Get Running + RunKeeper = Awesome! (and some advice)

[Timl2k10]

I discovered that the RunKeeper website accepts GPX files from any GPS program that can export them. So you don't actually have to but the RunKeeper iPhone app. The iPhone RunKeeper app seems to smooth out the data points a bit much or doesn't take enough samples. When I take sharp turns it shows me cutting through people's yards, which I don't do, I think this would tend to shorten my actual distance and I don't want to edit every run by hand (which you can do on the RunKeeper website to fix GPS errors). I have several GPS programs, all of which export GPX files. You can import any of these into RunKeeper website. I found "GPS Kit" to be more accurate than RunKeeper. Motion-X GPS is another good intuitive app, and if you are using Runmeter, you can import from it as well.

[sparkylives]

If you get RunKeeper, I suggest signing up for an account with Earndit and linking the 2. It's free and they give you points for running and walking sessions from RK and if you're in the USA, you can trade in those points for actual stuff. If you're not in the USA (like me), you can trade your points in for a donation to a charity. So get healthy and feel good, AND feel good.

If you use this URL to sign up - http://earnd.it/NzTnBM - both you and I get some extra points.

Otherwise you can use the regular URL - http://earndit.com/

[Playswithfire]

I love Runkeeper. What I do is start Runkeeper when I take my first steps. Then I go to music and pick my playlist. Then I start get running. That way the Runkeeper update don't interfere with Clare. I like knowing what pace I'm running at. Even though I'm almost done with week 6 I'm still very slow - 15+ to sometimes 17 min mile.

[Timl2k10]

I am loving it. I was finding Week 3 fairly easy, so today I decided to ramp it up a bit and see if I could set a new pace record. It was a little more painful than my previous runs and I really wasn't sure if I had put in enough effort (esp. with the mid-afternoon heat to deal with) but I was rewarded with a new personal record email from RunKeeper for fastest pace.
There is no such thing as too much motivation!