Or, you enjoy breaking a sweat but don’t want to destroy your body in the process. You also don’t mind listening to an up-tempo playlist or using a fitness tracker to monitor your heart rate. If the latter describes you, you’re in luck. These gadgets are just what you need to make your running workout just a little bit better.
1. Smart Running Shoes
There are several companies that have released smart running shoes over the last several years and while running shoe technology hasn’t advanced too much, options are available including the Under Armour HOVR Sonic 3 and Xiaomi Mijia.
These smart running shoes include sensors that can log your run data and send it to your smartphone via Bluetooth. This means you can leave your smartphone and fitness tracker or smartwatch at home and run with nothing other than the shoes of your feet, and still be able to track distance and cadence.
So throw on some smart running shoes, download an app to simulate being chased by zombies, or one of the apps dedicated to playing running music, and you might find yourself breaking land speed records. Ok maybe not, but you’ll take your running to the next level!
2. Bone-Conducting Headphones
Bone-conducting headphones might sound like something that should come with a warning label, but rest assured, these non-invasive pieces of technology couldn’t be safer. In fact, because of the way they operate, these headphones might save your life. Seriously.
Bone-conducting headphones like the Shokz OpenRun work by resting on your cheekbones rather than being inserted into your ears. Rather than vibrating into your ear canal to pass audio to the eardrum and then to the cochlea (the receiver in your ear), the vibrations from the bone conduction headphones are sent directly to the cochlea, bypassing the eardrum altogether.
While bone-conducting headphones might not provide the same level of audio acuity offered by in-ear headphones, they do allow you to hear things in your environment, such as speeding cars, zombie stampedes, and other hazards that runners might want to avoid.
3. Heart Rate Monitors
If you’re a runner, it can be extremely beneficial to monitor your heart rate to determine how hard you’re pushing during each run. If you want to get stronger and faster on your feet, you will need to run in your ideal heart rate range to build speed and endurance. A heart rate monitor can help you hit the right zones for a great workout every time.
Multipurpose fitness trackers that record your heart rate might be useful in providing a ballpark baseline figure, but can you trust heart rate tracking apps to be as accurate as medical devices? Especially during exercise, you want the best metrics possible.
It is possible to use heart rate monitors on the Apple Watch and other fitness trackers and smartwatches, but they are far less accurate than dedicated heart rate monitors worn on your arm (or, better yet, around your chest).
If you’re serious about tracking your heart rate, check out the Polar H10 or the Garmin HRM Pro. Both devices are worn around your chest and can be paired with your smartphone or smartwatch using Bluetooth and ANT+ technology to provide the most accurate heart rate measurement possible.
4. Fitness Trackers
There are several factors to consider before you invest in a fitness tracker. However, if you’re a runner, and especially if you’re broadly athletic—perhaps playing multiple sports and wanting to stay in peak physical condition—then a fitness tracker might be your best friend. For example, there are numerous Fitbit fitness tracking tips you could be using. You can transform your wearable into a stopwatch, display your fitness goals, alert you when it’s time to wind down for bed, and even follow along with guided workouts.
If, on the other hand, you want to reduce your screen time rather than strap another screen to your wrist, consider checking out the Whoop Strap 4.0. The distinguishing feature and selling point of this fitness tracker is that there is no screen or notifications. It’s simply a band with some sensors that collect data constantly.
Like a lot of fitness trackers, the Whoop device is minimalist in design. Unlike others, the Whoop Strap and its companion app operate solely on a subscription model. The subscription is expensive, but the benefits might be worth the cost for some people.
5. Smartwatches
The great thing about using a smartwatch as a running companion is that it can do the job of several gadgets at once. It can play your up-tempo running playlist, track your distance, and monitor your heart rate.
For example, the Garmin Forerunner 255 can not only track the distance of your run, but it can also monitor your heartbeat, and control your music. Further, if you keep it on all day, it’ll even track your sleep, suggest workouts, and allow you to pay for your post-workout protein shake with Garmin Pay contactless payments.
There are other smartwatches like the Apple Watch Series 8 that perform many of the same functions, though each device on the market will have one or two features that may appeal most to you. So, check out the specs before you buy a fitness tracker or smartwatch. For example, the latest Samsung Galaxy Watch is equipped with a state-of-the-art BioActive sensor that allows you to measure your body composition, which other smartwatches cannot yet do.
Do You Need Another Running Gadget?
As a runner, you’re likely the kind of person who enjoys time away from the computer and time away from distractions—the kids, work, whatever. Maybe you want nothing more than to disconnect while you get the blood pumping and endorphins running. And that’s a fantastic way to improve your physical and mental well-being.
At the same time, you can take your running workouts to the next level using smart gadgets, which can help you reach new levels of performance, break personal records, and achieve a sense of accomplishment that makes the effort you put in worth it even more.
