RunKeeper Pro
The most frequently recommended app by Women's Running readers, RunKeeper was named by TIME as one of the top ten iPhone applications in 2009. This year, RunKeeper expanded its offerings to the Android, which has brought the traffic on runkeeper.com—the app's virtual running community—up to more than 100,000 unique visitors per month.
RunKeeper Pro goes beyond GPS- tracking functionality to record metrics not only for running, but also cycling, hiking, skiing and swimming. A fun accessory is the ability to snap a photo and have it appear on your runkeeper.com map in the exact spot on the running route that you took it. If a double-digit price tag makes you balk, there's a simplified version available for free. $10, runkeeper.com
Runmeter v5.0
Released in 2010, and setting an aggressive enhancement schedule with five updates in its first year, Runmeter is a top ten bestseller on iTunes and has a perfect five-star customer rating. The app has the same GPS-tracking and workout recording capabilities as RunKeeper Pro, but with more of a stopwatch focus, showcasing your metrics on the oversized display.And Runmeter v5.0 takes social networking to a new level with text-to-speech technology that lets you hear Facebook and Twitter replies from friends mid-run. Runmeter also works for other sports like cycling and skiing, but is not yet compatible with the Android. $5, abvio.com
Upbeat Workouts for Runners
Upbeat Workouts for Runners takes the stress out of making that perfect running playlist. The app calculates your stride-per-minute (SPM) rate and finds a song on your iPhone with corresponding beats-per-minute. All you do is press the "Just Go" button and start running. If you pick up the pace or slow down, the song selection changes. It's a great way to motivate for interval runs, and an invaluable training tool for distance runners trying to learn to hold a steady pace. $3, upbeatworkouts.com
Pick up the pace with a training plan.