technology

ActivityTracker App Review

How the ActivityTracker app can help runners stay consistent and connected to their goals.

ActivityTracker app screen on an Apple Watch.
ActivityTracker app screen on an Apple Watch.


We are surrounded by distractions in our day-to-day life that can push fitness goals to the wayside: that’s where the ActivityTracker app comes in! Your personal accountability partner in your pocket, ActivityTracker helps you stay consistent and progressing towards your goals. Here’s how:

1. Real-Time Feedback

ActivityTracker uses your phone or Apple Watch to monitor your steps, distance, active minutes, and heart rate. The real-time feedback from the app can be particularly useful for those just starting out to understand their movement habits. Similarly for coaches, the app allows them to see a wide variety of their athletes’ metrics.

2. Visualizing Progress

Let’s be honest, tracking your progress over time can be motivating. Daily and weekly charts, monthly mileage goals, and habit streaks make fitness more tangible and rewarding. The ActivityTracker app is very user friendly, with a clean interface that makes tracking activities a breeze–even for those who are not very tech savvy! 

3. Goal Setting and Accountability

You can set a variety of daily and weekly goals: steps, calorie targets, distance covered, and more. ActivityTracker also offers reminders to help you stay active. Personally, I think this feature is awesome–especially for those who are tied to a desk for work–prompting you to get up and move in order to stay on track with your goals.

Screenshots from the ActivityTracker app.
Screenshots from the ActivityTracker app.

4. Workout Tracking

As the name “activity tracker” implies, you’re able to log your walks, runs, hikes, and bike rides with ease. The app seamlessly integrates with Apple Health and Apple Watch, as well as providing its own in-app tracking feature to collect workout data and log your fitness.

One of the most beneficial parts of the ActivityTracker app is the ability to see your trend data. By evaluating your workout history and trends, you can get a look at whether you might be under or overtraining. For example, you might notice a link between days you strength train and days you don’t hit your step count or distance goals. Or perhaps you see that after a rest day, your daily step count is through the roof!

Not only do you see activity patterns for the past few days and weeks, the app gives you trends over months and years! If you develop an injury, you can easily look back through your workouts and activity trends for the past weeks and months prior, allowing you to identify potential contributing factors. This may include jumps in weekly mileage or step count, additional training sessions, intensity increases, and more. 

In addition, the historical trend data is also great for those who want to see their progress, providing a visual representation of where you started and how far you’ve come.

ActivityTracker App: Final Thoughts

To summarize, the ActivityTracker app isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being present. It helps you stay engaged and motivated with your goals, and build momentum one day at a time. Whether you’re a casual walker or an avid runner, using the activity tracker could be the smartest way to stay in motion and keep the motivation to continue chasing big goals!

Compatible with both Apple and Android devices, you can check out the app here.

Jake Eckberg is a coach with Team RunRun based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He helps runners of all levels train for distances from the 5K to ultra marathon distances, through the pillars of consistency, growth, mental toughness, injury prevention, and recovery.

Do AI Running Apps Cause Injuries?

A deeper look at how AI-powered running apps can be more harmful than helpful.

Picture this: You’re inspired to start running — maybe a friend gets into the sport, or you cheer on strangers at a local race. Either way, something clicks and you think to yourself, “I want to do this”. 

Example of an AI running app, Runna. PC: runna.com
Example of an AI running app, Runna. PC: runna.com

But where do you start? 

Like many newer runners, maybe you grab your phone and download an app like Runna, Strava, or Garmin Connect. These AI running apps promise optimized plans and data-driven insights. All you have to do is choose a distance and a goal and, ta da, your training plan awaits!

But there’s a catch. If you’re new to running, you might not have a clear sense of what a realistic goal looks like. That can lead you to follow a plan with too much intensity, or pacing that’s simply too fast for where you’re at — leaving you, at best, frustrated and, at worst, injured.

Beyond Injuries: What AI Running Apps Miss

This disconnect between what an app prescribes and what your body is ready for isn’t hypothetical — it’s real. And it’s something I hear often from athletes who come to me after getting injured or feeling burnt out. Many of them started with the best of intentions, excited to follow a plan and see progress. But over time, they began to notice something wasn’t quite right. 

