Reviewed: Nike+ GPS iPhone

by missallen    1 Comment

As with most genres of app, there are hundreds of apps designed for running. Some track your runs, some create training plans, and some simply give tips about running. A fair few of these are pretty useless; however the Nike+ GPS app seems to come out in front. Using the GPS built into your iPhone the app tracks your route, whilst timing it. It has a lot of features, such as the ability to choose “Power Songs” to motivate you at the end of a run, a congratulation from an athlete when you finish and “Challenge Me”, an option to take on your last run by going farther, longer or faster. However, one of the most useful is the post-run breakdown; by going into your running history, choosing a run, checking the route info and clicking “Pace”, the app gives you a run-down (excuse the pun) of your pacing throughout the run using a coloured gradient. Areas where you were going particularly fast are shown in green, which fades into red as you slow down. This coloured route is shown on a map so you can check which areas of your run slow you down the most, and which motivate you.

You can also play a game called Nike+ Tag, which syncs with your online Nike+ account. It has the same basic principles as the playground game, except that to become “it” you have to have run the slowest, shortest distance or latest in the day. You compete against other people that you’ve invited to play, and if nobody runs except you within 3 days the game is cancelled. Nike have put together this video to explain:

The Nike+ GPS app is free at the moment, as it’s the Nike+ 5th anniversary – the perfect time to try it out. Download it here.