Run Mate app review: a personal trainer to help improve your runs

Introduction

Run Mate by Alexsandar Vacic is a health and fitness app meant to help beginner and seasoned runners alike. It was updated last in February of 2012. It’s usually $3.99, so snap up this one quickly!

User Experience

When you launch the app for the first time you’re taken directly to an intro page that tells you a bit about the app and how to use it. Next, the main screen you see gives you Running programs, Help, What’s new, Version History, Check out our other apps, and About. You’ll want to click on Running programs to proceed to the app.

Once on the Programs page, you can choose from among Nike’s Walk to Run, Couch to 5k, Nike’s Beginner 5k, and Simple Workouts. This is also where you see Settings, where you’ll toggle Voice alerts and Sound alerts on and off.

I chose the Nike’s Beginner 5k program, because I’m not a novice runner. You’ll see a list of days labeled “W1 Monday, W1 Wednesday,” and on, with four workouts per week. If you click on an individual workout you’ll see your Settings button again, a button that allows you to pick your music, and a button that you press to start your run. Below is your workout for that day. The W1 Monday workout consists of one minute of walking with one minute of jogging, repeated 10 times. If you have the voice and sound alerts turned on, you will be instructed when to walk and when to jog.

If you scroll down to the last workout for that program, the W6 Sunday workout, your workout is a full 30-minute run, obviously to prepare you for your 5k race. Most average runners can complete a 5k in less than 30 minutes, so you should be more than adequately prepared.

The Simple workouts plans offer a Wake-up workout and an Evening 20min workout. They seem pretty decent as well.

Features

The app will work with or without music playing, so if you have favorite tunes you like to run with, feel free. The app will cut in briefly and tell you when to run or walk, and for how long. Another great feature of the app is that it offers the three different levels, from beginners to those wanting to train to race in a 5k. Most apps you can find only offer one level of training, or are full of in-app purchases. This one is free for the time being and doesn’t have any in-app purchases at all. 

In-App Purchases

There are no in-app purchases.

Personal Comments by Reviewer

I think this app is well worth the purchase when it’s full-price; to get it for free now seems amazing. If you don’t have this app, and you want to learn to run or train to run in a 5k, you should definitely download this app, and fast! I’m not sure how long the sale will last. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Three different levels of programs, plus a morning and evening routine
• Free for a limited time
• Great interface
• Can listen to your own music
• Gives cues when to change your pace

 

Cons

• Isn’t free forever