The experiences they’ve shared with me speaks volumes:

  • “I felt that the training was either very mild or incredibly intense. No in between.”
  • “I pushed myself too hard, too fast.”
  • “I found that some of the plans progressed too quickly for me.”

So where does that leave these runners? 

Too often, it leaves them frustrated, injured, and wondering what they did wrong. In reality, these runners were just following the plan they were given. They did what the app told them to do. But the app didn’t know anything about them beyond a goal time or a goal distance. It didn’t know their background, stress levels, family commitments, or how they were feeling on any given day.

The Reason Personalized Coaching Wins

For many runners, that experience becomes the turning point — the moment they realize they don’t just need a plan, they need a plan that’s right for them. That’s when they choose to work with a coach — not for a cookie-cutter schedule, but for a personalized approach that adapts to their needs.

Working with a coach can help runners:

  • Set realistic, achievable goals
  • Adjust their training when life gets busy
  • Know when to push — and when to pull back

Whether it’s navigating a missed run, working through a tough workout, managing fatigue, or addressing a niggle before it turns into an injury, having a coach means having someone who sees the whole picture — not just the data, but the person behind it.

Because while metrics like pace, distance, and heart rate can tell part of the story, they don’t capture everything. They can’t pick up on doubt, fatigue, or the mental battles an athlete might be waging with themselves — factors that can impact a run just as much, if not more, than the numbers on a watch.

An athlete and coach have a 1:1 coaching conversation.
An athlete and coach have a 1:1 coaching conversation.

Why Runners Are Ditching the AI Apps for 1:1 Coaches

That’s where real, two-way conversations become invaluable. Having someone you can turn to — to ask questions, voice concerns, and to openly share what you’re thinking and feeling in real time becomes a powerful form of qualitative data that no algorithm can replicate.

Anyone who’s ever read the ‘Athlete Intelligence’ on their Strava run knows that the feedback from AI often falls flat or is one-dimensional. It simply cannot compare to the feedback a coach can provide, whether it’s through text, email, or by hopping on a call and actually hearing their voice. 

At the end of the day, running is personal — and your training should be, too. While AI-powered running apps can offer some semblance of personalization, they can’t replace the insight, flexibility, and support that come from working with a coach who understands you as a whole person. Your life isn’t a static spreadsheet, and neither should your training plan.

  • Where an app sees numbers, a coach sees nuance.
  • Where an app pushes you to stick to the plan, a coach helps you adapt the plan.
  • Where an app reacts, a coach anticipates.

Next Steps for Faster, Injury-Free Running

Whether you’re a beginner taking your first steps into running, aiming for a Boston Marathon qualifying time, or dipping your toes into the ultra running world, Team RunRun has a coach for you. With over 200 coaches at every experience and price level, let us help you avoid the pitfalls of AI running apps. View our coaches here and get started today! 

Elaina Raponi is a coach with Team RunRun based in Kingston, Ontario. Elaina loves helping athletes of all abilities and experiences achieve their goals, while finding confidence and joy in the process!

The Gamification of Fitness: Can Wii Play Too?

The gamification of fitness is a trend that has been gaining popularity over the past couple decades with fitness video games and virtual leaderboards. More recently, we’ve seen the marriage of fitness games with VR technology, but it goes as far back as the Nintendo Wii’s Wii Fit and Wii Sports series. Likewise, the PlayStation and Xbox consoles of the era also had their own fitness series’, and newer models have continued to follow suit. But do these have a place in a fitness regimen? The answer might surprise you as we’ll seek to explain in the following article. 

The gamification of fitness using virtual reality (VR) technology. PC: Victor Bordera/Stocksy
The gamification of fitness using virtual reality (VR) technology.
PC: Victor Bordera/Stocksy

For the Fun of the Games

For the average person, the gamification of fitness can be a powerful motivator and used to make exercise fun. If fitness isn’t enjoyable, people are far less likely to start or stick with it in the long term. People far and wide also love good healthy competition, whether online with players around the globe or with family and friends in the living room sitting next to them.

