this is the beginning of its foray into music, so perhaps those upcoming tools will cross over.
Gibson's Trainer headphones look to keep runners safe after dark
It might sound odd that a guitar maker is getting into fitness headphones, however Gibson falls under the same corporate umbrella as Philips, Onkyo and other personal audio brands. That being said, it's still a bit strange to see the iconic guitar brand stamped on a pair of on-ears. I was curious enough to give them a shot, and in the process, discovered there was much more to the Usain Bolt-endorsed Trainer headphones than the initial announcement let on. Those are indeed onboard controls on the right earpad, and they sort not only play/pause and skip functions, but also toggle on/off a feature that dampens the sound so you can hear what's going on around you. You can use it to converse with a workout pal, and it's also sure to come in handy when you're coming up on a busy intersection.
Gibson teams up with Usain Bolt for its Trainer fitness headphones
Gibson, a company best known for its guitars, is diving into fitness audio, and it's tapped an Olympic gold medalist to lend a hand. That's right, the company's Trainer headphones were designed with the help of the world's fastest man: Usain Bolt. If you'll recall, Bolt has endorsed products from Soul in the past, but "Gibson understands how to harness the power of music and Trainer will help anybody who cares about fitness reach their potential," he says.
Find out how you measure up with the Official Navy SEAL app
So you think you are in good shape? You run a couple of miles three or four times a week and put in a few hours in the gym doing weight work every couple of days. Well you can now find out just what kind of shape you are in with the Official Navy SEAL Training app. It is a free universal app that runs on iOS 6.0 or later and will offer users the ultimate fitness challenge. The app lays out what levels SEAL candidates must achieve before they are even accepted into the SEAL program for actual training. You will find the same Physical Screening Test SEAL candidates must complete and be able to attempt to finish it to find out how you measure up. To successfully complete the screening so you can move forward you must swim 500 yards using the breast or side stroke in no longer than 12:30, then after resting for ten minutes do a set of at least 50 push-up in two minutes or less, take a two minute break and do at least 50 curl-ups again in less than two minutes. This is followed by doing a minimum of ten pull-ups again in less than two minutes, and then finish the test by running a mile and a half in under 10:30. Those are just the minimum standards. For example the optimum number of push-ups is 90 and the time for the mile and a half run is 8:30. Users can set goals for themselves in each of the challenges. The developers compiled test results from 300 actual SEAL candidates that did well during the testing. Once you set your goals you will see how you measure up against actual USN personnel. The lower the number the better you are doing in the test. Now that you have set your goals, it is time for you to try and complete the test. The Official Navy SEAL Training app provides a countdown and stop watch so you can begin the series of difficult physical activities. As you progress you can record your times and the number of reps you were able to complete within the time limits. Then you can compare those against your goals and the actual SEAL candidates to find out just how high your level of fitness is. In addition, this app provides links to web pages detailing the entire process that one goes through to become a SEAL, training videos, access to SEAL guides covering topics like nutrition, physical training, warfare injury prevention, and a wealth of other topics plus access to the official SEAL training forum. So now is the time to see if you have what it takes. Find out how you measure up and download The Official Navy Seal Training app.
Run to the top of the list with RankRunner
If you are a competitive runner or someone who just runs because you enjoy running, RankRunner is worth a look but it still has some issues. This free universal app runs on iOS 7.0 or later and will give you an idea how your training and race results stack up against other runners worldwide. The app uses an algorithm to determine your ranking against others RankRunner users around the world. The algorithm provides a ranking for every user between 1 and 10,000 with 1 being the very top performance available based on how much you train, the level of difficulty of the training plus your participation and results in official races. Once you enter a profile you can start tracking all your training runs. RankRunner uses the GPS in your device to measure the distance and time of your runs. This information is stored and with the first run you receive an international tracking. In addition to your distance and time, the app includes local weather information, the pace of your effort and elevation increases. As you run in official races those results can also be uploaded and stored to increase your ranking. You can search other runners on the site if you know their names. Users can also apply to join existing groups of runners or start your own group and invite friends and other runners to join you. Once in a group you can share your training achievements and race results with others and see how they are doing. And like other social media outlets, users can follow others and receive notifications about their results. Right now the app appears to be Euro-centric with most of the groups located in European locations and the same holds true for individual runners. However I did identify some American users and would expect those numbers to increase as the app becomes more well known and popular. The normal setting for distance is in kilometers instead of miles, however every time I tried changing the measurement the app crashed. That wasn't the only issue I ran into as I explored the app. RankRunner includes a database of races that is searchable by race name, location, date and distance. It offers past races and supposedly official upcoming races. However, I ran into a problem similar to what I saw with changing the distance measurement. Every time I tried setting a race distance to search the app crashes. I did a local search of Las Vegas and found lots of past races but when I tried to find any official upcoming races in the next year nothing showed up. I got similar "No results" messages when I did the same search in California over the next year and even a search by name for the Boston Marathon. RankRunner has a few software bugs to be worked on but overall I think the app is still useful. Users can track their training, form groups of like-minded runners, share info amongst group members, and keep track of just how they are doing in comparison to other runners. Users can also get additional information about the app and the tools included at rankrunner.com.
