Show HN: I run too fast, so I made an app to slow me down • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: I run too fast, so I made an app to slow me down

#21

Post by chrislawrence » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 1:56 PM UTC

Recommending this to all my novice running friends. Nothing like annoyance to help set a good habit!

Re: Show HN: I run too fast, so I made an app to slow me down

#22

Post by marknutter » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 1:57 PM UTC

ScottWhigham wrote: post #15

k-mcgrady wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find that I can run much longer on a treadmill because the pace is set for me. I can't manage it as well myself when running outside and burn myself out too quickly.

Everyone can run much longer on a treadmill though. That's not unique to you. I always wondered just how much of a marketing ploy that was - "I love my Acme Fitrun machine - I can do 12 miles in just under 1:30!" Meanwhile that person finishes a half marathon in 3:14.

It's true that running on a treadmill is easier, mainly due to the lack of wind resistance (which is a bigger factor for running than you would think), but also due to the artificially perfectly flat surface; you have to make far fewer micro-adjustments to the terrain when you're on a treadmill, and like everything in distance running, those adjustments add up over time.

It's said that putting the treadmill at a 1-2 degree incline can correct for this discrepancy, and there's actually been a few scientific studies on this as well (e.g. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8887211).

Re: Show HN: I run too fast, so I made an app to slow me down

#23

Post by vinnycoyne » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 1:58 PM UTC

chrislawrence wrote: post #21

Recommending this to all my novice running friends. Nothing like annoyance to help set a good habit!

Thanks!

Re: Show HN: I run too fast, so I made an app to slow me down

#24

Post by marknutter » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 2:00 PM UTC

This is a great idea, but unfortunately doesn't help us runners who find music distracting while running.

Re: Show HN: I run too fast, so I made an app to slow me down

#25

Post by zupa-hu » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 2:01 PM UTC

Genious! I am still running on treadmills just because of the feedback loop. That app might change my life :)

Re: Show HN: I run too fast, so I made an app to slow me down

#26

Post by ndepoel » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 2:16 PM UTC

marknutter wrote: post #24

This is a great idea, but unfortunately doesn't help us runners who find music distracting while running.

Try using a metronome then. I'm sure there's plenty of apps available for that.

Re: Show HN: I run too fast, so I made an app to slow me down

#27

Post by a-priori » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 2:17 PM UTC

dunudu wrote: post #5

fredley wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To what, and why?

It sounds really arrogant. I'm so amazingly fast that I have to use an app to stop myself from taking off into the air like Superman.

Then read it as "I run faster than I should and tire myself out prematurely".

Re: Show HN: I run too fast, so I made an app to slow me down

#28

Post by netrus » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 2:20 PM UTC

k-mcgrady wrote: post #13

th0br0 wrote: post #4

Out of curiosity, what was the motivation for doing this? What is so bad about running too fast? How is "too fast" defined?

I find that I can run much longer on a treadmill because the pace is set for me. I can't manage it as well myself when running outside and burn myself out too quickly.

Think about the physics of running on a treadmill. The only part of your body constantly accelerating are your legs - your upper body hardly moves. When running outside, you have air resistance, speeding up / slowing down to avoid obstacles, slight side-movements .... Your body simply is working harder.

Re: Show HN: I run too fast, so I made an app to slow me down

#29

Post by seivan » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 2:21 PM UTC

I walk fast. It hurts my leg, and I walk to work everyday.

I found what worked, was that if I was walking with someone I'd normalize my speed. Because other people somehow can pace them selves, I can't. Wonder if it's related to ADHD.

Re: Show HN: I run too fast, so I made an app to slow me down

#30

Post by pearjuice » Wed, Oct 16, 2013, 2:22 PM UTC

With Android having a magnitude bigger market share, why is that so many companies, PoCs and MVPs tend to bootstrap for iOS? I get the whole "they are big spenders, so they are more likely to buy my app", but if your concept is so great why not invest a little more time in also deploying for that massive Android audience?