I did a quick search of the forum but didn’t turn up anything previous. There seems to be a lot of cadence apps out there for iPods , iPhones and such. What have you used and liked, pro’s and con’s? After an achilles injury I’m working on improving my run form.
What do you want to record it on? Android phone? Something else?
I use my Garmin 310xt with the footpod. Works great.
iPhone but will consider options. I forgot about the foot pod. I believe it will work with my 405
yeah, the foot pod is your best bet. Any garmin pod will work with the 405
if you’re just looking for a basic cadence check, with no speed, pace etc. I just downloaded an app called “Pro Metronome”. You can set it to any cadence ie 180, or you can customize it. You hit their “record” button, and tap the middle each step, and in real time tells you what the bpm is. Really easy at a glance tool to use.
When I teach running classes, I sometimes put the metronome on the speakers in the indoor track for people to work on it, or use the record tap tool to show people exactly what their cadence is.
If you want to check form, angles, etc. Download ubersense for iOS. Free, and awesome with angle creation tools, youtube upload/download, and tons of other features I haven’t even gotten to!
Run to the beat… get some music from motiontraxx or podrunner. Find the tempo to match your rhythm, or match your rhythm to a tempo.
try http://www.ismoothrun.com/# works well, not only for cadence.
On that note, with Power Music (who does a lot of tunes for fitness classes), they sell their tracks labelled with the bpm… if you like that sort of thing. I’m pretty sure there is software out there that can analyze your itunes library and tell you from your own selection
On the down low… podrunner & motiontraxx have free downloads legal for personal use.
Thanks for the input. I now have several options.
I had a similar issue - needed to increase cadence to improve running form and efficiency. I tried the iPhone apps and the pre-packaged (pre-mixed constant BPM) music mentioned above, and even running with a portable metronome - but found all of those lacking (mostly because the music sucked and it was boring).
A friend turned me on to a method to convert ANY mp3 file to the run tempo you’re looking for - you can find it at http://runticky.com/ . go to the part that says “Convert any MP3 to 180 BPM” on the left-hand menu bar.
This was (almost) the perfect solution - running to music I liked at exactly the tempo I wanted, it not only fixed my cadence it also made running significantly more enjoyable. Really, I can’t emphasize this enough, it really changed running for me!
why almost perfect? A few things:
- One of the recommended software tools on runticky was no longer available, so I had to find a substitute freeware that did the same thing.
- Not all songs sound good after you adjust the tempo, so there is some trial and error involved
- Converting each song is a 3 step process - I got it pretty streamlined but it still took a couple hours to put together a sufficiently long playlist
Well worth those minor inconveniences, IMO. Most often I run with my shuffle, and just select my latest customized playlist and go - it’s fantastic!
What about using a swim metronome (tempo trainer) under a hat or clipped to sleeve/collar - http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/3971.htm
Not recordable, but super small and easy.
the thought of running to a metronome is freaky. Always monitoring your watch for a cadence number may be fine, but also a bit annoying to always have to look. I just made a playlist of running music that’s all at 180bpm and run to the music. Makes it fun and easy.
there are tools for itunes that will analyze your playlists. I think it’s called BPM. it doesn’t always get the beat right tho’. I’ve got a little mac widget that you tap to and it tells you the cadence as a cross check.
to find new songs. Try http://jog.fm/ or they have an app as well (which I’ve never tried)
I have used Cadence.FM (iphone app). it will stream songs in any selected range of cadence.
…a method to convert ANY mp3 file to the run tempo you’re looking for…
and another = Mixmeister to find the bpm, then change it with Audacity
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…a method to convert ANY mp3 file to the run tempo you’re looking for…
and another = Mixmeister to find the bpm, then change it with Audacity
yeah - it’s the same thing, basically. The runticky website doesn’t have any proprietary software, just “how to guide” type instructions that walk you through the process and tells you where to find software like mixmeister. I also used audacity, rather than the converter the site recommended, because I already had that installed.
Ah… I hadn’t followed the link. Kudos to you then.
+1 what 20twende said.