Fitbit's new wearable looks like a watch, crams in GPS and a heart rate monitor
It's been a while since we've seen a new Fitbit product, but according to a leak obtained at The Verge, that's because the company's been working on something a little special. The Fitbit Surge is a "fitness superwatch" that houses two must-haves for serious running types: GPS tracking and a heart-rate monitor. Crucially this would mean the wearable can monitor your activity without having to haul around your smartphone. (The likes of the Galaxy Note 4 or iPhone 6 Plus aren't all that well-suited to a jog in the park). The leaked marketing materials also suggest it will priced at $249 and will still be able to monitor all the less intense calorie burning done on stairs and your commute to work. Borrowing from the smartwatch category, the Surge is also promising smart notifications for calls and texts, as well as music controls. According to The Verge, the watch is rumored to launch in three colors (black, slate and tangerine) in the next few weeks, likely alongside the pair of more lightweight Charge fitness trackers - also leaked in marketing materials. C'mon guys, tighten up that security. We've reached out to Fitbit for more.
Sound Off! What fitness apps keep you healthy?
Now that Apple has resolved issues with Healthkit, a ton of new apps are starting to support it. Fitness tracking and health monitoring are becoming huge features that device makers want to take advantage of, and even Google is getting into the game with its own initiative called Google Fit. Are you using a combination of swanky hardware and smooth looking apps to stay in shape? Head over to the Engadget forums and share your favorite health tracking apps.
Garmin's multi-sport GPS watch now talks to your phone
Garmin's GPS watch lineup has had an imbalance as of late; while more modest athletes have had luxuries like color displays and phone integration, you've had to make do with monochrome and old-school PC syncing if you need multi-sport wristwear like the Forerunner 910XT. Thankfully, you won't have to make that sacrifice any more now that the company has launched a much-needed follow-up -- not surprisingly, the Forerunner 920XT. The new watch tracks your biking, running and swimming stats like its ancestor, but catches up on 2014-era tech through a color screen, phone support (including call and message notifications) and advanced data like your running gait and oxygen volume estimates. It should be lighter, thinner and more comfortable than the 910XT, too, so you won't notice it quite so much while you're in the middle of a practice session. Just be ready to pay up if you want Garmin's most capable wearable. The 920XT starts at $450 ($50 more than the 910XT) all by itself, and you're looking at $500 if you want a heart rate monitor at the same time.
Improve your 10K run time with 10K Forever
The 10K Forever app is intended for runners who already are able to run a 10K distance or about 6.25 miles. The goal of the app is to take the users through an eight week training program designed to improve their 10K times and overall fitness. This universal app costs US$3.99 and requires iOS 8.0 or later to operate. It is part of a series of apps by Clear Sky Apps for runners. The others are 5K Runner, 10K Runner, and 21K Runner. Each of these apps are set up to take runners first from being a novice to be able to run 5K, then stretching 5K runners out to 10K and finally pushing 10K athletes out to 21K. Those apps are all available through iTunes. 10K Forever works differently. Rather than extending the distances you run during the training program, the app utilizes a special sequence of warm-up, walking, running at normal pace, and fast running to improve your overall speed. The app breaks down the training into eight individual weeks with sessions set for three different days each of the weeks. As you progress in the training program, the times for segments change. For example in Week 1, Day 1 the program wants you to do a 5 minute warmup followed by a 20 minute run, then a 6 minute walk, and ending with a 12 minute run at a faster pace than normal before ending with a 5 minute cool down. In Week 2, the sequence changes to a 20 minute run, an 8 minute walk and finally a 16 minute faster than normal run. Each segment is accompanied by an audio coach that tells you when to go from a run to a walk and then to a faster run and provides updates as you run like half-way. In the settings you can choose a male or female voice and whether to accompany the voice with distinctive beeps. If the audio coach is not enough to motivate you, the app provides motivational quotes and images to assist your efforts. Users can also earn wins and badges plus share your victories via Facebook, Twitter, and email. The company also operates a Facebook page where users can meet others using the program and interact. 10K Forever integrates well with other apps. The developer claims it is compatible with all running GPS apps. Users can also playback their favorite music while running. Users start their favorite music app then 10K Forever and on-screen controls become available for the music app. I am not a runner so I wasn't able to actually see if 10K Forever really works. However the principles are sound and fit with other training programs I researched. If you have already stretched out to 10K and want to improve your times, give this app a try.
This tiny, bipedal robot can somersault and run faster than a toddler
Those of you with recurring Terminator-esque nightmares of a not-so-distant future ruled by machines won't have to worry much about one robot developed by a research team at the University of Tokyo. The group (which happens to be the same one that created a robot that'll cheat its way to rock-paper-scissors victory every time) crafted a bipedal 'bot called Achires that can run at speeds up to 2.6 miles per hour. What makes Achires so special is that it doesn't actually factor in complex biomechanical factors like the zero moment point. Instead, its creators have a high-speed camera trained on it at all times, and the system uses all that visual data to continually keeps the robot's running posture stable. The end result? A way to get a robot running that doesn't require the sheer computational horsepower that some of its other bipedal cousins do. A few limitations help ensure that the Achires won't race into anyone's night terrors. It's downright tiny, for one -- it's legs are only about 5.5 inches, and they can only keep up that pace for about ten seconds. Oh, and the very camera technology that allows it to run with proper form in the first place means the Achires can't break free of its stage anyway -- you're all safe, don't worry.