Woman doing the popular fitness game of "Wii Fit". PC: Emmanuel Dunand
Woman doing the popular fitness game of “Wii Fit”.
PC: Emmanuel Dunand

Popular fitness platforms like Peloton even have leaderboards affiliated with all their classes. Peloton have developed their own “video game mode” of riding called LaneBreak, where riders’ workouts are scored and ranked. Before starting, riders also get to choose between five difficulty levels, adding another common video game element to the experience. As explained on the Peloton Support site “along the track, you will encounter various objects, called Moments. Moments are based on the workout goals and intensity of the song and require different cadence/resistance or speed/incline values. Score points by hitting target metrics while in the Moment”. If Peloton had a crossover episode with Guitar Hero, that’s a fairly spot on assessment of LaneBreak, although you aren’t expected to press down on the pedals to the exact beat of the music for the entirety of a song. 

Wii Would Like to Play!

On the classic Wii Fit, common key health metrics are also taken into account such as BMI. Believe it or not, actual research studies were conducted on the use of Wii Fit and similar fitness games. These exercise modalities showed merits in clinical settings and places such as nursing homes, where participation allows those unable to perform daily rigorous activity to still increase heart rate and improve overall health.

In a study of 30 individuals with multiple sclerosis, Wii Fit demonstrated benefits over a 7-week period. They each completed the same Wii Fit program consisting of yoga, balance, strength and aerobic training, 3 times per week. According to this 2011 article, researchers reported that “all physical assessment scores moved in a positive direction at 7 weeks, providing some indication that overall fitness levels improved” (Plow & Finlayson, 2011). Wii Fit received praise for it’s accessibility, meeting participants where they were at, no matter their functionality levels. In addition, it helped promote weight loss and weight loss self-monitoring while improving strength and balance through core stability training.

Do Fitness Games Have a Place in Athletes’ Training?

While it by no means should be a cornerstone of your fitness program, the gamification of fitness can be a useful tool for those looking for a little extra motivation (something that can be hard to come by in the winter months) or for a little variety in cross training. No matter how hard you Wii Fit, it can’t replace the specificity of training. As runners, the general principle is if you want to improve at running, you’ll need to run more. For many, having a race on the calendar provides plenty of motivation. However, if wanting to climb up a few more spots on the leaderboard, improve that high score or health metric motivates you to train consistently, use them!

TLDR: The Gamification of Fitness

Especially for newer runners or athletes, gamifying fitness can give purpose to the training and allow you to recognize the progress that you’re making. In essence, it can provide a gateway to fitness for the beginner. Whether it’s as that beginner runner’s first step, or as means to improve quality of life and health in clinical settings, these tools have a place in the world of fitness and are here to stay.

References

Peloton Support. (Retrieved 2025, February 10). Peloton Lanebreak. https://support.onepeloton.com/s/article/4428892792596-Peloton-Lanebreak?language=en_US 

Plow, M., & Finlayson, M. (2011). Potential benefits of nintendo wii fit among people with multiple sclerosis: a longitudinal pilot study. International Journal of MS Care, 13(1), 21–30. https://doi.org/10.7224/1537-2073-13.1.21

Brian Comer is a coach with Team RunRun based out of Portland, Oregon. His goal is to help you grow as a runner and a person through consistent training.

Suunto Wing Headphones Review

Running headphones have certainly evolved quickly in recent years, look no further than Suunto Wing headphones. We’ve gone from running with giant, over-the-ear Sony Walkman headsets, to the tangled cords of your iPod Shuffle, and earbuds that fall out from one drop of sweat. Today, the newest iteration of running headphone tech takes listening to audio as you workout to a new level! While bone conduction headphones have been on the market for a few years now, they are still finding their place in the market. For this review, TRR Coach Kyle Fulmer took a look at (and ran hundreds of miles with) the new Suunto Wing Open-Ear Headphones. 

TRR coach and social media master Kyle Fulmer running with the Suunto Wing headphones. PC: Kyle Fulmer.
TRR coach and social media master Kyle Fulmer running with Suunto Wing headphones. PC: Kyle Fulmer.

