Tag: Running »

Imagine a world that is dominated by runners.  In this bizarre universe, running is not viewed as a method of self torture, but as the most efficient mode of transportation.  It is so widely accepted, in fact, that runners migrate by the flockload where ever they go.  To make matters weirder, these herds of human flesh don't prefer to run in safe areas.  No siree, to the contrary, they live by the motto of "the more dangerous, the better."  This odd parallel universe is the world of Grim Joggers, and many wanna be track stars perished to bring you this new update to the game.

As you may recall, last week our very own Chris Hall gave Grim Joggers a four star rating in its official 148Apps review.  With that fresh in their mind, the developer decided to add some additional content in the form of a brand new level design.  Here is what they have to say about it:

"The update includes a new world called Battlefield Bodybuilding. It has minefields which should be avoided altogether but also pressure sensitive mines which can be "ran through" but not to be landed upon or jumped from. We also have at least one more world we're still working on (it'll be "otherwordly")."

If you are curious what the new level actually looks like in action, check out this trailer below:

All-in-all, this looks like it is a welcome addition to an already solid game.  It is always amazing when developers are willing to support their products well after release.  Which raises the question of this last "otherworldly" update to the game.  Do you have any idea of what might be in the works?  Let us know your theories in the comments!

I make no bones about the fact that it is a scary world out there.  It doesn't help matters any to know that there could be a sicko or nut job waiting around any corner, just looking for an opportunity to pounce on some unwitting victim.  Sure this may be pure paranoia, but that is what my meds are for, right?  Anyway, It has become a sad reality that runners, women especially, need to lookout for themselves.

The problem with running alone is that eventually you are bound to end up in an area that you are less than familiar with.  While protecting yourself hasn't always been easy, developer AquilaCom is making life safer for runners everywhere with the introduction of their new app, RipCord Music Player.  Not only is the software a fully functional media player, but it also is a personal safety device.  Here's how it works:

"Imagine you are out for a jog, walking home at night, or minding your own business sitting in the park or at the playground. You’re lost in thought as you listen to your favorite playlist. Suddenly you are taken by surprise, confronted by an attacker or wild animal, or maybe you fall and are seriously injured... You are in trouble, and need help right away!

You do not have time to fumble with buttons, or launch app’s...  With RipCord Music Player  all you do is pull the plug on your headphones or earbuds, literally just rip the cord right out of you’re iPhone.

Instantly, RipCord Music Player sounds a load alarm and sends an emergency alert message to your friends and family by email and/or text message. This Alert Message let’s them know you need help and indicates exactly where you are (thanks to the built in GPS tracker)." -- VIA AquilaCom Development Blog

What I want to know is why no one thought of this sooner.  This is a brilliant idea that I have no doubt could be a lifesaver.  However, what happens if you accidentally unplug your phone while running?  That could lead to quite a panic.  Also, if you have an iPod Touch, you better pray that there is a Wi-Fi access point available, otherwise the application is not going to work.

At the end of the day, the important thing is your safety; with a pricetag of only $2.99, this app isn't going to break the bank.  If you are the kind of person that likes to go on long runs by yourself or are just looking for an extra layer of personal protection that isn't apparent to the naked eye, give RipCord a look.  Who knows?  On the off chance that the worst were to happen, it could very well save your life.

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Couch to 5K - The popular Couch To 5 K (C25K) Program was originally designed at CoolRunning.com to help new runners ease into the sport, allowing thousands of runners to participate and enjoy one of the most basic human activities without injury or pain. This is one of the more well designed C25K apps in the App Store, having been designed by Felt Tip, Inc. (experienced Mac and iPhone developers). Use this app to train yourself across 9 weeks, starting with very short activities and getting to 5K. You can use it with your own music playlists and it even integrates with Nike+. Voice prompts for starting and stopping can be made with a male or female voice, and includes a built-in music control tab for controlling your iPod functions while on the go. Share your runs with Facebook and Twitter friends, as well. It's like having a trainer run along with you.

Running Log - Some of us just want to track our data and don't really want fancy GPS mapping or a trainer to tell us what to do. For those folks, Running Log may be the ticket, an app that simply lets you record your runs and make notes about them as to effort, duration, intensity, etc. See your stats in a handy report screen, or flip your iPhone sideways to landscape mode and see a visualisation graph of your entered data. Simple and effective for runners who already have their plans and runs in place.

RunKeeper Pro - The granddaddy of running apps, this one tracks how far you went, how long it took, what your pace/speed was, how many calories you burned, and the path you traveled on a map. You can then upload each event to the runkeeper website, for archiving, sharing, and comparing your runs with yourself and others. Runkeeper Pro also includes interval training systems with voice prompts, iPod and playlist integration (start specific playlists when you start running), geo-tagged photo capabilities, time splits, and more. If you want it all in one package, this is the way to go.

Motion Traxx - Far more than some electronica playlists, Motion Traxx is an app that streams the podcast of the same name, allowing listeners to run, walk or work out to music specifically crafted around workouts and BPM (beats per minute) to help motivate, maintain, and cool down a run or workout. In addition to being able to stream the podcasts (no iPhone space taken up by downloaded podcasts), users can bookmark favorite episodes, resume where they left of playback. Bonus content includes an advanced Run / Walk interval routine coached by Jeff Galloway, a respected runner, coach, and marathon enthusiast, and a boot camp style ‘indoor’ workout coached by celebrity trainer Kim Lyons, who starred on the hit reality TV show The Biggest Loser.