Show HN: Running, an extremely simple exercise tracking app. | Hacker News Reader

Show HN: Running, an extremely simple exercise tracking app.

5 pointsshail22 comments

Running is extremely minimal and hence supports very limited options. I am trying to understand the market from the perspective that "Should such minimal apps exists?"

Kindly check it out and let me know what you think about it? Would you use it? Or I am going completely in the wrong direction.

Feedbacks are welcome on usability, look and feel as well.

Website: http://hmpgr.com/apps/running Invite Code: HN

Thanks a lot for reading.

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FIrst of all, the app looks fine. It's not super polished or anything, but it's functional and does exactly what it says it does.

My problem with this is that most fitness apps are on mobile -- designed for mobile first -- and since I take my iPhone with me when I run, it not only tracks the fact that I'm running, but how far, how fast, and my exact route. I don't have to think "Hmm, I ran 12.6 miles" and then type it in somewhere else. It already knows that and tracks that for me over time.

A real groundbreaker would be if I had an app that knew I was doing pushups and counted them for me, knew I was doing crunches and counted them for me, knew I was riding my bike and tracked my velocity and route for me.

There are a million apps out there for tracking what exercises I've done today. Other than running and cycling, everything else is done manually. THAT is the real pain point. My phone should be smart enough to KNOW that I'm exercising -- and how. Fix that, and you've got a multi-million dollar app.

Hey Jemaclus

I agree with what you said. Its what anyone would expect from an app like this.

Warning: what comes next is very opinionated :) Let me put my perspective and I am aware its a bit different. And its a bit difficult to explain, so hear me out totally.

The point about exercising is all about staying healthy. Its about consistency with which you exercise. Now let me give you an example where an automatic tracking was not helping me. An expense tracking app. Now I am talking about actually improving my expensing habits and start saving for rainy day. There are lots of app which connect to your credit card and automatically know when you spent what and gives you pretty graphs. The problem with that most of the time it happens so automatically that it does not change your behavior. Changing spending habits requires those restrains which you put on yourself everytime you put your hands in the pocket for fetching your card. Thats when I found that really tracking it myself (and not automatically by some third party) is the only way be aware of your expenses.

Same goes with exercising. Thats why this app only supports "yesterday" and "today" button. So its forces to record as soon as you ran. This forces a habit. And I believe in habits.

I know its counter-intuitive and may be its just me. But thats what I am trying to verify :) Thanks for the reply though. Loved it.

So I think my use of the word "automatically" was a bad one. I think I meant "super easy". For instance, when I step out the door, I open my Strava app, and I hit "Start Running", and then I start running. When I'm done, I hit "Finished" and it saves every stat it tracked about my run, and later after some processing, it tells me even more things, like whether this run was better than other runs or whether I ran a new route or whatever. The point being that I don't have to remember anything other than hitting "Start" and "Finish". For an app like yours, I have to go back to my computer or actually type a button in.

I read an article this morning -- I can't remember which one, sorry -- but the author basically suggested that any time you can eliminate typing on a mobile device, you should. If you can make everything tappable in a few seconds on a mobile device, you're golden.

That said, I think this particular activity is in need of new solutions -- not Yet Another Tracker.

Anyway, good luck. Hope this works out for you! Like you said, exercise is all about being healthy, so if this works for you, great! I'm purely offering advice from a business standpoint (as in, I would pay for this product if _____)

Thanks a lot for the thoughts and insights.

> About going back to computer...

This app is mobile ready and can be "Added to Homescreen" for easy access.

My quest currently is to understand that do we really need all that details about the running (like paths, comparison with other runs etc.) because more data brings more complexity. I feel, in many cases, being simple is a feature in itself. Just my thought.

I am actually targeting that section of the users who want really simple apps.

For full-fledged requirement, I agree, MapMyRun, Runkeeper apps do the justice.

Thanks again for all the inputs. I really appreciate.

Good luck.

Clickable: http://hmpgr.com/apps/running Invite Code: HN

What exactly are you doing with the data that I am giving you while using this app?

Just plot it for you to see the how regularly you are running.

The apps on hmpgr are all personal apps just like notes app lets you record your notes.

This already exists in the form of MapMyRun, RunKeeper, MyFitnessPal, etc, etc... I don't see what makes yours so unique.

Hi,

The uniqueness is in terms of its simplicity and minimalistic nature. The apps which you mentioned are all great.

Running app is just an execution for the same requirements in the minimalistic sense. I agree it will not appeal to everyone, but I am trying to find out if there are any of us who likes such minimalistic apps.

When are you going to put in squats? I'd start using it then.

Soon enough.

Sweet, but what's the deal with going slowly adding basic exercises?

hi,

I am following the approach of putting minimal yet useful version out and then tailor according to early adopters. That way I will not end up cluttering it with things not needed. Like for instance 3 exercises are ok, but if its goes more than that, I will have to develop a feature where you could hide an exercise you are not interested it (and may be add it later if needed).

But I will do it very soon. Best would be if you sign up and you would some to know immediately. Or follow us on twitter for updates @hmpgr.

BTW thanks for showing the interest. Would love to get more feedback if you find anything interesting to share about the app experience.

What is this hmpgr thing? Are you developing your app with them as a platform or is this your actual startup?

Kinda confused because I actually did sign up to try your app, but now I'm signed up to this other app and I really didn't want to do that.

Why not allow users to add/remove their own exercises? They choose a name, and data they'd like to track for that exercise, such as distance, time, weight, reps. For example, they click Add Exercise, enter Squats as the name, and check the boxes for weight, and reps. Now, after their workout, they just click the Squats button under My Exercises, and enter the reps and weight they did for that day.

Nice! I was looking for an app like this.

Thanks. :3

Thanks a lot Icasela. Let me know how you like it. I am still developing it and would love to listen about your requirements. Send me mail at: shailesh.narain@hmpgr.com

Is there any way of contributing to this?

Hi Icasela

I will be releasing a developers kit very soon which will allow you to make such small apps for the Hmpgr platform. I will definitely let you know once I release that.

If you wish to contribute specifically to Running app, then let me know and I will send you required details as soon as I am done with developers kit.

Cool!

>I will be releasing a developers kit very soon which will allow you to make such small apps for the Hmpgr platform.

Will you be sending out an email to everyone who has registered to your site?

hey Icasela,

I try to avoid emails but since you asked I will send it out to you.

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