I like to run and ride a bike frequently. I keep things simple and use the
MapMyRun and
MapMyRide apps on my Galaxy Nexus to track my progress. Those apps are pretty great for tracking and sharing your routes and allow you to create and review routes online if you want. There are other features that are designed to help track food/calorie consumption, but I don't use those features. Google Play Music keeps me from getting bored on the longer runs and rides. I've got specific playlists for different activities and distances.
I'm currently following a half marathon training schedule and have a few races coming up over the next few months. For shorter, faster-paced training runs where the schedule specifies a pace, I typically hop on a treadmill and skip the MapMyRun app (don't need GPS on a treadmill, though the app has settings for a treadmill run), but I fire up Google Play Music to keep me energized. I find the treadmill is useful for quicker stuff because I can set the pace and just keep my feet moving. If I was out on the road, I would likely let my pace slip. On long runs, I'll step outside and I wear a
Timex Global Trainer GPS watch to monitor pace and compare the results with the MapMyRun app. (The watch can be used to track swimming and cycling too, so it's great for aspiring triathletes.) The app tracks my route and tells me my average pace when I'm finished, while the watch shows me current pace during the run so I don't get off-track. Since the phone is tucked away, it's much easier to glance at the watch than the phone. It also helps me count down the mileage so I know when to turn around or stop! I would get way too bored on a treadmill on the long runs.
I keep my phone tucked inside a
SPIBelt when I run, whether I'm on a treadmill or outside. It holds it tight around my waist without bouncing (sometimes a quick adjustment is needed if I don't get the pouch around the phone right). I position the phone with the screen facing out so that when I zip the pouch, the
headphones cord slips out easily, and I run the cord inside my shirt so it doesn't bounce around in front of me and cause me to snag it with my hands. The screen facing out prevents any unintended interaction between my body and the screen. For instance, with the screen facing in, an incoming phone call will cause the screen to come on and the heat and pressure from my waist can result in accidental answering or launching of other actions (speaking from experience) - not to mention the sweat that can get through the pouch onto your screen. I have a pretty thin case, so I don't worry about sweat on the back of the phone and it isn't bulky inside the pouch. If I'm concerned about the zipper scratching my screen, sometimes I'll slip my driver's license in there as a buffer.
On the bike, I fire up Google Play Music and MapMyRide and throw my phone into a small
Osprey backpack with a water reservoir and hit the trail. The app has different settings for different kinds of rides (mountain, road, etc.) and even different kinds of bikes (fixies, commuters, etc.). I typically ride a mountain bike, but have a road bike I'll ride at times. When I'm done, I can check the map and compare it to previous rides or pick my favorite routes to ride again. I mentioned the share feature too. Routes and times can be shared with friends across multiple platforms or kept private.
Clothing varies, but I wear a lot of
Nike Dri-Fit stuff because I like the fit and
Nike Free running shoes because they are ridiculously comfortable and lightweight and they breathe well. On the mountain bike, I'll wear comfortable but durable athletic shoes (I don't have a dedicated pair, just not my running shoes - those are just for running), and on the road bike, I wear a
Specialized clip-in shoe (not necessarily the one in the link, but similar enough).
Good sunglasses are important, but I'm not loyal to a particular pair, just whatever blocks the rays and holds my head easily without the need for a strap of any kind. Polarized lenses are great because of glare reduction, but the lack of polarized lenses is not a deal-breaker for me. For some reason, I don't have the best luck with sunglasses and I go through them fairly quickly, so I don't like to spend a lot on them, just as much as is necessary to meet those criteria. Sometimes I'll need to shield my eyes on the trail or on a windy day even if the sun isn't out, so
interchangeable lenses are a plus because I can switch to a lighter lens and still be protected from low limbs and sand in the air.
There you have it. I don't need much to get a lot of good exercise, and I don't need all of these things every time, but some things, like my GNex, have become necessity. Without a doubt, I'm a better runner and cyclist with these things than I would be without them.
P.S. - When I read this back to myself, I found myself reading it like the intro scene to American Psycho:
American Psycho - Intro to Patrick Bateman - YouTube
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