Android Wear updates will let you leave your phone at home
One of the biggest gripes of smartwatch ownership is the (usual) dependency on your smartphone; do you really want to carry two devices when you're going out for a run? If you're an Android Wear fan, you won't have to in the near future. Google tells CNET that "several" updates are coming to its wearable platform before the end of the year, some of which will let you cut the figurative cord. Bluetooth headset support will let you put some music on the watch to listen at any time. GPS support will let you map your run while leaving your phone at home, although you'll logically need a watch with position tracking built-in -- in other words, don't expect it to show up on your early G Watch or Gear Live.
Epson dives into fitness wearables with heart and run trackers
How do you know when wrist-worn technology is officially a trend? When a brand best known for its printers gets in on the action. As promised, Epson is launching its first wrist-based wearables, and they're all about improving your fitness. Each line delivers a slight twist on a familiar formula. The Runsense GPS watch range (shown above) can track your running even if it loses signal thanks to stride sensors on some models, and lasts for a healthy 30 hours of continuous tracking; you may not need to recharge for days. The Pulsense line, meanwhile, monitors your heart rate, activity and sleep quality using a blend of optical and motion sensors. You theoretically never have to take the tracker off, although the 36-hour battery suggests you'll be doing that quite often.
New wearable wants to help you run better, smarter and safer
As great as running is for your health, it can also cause you some pain if not done properly -- like a lot of things in life, overdoing it could turn out unwanted results (hello, shin splints). Thankfully, there's a new Kickstarter project which is looking to alleviate some of these issues. Meet runScribe, a tiny sensor that attaches to your shoes and can measure a total of 13 different data points from how you run. These detailed kinematic metrics are then used to provide runners with specific info about their stride, including pace, stride rate, stride length and what part of the foot is being used the most upon touching ground. Moreover, runScribe plans to use crowdsourced data to, hopefully, help prevent any future injuries for people who run avidly, as it'll be able to narrow down some of the causing factors thanks to the data collected by the wearable -- such as high impact forces, excessive pronation, running surface and, yes, bad shoes. Without a doubt, runScribe certainly has potential, let's just hope it doesn't disappoint like some of the once-promising Kickstarters.
Garmin's fitness trackers now help you master your calorie balance
There are plenty of apps and gadgets that track the calories you burn during exercise. But comparing those figures with the calories you're taking in? That's harder, which is why Garmin has teamed up with MyFitnessPal to provide a clearer picture of your energy balance. The collaboration melds the calorie consumption data from Garmin devices with MyFitnessPal's activity and nutrition info to create a Calorie In/Out section on Garmin's Connect page. You'll quickly find out if a long run was enough to offset that big dessert, or if you need to eat more to keep up with your workouts. The MyFitnessPal integration is currently limited to the Forerunner 15 GPS watch and the Vivofit tracker, but all Forerunners and Edge bike computers should support the feature this summer.
MapMyFitness brings coaching and improved post-workout stats to Android
After being nabbed up by Under Armour late last year, things have been relatively quiet for MapMyFitness and its activity tracking app. That all changed this week though, as the outfit has rolled out a totally redesigned version of its Android software with a host of new features. On top of the UI refresh, you can now compare stats with friends from Facebook, Twitter and your contacts list from within. Improved data and mobile graphs make bragging about your progress post-workout a bit easier as well. Route recording received a boost, adding Google Maps 3D tech for navigating the course with tilt and compass functions that update in real time as you run or ride. For MVP members, a coaching option is now built in for a dose of extra motivation. This serves up audio cues according to time, pace, speed, distance and duration goals that you've dialed in. Of course, that voice to keep you going comes at a cost of $5.99 a month or $30 annually.
Garmin's new GPS watch wants to keep you moving on and off the track
Running watches are great when you're headed out for an afternoon of training, but are typically pretty useless when it comes to day-to-day activities. Garmin is looking to change that by combining two of its most popular wearables, the Forerunner 10 and vivofit, into a new device called the Forerunner 15. The device does everything you'd expect from a GPS watch, such as tracking your distance, pace and calories burned during a big run, but it's also meant to be worn all day. Also an activity tracker, it'll encourage you to get up and move if you've been lounging around too long.
Wahoo's new heart rate monitor also improves your running form
Many heart rate monitors can show that you're running quickly enough to get a good workout. However, they won't tell you that you're running properly -- which is why Wahoo has just unveiled the TICKR Run, a monitor that includes its own motion sensor. The wearable tracks not just your heartbeat and calories, but also your stride and overall smoothness; you should get a feel for the efficiency of your running style without having to use a separate foot pod.
