# Looking for a running app **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 2, 2021, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-running-app/929473 "2021-01-02T00:09:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-running-app/929473/1 "2021-01-02T00:09:35Z")
I’ve started running for exercise again - but outside this time around because I think the gyms are closed (and even if they aren’t, I’m not comfortable going to them yet). The treadmills were convenient for many reasons, among them if I wanted to go for a certain distance, it would tell me when I had gone that far. If I wanted to run intervals, it was easy to know exactly when I’d run 2 minutes or half a mile or whatever and switch speeds. I’m looking for a running app that will do that. Ideally, I’ll be able to say I want to go 30 minutes and have it beep at me when I’ve gone halfway and then again when I’ve done all 30; I’d like to be able to do something similar for distance (again, beeping at me when I’ve gone half of the distance, so I can turn around). I’d also like to do something similar with intervals, both distance and time. I tried one yesterday, but it only worked when I was looking at it. If my phone was in my pocket, it just kept counting down with no signal. That’s not useful. I don’t want to have to keep checking my phone while I’m running. I’d like it to signal me through my headphones. I have an android phone, so nothing iOS only will work for me. And I’d prefer not using something from the apparel companies - but if (for example) the Nike app is my best bet, I will. Does anyone have any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-running-app/929473/2 "2021-01-02T00:13:35Z")
There should be a countdown timer as part of your clock app. Use that. It’s better than using distance as you might have an off day and forcing too much distance on such a day can be detrimental. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-running-app/929473/3 "2021-01-02T00:33:01Z")
That was the another nice thing about treadmills - on those days where I was having an off day, I could just stop and not worry about having to get back to where I started. The gym locker room was always a few steps away. I don’t think the timer on my phone is sophisticated enough to beep at intervals without my resetting it after the end of every period. For example - I’d like to set the app to beep at 5:00, 7:30, 8:30, 11:00,12:00, 14:30, 15:30, 18:00, 19:00, 21:30, 22:30, 25:00, 30:00 before my workout and not futz with the app during the workout. Even for the straight out-and-back, I think that I’d like it to beep halfway and then again when I’ve finished the time that I wanted (I can walk the rest of the way home as my cooldown), rather than setting it for half the time and resetting it before turning around. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-running-app/929473/4 "2021-01-02T00:35:42Z")
Try this. > > > The most customizable HIIT interval timer for workouts at home or in the gym...