Fitness apps prove useful for athletes

In recent years, dozens of tools and technologies have been developed to track workouts. Fitness trackers and fitness apps, far more convenient than bulky pedometers, have become popular devices on campus, helping students monitor health and exercise routines.

Various devices offer different features, but most record steps, calories burned and heart rate. Trackers meant for specific types of exercise, such as running, contain unique tools to maximize and motivate the user.

Sophomore Lillian Zeng, for example, uses her Garmin watch during meets and RUNkeeper when working out on her own.

“They help track my location and milesplit so I know the pace I’m going,” Zeng said. “I know how fast I should be going or if I should go faster, since it makes it easier for me to adjust my pacing.”

Certain models also contain a map feature where a GPS tracks movement, which can be helpful for avid runners. For instance, Zeng uses RUNkeeper when she is lost. On the other hand, if Zeng wants to save a new route when running with a friend, the app can track the route and save it for the future.

Depending on the brand or model, prices for wearable trackers range from $50-$130. The Garmin ranges from $70-$100. In contrast, the apps are often free or inexpensive.

Unlike Zeng, senior Hannah Leney uses the fitness app MyFitnessPal for health information rather than workout motivation. It allows users to keep track of their diet and calorie intake. Leney first downloaded it to help her  lose weight.

“I know that people who are more aware of how much they are eating [and] exercising feel more [in] control of [their lifestyle],” said Leney, a 100- and 300-meter hurdler on the track and field team. “I find that it is easy for me to decide what to eat when I know the food's nutritional value.”

Since using the tool, Leney said that she has been more cognizant of her calorie intake as well as how many calories she burns when exercising.

Aside from track and field, Leney works at Saratoga Bagels, a job with the side benefit of allowing her to indulge in eating one of her favorite foods. In fact, she said she eats so many that her friend advised her to keep track of how many bagels she eats this year.

However, when her friend said this, it was was already well into January, and Leney did not remember how many bagels she had eaten so far. It was then that she remembered that because she logs all her food into MyFitnessPal, she could count her bagel intake.

“Using MyFitnessPal has allowed me to minimize or maximize the amount of food in my diet much more than I was able to before I started using the app,” Leney said.

As track season has begun, Leney has had a harder time remaining timely with her logs. Nevertheless, she recommends it to other students.

“It becomes a habit, but [it] could be a hard one to get into for some,” Leney said.