Keeping Track July 19, 2010
Posted by The Barefoot MD in : Gadgets, Health, Running , add a commentA little while ago, I met someone that was really into cycling. When I say he was really into cycling . . . it’s an understatement. This guy admitted to me that he had spent close to $20,000 in one year on bikes and cycling equipment. WOW! Was I ever glad the tool of my exercise/hobby came with me out of the womb. However, he did show me one thing that really piqued my interest . . . because I’m a total gadget guy. He has a Garmin GPS sport watch that has a heart rate monitor, plots your course and uploads it to the internet, shows you your pace, calories burned, climb . . . I think it even does your taxes for you. I started thinking of how I could justify the $200 price tag. No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t figure out how to justify it on my in-between-med-school-and-residency income . . . which is, in round numbers, zero. Then it hit me! There’s gotta be an app for that!
Sure enough, here it is: Runmeter
Obviously it has a prerequisite . . . the iPhone, but who wouldn’t love to justify that into their hands? As I’m learning from this incredible app, it’s super smart and does a ton of things while you’re not even thinking about it. One of my favorite features, that I haven’t experienced yet, is that it will post your run to Facebook and when people comment on it . . . Runmeter will read their comment to you! I guess that could either be good or bad . . . depending on your friends. 
The only feature it doesn’t seem to have is the wireless heart rate monitor. This app is definately worth the $4.99 on iTunes.
