Running is a sport that has experienced a real boom in recent years., gaining followers of all ages and experience levels. From professional athletes seeking to surpass their personal bests to amateurs who find running an escape from daily stress, the number of runners continues to grow. This trend is accompanied by an ever-expanding calendar of popular races, marathons, and events of all kinds, which increases the opportunities to improve personal bests and set new goals.
In this context, Measuring and recording race times becomes a priority For many athletes, having reliable and accessible data allows them to analyze progress over time, adjust training, and maintain motivation with every step. While sports watches and heart rate monitors remain valuable tools, not all runners have one of these cutting-edge devices. Fortunately, mobile technology has democratized access to sports analysis with a huge offering of apps for recording running times, workouts, routes, and all kinds of key metrics.
If you're looking for an effective alternative to sports watches and want to get the most out of your smartphone, you've come to the right place.Throughout this article you will discover the The most comprehensive, up-to-date, and thoroughly analyzed list of the best apps for tracking your running times.We include both the most popular and globally recognized options, as well as some lesser-known but equally effective solutions, including free and paid apps for beginners, experienced runners, and even race organizers.
Why use apps to record race times?
Digital tracking has become one of the most valued tools for runners of all profiles.Mobile apps have revolutionized the way we train and compete, allowing us not only to record the time of each session, but also to analyze routes, distance, pace, altitude variations, heart rate, calories burned, cadence, and a host of other parameters that provide a comprehensive and detailed view of performance.
In addition, many apps offer personalized workout planning features, interval programs, virtual challenges, integration with external devices (such as heart rate monitors, heart rate bands, and smartwatches), and access to communities where you can share achievements and motivate each other. Another great advantage is the compatibility and synchronization with third-party health services and fitness platforms., allowing you to centralize all your information in one place and make the most of the data collected by different devices and applications throughout the day.
These apps are essential not only to improve motivation and discipline, but also to analyze progress and prevent injuries by monitoring key parameters such as intensity or weekly training load. Even race and sporting event organizers They have specialized apps for advanced timing, with the ability to offer live results, segmentation by category and race number, intermediate times, and more, enhancing the experience for both amateur and professional runners.
Key factors when choosing an app to track your running times
With so many options on the market, it's essential to consider the following aspects before downloading a running app:
- GPS Accuracy and Stability: Reliability in measuring both distance and time is essential for realistic performance analysis.
- Intuitive interface and ease of useWhether you're a beginner or advanced, a user-friendly app encourages consistency and prevents frustration.
- Variety of metrics and analysis: From basic functions like stopwatch, time, distance, and pace, to advanced features like heart rate, cadence, elevation, interval analysis, and training zones.
- Training plans and adaptability: the ability to customize goals, access specific routines (e.g., to prepare for a 5K, 10K, or marathon), and receive tailored recommendations.
- Social features and gamification: Sharing achievements, earning medals, participating in challenges, and comparing yourself with other users adds extra motivation.
- Device and service compatibility: Integration with smartwatches, heart rate monitors, and external apps (Google Fit, Strava, Apple Health, Garmin Connect, etc.).
- Price and subscription optionsMost apps offer free versions with basic features and premium services for a subscription or one-time fee.
- Privacy and data control: Choose apps that respect your privacy and allow you to easily control what information you share and with whom.
List of the best apps for recording race times
After analyzing the most prominent options on the market and comparing reviews from runners, experts, and specialized media, we present a selection of essential apps for runners, from the most popular to the most specialized. Here are their features, advantages, disadvantages, compatibility, and tips for getting the most out of them.
-
Strava
Strava is much more than a running app; is a complete social network for endurance athletes. Its success is mainly due to the quality of its GPS, the accuracy of its data collection, and the enormous online community that encourages motivation through challenges, comparisons, and virtual segments. You can record outdoor or treadmill workouts, import sessions from other GPS devices, and analyze advanced statistics (pace, elevation, heart rate, calories, time spent moving, among others).
Star features:
- Segments: Compete on famous route segments and view global rankings for each segment.
- Weekly and monthly challenges: Get motivated by adding miles, elevation gains, or participating in virtual events.
- Global interactive map for inspiration and exploration of new routes.
- Detailed performance analysis and long-term progress monitoring.
- Integration with smartwatches and external devices, as well as compatibility with health apps.
Ideal for: Runners looking for competitive motivation, social analytics, route planning, and advanced tracking across a variety of sports and devices.
Disadvantages: Some statistics are only available in the premium version, which may limit the experience for more advanced users.
-
Nike Run Club
Nike Run Club is one of the most popular and comprehensive apps for runners., especially recommended for both novice and experienced runners. It offers a highly polished, intuitive visual interface packed with motivating details. Allows you to record outdoor or treadmill runs, monitor time, pace, distance, heart rate and calories burned, and access personalized training plans. developed by Nike coaches and elite athletes.
Stands out for:
- Guided runs and audio workouts, with motivational messages and live advice.
- Sync with Spotify playlists, to put music to your runs.
- Digital challenges and trophies for goals achieved (kilometers traveled, number of sessions, maximum speed…).
- Large social community where you can create groups, compete with friends, receive and send messages of encouragement, and share your best moments.
- Multisport support and connection to smartwatches (Apple Watch, Garmin, etc.) and with other external apps.
It also features a wellness and health tips section, and integration with Apple Health, Google Fit, and other platforms. You can explore its features and options in more depth.
Ideal for: Those looking for extra motivation, tailored workouts, social challenges, and an app that combines attractive design with ease of use.
Disadvantages: Some advanced users may find data analysis more limited compared to more technical apps, although for everyday use it is more than sufficient.
-
Adidas Running by Runtastic
The old one Runtastic has transformed into Adidas Running, preserving the best of its history and adding an even deeper integration with the Adidas community. This is a Versatile and powerful app that allows you to record more than 60 sports activities (running, walking, cycling, hiking and more), with detailed analysis of distance, pace, time, calories, elevation, speed and heart rate.
Key benefits:
- Personalized training plans based on your goals (5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, weight loss, etc.).
- Social feed with the option to share achievements, photos, and routes, as well as grouping by clubs and virtual races.
- Extra motivation thanks to global challenges and digital trophies.
- Powersong function, which integrates music to give you an extra push when you need it most.
- Tracking the kilometers traveled with each pair of shoes, useful to know when to change them.
The app can be linked to smart bracelets and devices (Garmin, Apple Watch, Polar, Suunto), and to platforms such as Google Fit or Apple Health. You might also be interested in learning about free courses to improve your training.The Adidas Running community brings together millions of users from around the world, making it easy to find training partners and participate in global challenges.
Ideal for: Runners of all levels, especially Adidas fans, and users looking for a multisport solution with guided training plans and social motivation.
Disadvantages: Some features such as advanced plans and detailed analytics require the premium version.
