Running Apps

I'm thinking of changing from MapMyRun ("MMR") to Runmeter.  There's a couple reasons for this - first, the reviews on the App Store were amazing.  I've never seen reviews that good.  The second reason is it's only on the iPhone.  That means I can see all of my run details on the phone, instead of having to log in. I'm kind of excited about that, because I purchased the Runner's World Running Log for 2014. It would be really cool to actually use that, old-school style. However, this second reason is also one of the drawbacks - I can't "log in" online and see an expanded view, on the computer. With MMR, you can also enter in things like what you've eaten, how you feel, how much you weigh, how much sleep you got, etc. The Runmeter is ONLY activity. This is probably not a big deal, because in the several years I've used MMR, I've only used that feature a handful of times.

I'm nervous about switching - because what if I don't like it and decide to stay with MMR? Then I'll be missing the runs from Runmeter, in MMR.  Oh, first world problems.

Comparison. Then and Now.

Here is info pulled off of my first blog post. This is what my running was like, when I first started keeping track with Nike+ (a mother's day gift from my husband and sons):

Nike+:
2009: 36 runs, av 2.2 miles
2010: 37 runs, av 2.4 miles
2011: 16 runs, avg 3.1 miles
2012: 1 run, 2.8 miles

Here is the info from MapMyRun (there's some overlap with the two devices, but I only had one run in 2012 on Nike+ anyway).

2011:
February:  4 runs, 13.4 miles
March:  6 runs, 20 miles

2012:
February:  2 runs, 4.68 miles
March:  13 runs, 46.4
April:  8 runs, 32.6 miles
May:  8 runs, 28.6 miles
June:  5 runs, 19 miles
July:  5 runs, 16.70 miles
August:  1 run, 4.27 miles
September:  Nada.
October: 5 runs, 19.9 miles
November - December:  Zilch.

2013:
January: Nothing.
February:  1 run 2.74 miles
March:  2 runs, 3.85
April:  1 run, 2.4 miles
And here we go:
May:  16 runs, 38.4 miles
June:  22 runs, 70.8 miles
July:  18 runs, 70.6 miles

The above isn't all the same form of measurement, so not as easy to get - I barely ran prior to this year.  So, I'm "new" to running, to being committed to mileage and sticking with it.  This winter is going to be quite an experiment. I'm determined to burst forth in the Spring, way ahead, way fitter, and way ready for more.  Next fall, I hope to run a half marathon.  I figure if I stick with it, by then, I'll have an actual base to train off of.  Being old and frumpy now, I can't just go rushing into things. Slow and steady, and stick with it...

Preparing for Winter...

I grew up in Michigan, and started running there, in middle school.  My most distinct memory is the 6-mile loop I used to run, when I was 15-16. The heat and humidity of the brutal summers didn't bother me - that's all I knew, climate-wise. I wasn't a "serious" runner, anyway, so it's not like I ran a ton.  I've gotten more "serious" as I've gotten older.  I enjoy looking at my calendar, and seeing more days marked with running, than not.

The one thing that's always sidelined me is getting sick (I'm a mild asthmatic, so everything goes to my lungs and it sucks), and winter.  This time that I've started running again, I'm working on getting myself into the mind set that I'm not going to quit again over the winter.  I'm not going to be so "all or nothing." Even if I can't run (due to -15* temperatures, or illness) I can do *something*.  I've resolved to try cross-country skiing, and get back into the gym (for weightlifting, not cardio). During the summer, I "cross train" (if it can be called that) with my mountain bike.  I figure if I have other stuff planned for "cross training" with running in the winter, I'm set.  I'm also planning on starting yoga.

I don't want to start over.  I don't want to quit and have to build back up again.