Key features:

  • Tough and Weatherproof: These headphones are fully waterproof and dustproof (IP67 rated), making them perfect for sweaty workouts, rainy runs, or even dusty trails. The build quality feels robust, ready to handle rugged use.
  • Open-Ear Bone Conduction Technology: Instead of blocking your ears like traditional headphones, they rest on your jawbone, leaving your ear canals open so you can stay aware of passing cars, wildlife, or the sounds of nature around you.
  • Safety Features: Built-in red LED lights provide visibility for night runs or cycling. While the lights are a thoughtful touch, they could be brighter, so are not a substitute for headlamps and reflective gear.
  • Battery Life: You get up to 10 hours of playback, plus an extra 20 hours from the included power bank. Quick charging is another bonus—just 10 minutes gives you about 3 hours of playtime.
  • Comfort and Fit: At 33 grams, they’re lightweight but might not fit snugly on smaller heads. We had no issues with the fit.
  • Hands-free: Forget fumbling for buttons—just nod your head to answer a call or shake it to skip a track. Suunto Wing’s hands-free operation free up your hands for activity.
  • Usability: Control your audio with multi-function buttons that allow you to play/ pause tunes, adjust volume, skip and rewind tracks. You can also answer and hang up phone calls, turn on and off the lights too.

What do we like about Suunto Wing most?

Suunto Wing headphones are ultra lightweight, fit snugly, and can even be worn with glasses: a must for anyone running with sunglasses or prescription eyewear. Most importantly, the sound quality is amazing, all while still allowing outside noises to be heard.

Kellen Fulmer also put these headphones to the test, proving that one-size really does fit all! PC: Kyle Fulmer
Kyle’s little one also put these headphones to the test, proving that one-size really does fit all!
PC: Kyle Fulmer

From personal experience, the 10 hours of battery life advertised seemed to be about right. I have run several times, chatted on the phone during walks, and listened to some podcasts while doing chores, all before needing to recharge the Wing! And with the powerbank included, you can get an extra 20 hours on the go! This makes Suunto Wing headphones a great option for runners doing the longest ultras and multiday adventures without access a power outlet.

What don’t we like about Suunto Wing headphones?

Not much, except the cost! At $199, they’re an investment (but, in my opinion, a worthwhile one). The price is easy to get over when you can change songs by just shaking your head, answer phone calls by nodding yes, and have headphones with such outstanding durability and battery life!

Additionally, it takes a few tries to memorize the functions, such as changing songs or answering a call by simply moving your head! Other buttons allow you to manage calls and adjust your audio and volume. As with any new tech, it takes a bit of time to remember all the actions but, just as they did with your phone or iPod of the past, soon all the functions become second nature!

Pro runner and TRR Coach Genevieve Harrison running with Suunto Wing headphones. PC: Genevieve Harrison
Pro runner and TRR Coach Genevieve Harrison running with Suunto Wing headphones. PC: Genevieve Harrison

What are the best uses for the headphones?

Running, of course! Add to that listening to tunes whilst walking the dog, vacuuming, doing the dishes, and basically during any other activity you’d like audio for. Forget being able to hear traffic when running or riding, the open-ear bone conduction technology comes in clutch when you’re parenting and want to listen to a podcast while still being able to hear when the baby wakes up!

What do the Pros say?

ON-sponsored professional trail runner and TRR Coach Genevieve Harrison also put Suunto Wing headphones to the test. Here’s what she had to say:

“For ears like mine, they’re a game-changer! Suunto Wing rest comfortably around your neck when not in use, making them super handy at aid stations. Plus, they let you stay tuned into nature while on the trail—perfect for me since I often encounter mountain bikers where I run so need to be able to hear them coming. These headphones are definitely worth a try! They’d also make an incredible gift for the runner in your life who loves staying connected to their surroundings.”

Kyle Fulmer is a coach with Team RunRun and our social media manager extraordinaire. He is an experienced trail and ultra coach and athlete based in Boulder, Colorado.