I admire marathoners so much (we have a few on staff here at AWS, actually!) and they've inspired me to Train for a Marathon next year. I'm a sprinter, so this is going to be tough! But I can do it, especially with their inspiration, and a little help from a tiny app or two. Here are 7 apps to help you train for a marathon. Best of all, most of them are FREE!
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Nike Training Club
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FREE at itunes.apple.com
This isn't just an app to help you train for a marathon — it's an all-around fitness training app, and my very favorite overall. It's completely tailored to your level of fitness and your goals, and includes audio support and the option of playing your own music while you get your sweat on!
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RunKeeper
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FREE at itunes.apple.com
This free app helps you train for a marathon my mapping your runs, and keeping track of them, using the navigation features built into your iPhone or iPod Touch. It's easy to use, and you can even boast to your friends about your stats on Facebook and Twitter.
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Runner's World
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FREE at itunes.apple.com
If you love Runner's World magazine, like I do, then this is the app to help you train for a marathon, for sure! It's a user-friendly on-the-go replica of the print publication, with the same tips, inspirations, and programs to keep you on your path to your first, or tenth, or fiftieth marathon!
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5k Runner
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FREE at itunes.apple.com
This running app makes it all so simple: get from your couch to your first 5k run in 8 weeks, by training with the app for 35 minutes, 3 times a week. It's gotten rave reviews, and I agree with them all.
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Pedometer
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FREE at itunes.apple.com
Maybe what we all need is a free, easy-to-use pedometer, and this one is my favorite. It's incredibly simple to use, straight-forward, and accurate. What more could you ask for in a pedometer app?
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Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.
Runner's World SmartCoach Free
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FREE at itunes.apple.com
Remember the free Runner's World app I mentioned a few items ago? This is another app by Runner's World, but this one is designed specifically to help you prepare for your next race, train for a marathon, or whatever your goal might be. It doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles, but you won't need or miss them.
SmartCoach Free crafts a custom training plan based on your current fitness level and race goals, whether that's simply finishing or setting a personal best. All you need to do is input your recent race time, target race distance, and the number of weeks you have to train. It even adjusts your plan if you miss a workout or run a little faster or slower than expected. Plus, it syncs seamlessly with your calendar, helping keep your training on track without overwhelming you with unnecessary features.
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IMapMyRUN+
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Price: $1.99 at itunes.apple.com
Why would you pay $2 for an app to help you train for a marathon, when all of these others are free? First of all, it's ad-free. Second, it's awesome! You can integrate it with your own running play-list, and their list of running routes is global, inclusive, and simply put, amazing!
Download one or more of these running apps, and see which ones help you train for a marathon... I especially adore the two by Runner's World, and the Couch-to-5k one... which do you think you'll like best, or is there another marathon training app you think I ought to consider? Please let me know!
Top Image Source: pinterest.com
