Trekking the Globe on a Treadmill

Never again will a run on the treadmill be a mundane workout. 

Certainly not when it’s possible to run down Las Vegas Boulevard without dealing with the blistering desert heat, or sprint along the sands of Vancouver’s Jericho Beach. 

The innovators at iFit Technologies, based in Australia, have released the Fun Run Trainer. This app lets iPhone users pick popular global events and streets, or program their own routes, to run on. Any type of treadmill is compatible, and it mimics the inclination of the road. Users are tracked on a virtual map that moves at the speed they are travelling at. 

According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, the treadmill is the highest selling piece of exercise equipment. Brett Galbraith, inventor of the Fun Run Trainer, says that despite the wide use of treadmills, “there has been no easy way to create your own routes or to practice for popular events on a treadmill, until now.”

One of the feats of the Fun Run Trainer is its broad appeal. A casual runner or jogger can plug into their iPhone and enjoy exercising along a famous street using the app. Avid athletes can train for marathons and events located in different countries. The events are categorized by distance, event name or location. Undoubtedly, an athlete who is familiar with the characteristics of an event and who has had a chance to practise it will be better prepared. 

“Creating the routes and determining the top runs around the world took over 600 hours,” says Galbraith. The Fun Run Trainer was in development for 15 months, from its initial stages to its launch.

What is even more enticing about the app is that “users can create their own routes on our website as long as the area is covered by Google Earth — which is most of the world,” adds Galbraith.

The Fun Run Trainer boasts a batch of other impressive features. The app stores the data from routes completed and an audio feature informs the runner of their inclination, speed and pace. It is also possible to play music on the iPhone while the app is running. 

For those who prefer an elliptical trainer or exercise bike to the treadmill, this app is also for them. Impressively, Galbraith says that “the quality of the moving footage at high speed for exercise bikes is even better than what you can get on Google Earth!”

Galbraith and his team are in the process of creating the Tour de France event. He says bike routes are time-consuming to create but they’re aiming to have thousands of routes available within six months. In short time users will also have the ability to design bike routes, ideal for event organizers planning public events. 

Not only can users expect the upcoming bike routes, but the makers of the app (priced at $4.99 US) intend to update it about every four weeks with new runs and features. 

Whether the Fun Run Trainer is used for pleasure or practicality, by novice runners or experienced athletes, it will certainly be a common element among treadmill users. 

Now, where to after Las Vegas Boulevard and Jericho Beach?•

Photo by sxc / ctr