I once asked a seasoned runner how she pulled through marathon after marathon and she simply said, “You put one foot in front of the other but fast.” As you can tell, I don’t bother her with questions ever again but I'm still left curious about an aspect of running: what do you do when you’re quickly putting one foot in front of the other?
Some might let their mind wander, others might finish up a podcast or listening to a playlist. Rarely does one just focus on the running but, hey, whatever works for you. Currently, I’m digging Running Stories, an app which is kinda like the love child of a running tracker and an audio book. When you play a custom audio track, the app uses a GPS tracker in your smartwatch or smartphone that synchs to the audio.
Suppose that your route requires you to pass by a playground, just as you’re about to reach said location, your GPS tracker sends a prompt to the Running Stories app and the audio might cue the laughter of children as you approach said playground.
Given the tailored approach for this, this means that the app only works with preprogrammed routes. So you can’t play Running Stories and then deviate from its directions. The experience is further refined as the app tracks your running speed, position and heart rate so that what you’re feeling is reflected in the audio.
Currently, the app hosts three narratives—a spy adventure, The Extraction; a thriller, The Runner Without a Past; and an insight… of your insides, called Runner’s Body (if there was ever a title that is so on point, this would be it).
The Running Stories app is available for iOS as a limited beta version. There are plans for an Android version of the app.
