Gimme a Beat!

I’ve found a fun tool to help me get through my treadmill sessions! Actually, I’ve been using it for some time now, but just realized I should share! I know running/walking is how most of my boot campers spend their off-season workouts, so this may be of interest.

I’m very much driven by musical beats – certain songs get the adrenaline pumping and make me want to move! However, my brain is not wired to allow my body to move off the beat. It’s a curse. Perhaps a result of teaching group fitness and dance classes for many years.

You may not be as particular as me, but if you’re looking for a way to add a bit of interest to your treadmill time, you may want to try out one of these Apps:

 BeatBurn Treadmill/Outdoor Trainer
Compatible with iphone, ipod touch, ipad (who runs with an ipad?)

It claims it “changes the beat of the music to perfectly match your pace.” This really means that you are instructed to change your pace to match the beat of the music. Which is fine, I guess, just not as magical as I had envisioned. It has two settings, one for both treadmill and outdoor training.


Here’s how it works:
1. You select the desired length and intensity of your session
2. You can use either pre-programmed songs, or import your favorites from itunes.
3. It will then both arrange the songs, and adjust the tempo in order to fit your selected workout profile.
4. As you go, your “workout host” will tell you what incline and pace you should set the treadmill in order to keep pace with the beat.
5. If you’re using it outdoors, she’ll tell you to work at a certain intensity on a scale from 1-10.

Here’s what I like about it:
1. Just like any new toy, it kept me occupied, and I was excited to get to the gym to try it out the first time! This kept me from getting bored.
2. As I said before, my body feels best when my pace matches the beat of the music. I’m also inspired, like most people, by my favorite songs. So, when I’m asked to run at a pace above my comfort zone, it’s easier to get through it when my favorite songs are running as fast as I am.
3. It changes the beat of a same song – in mid song – which makes it fun. It’s interesting how the motivational factor of a song changes as it gets faster and slower.

What I didn’t care for:
1. The “workout host,” while lovely, talked an awful lot. She constantly counted down the minutes and seconds until each segment was over. She had a never ending supply of encouraging wisdom, of which I would have been fine with a small percentage. However, if you are the type that thrives on motivational cues, this might be a blessing.


Tempo Magic
Compatible with iphone, ipod touch, ipad (4.0 or later)

This has been a lifesaver for my dance and group fitness classes. It allows you to manually adjust the BPM’s of your songs. No workout profile, no coach in your ear, no frills – just what I like.

Happy Running!