Runsocial Launches Digital Running Experience

RunSocial has released a treadmill video app that combines social running with HD videos of running routes, allowing runners to explore real locations with friends, wherever they are in the world.

The app’s real world video footage gives users access to a variety of interactive virtual world environments where you can run with others in real time.

RunSocial’s new app has features and tracking options, including:

• RunSocial’s ‘pedometer’ feature senses vibration generated by running on a treadmill to assess the runner’s speed, which controls the video. This includes a calibration function to enable the pedometer to better match the runner’s stride
•  The TreadTracker device can be placed under almost any treadmill and streams accurate, real time speed data to RunSocial via Bluetooth
• The app can be connected to Life Fitness treadmills with Discover and Track+ consoles via Bluetooth or USB port depending on the console. Once connected, RunSocial will show the treadmill speed and automatically control treadmill incline to match the video route
• Big screen viewing for those with treadmills at home, users can connect their iPhone or iPad to a second screen via HDMI or Apple TV and see the running routes on the big screen. RunSocial has coded for this so users can enjoy the full widescreen effect
• Social media integration with Facebook and Twitter provides users with the ability to share the start of their run and then see any comments from friends and encouragement pop up along their route. Treadmill running has truly never been as social. Of course, RunSocial runners can also share their run accomplishments socially at the end of their run using Facebook and Twitter
• The app allows goal setting–users can set running goals by time or distance and track progress directly on screen while running their route.
• Besides regular video runs, RunSocial enables users to create and host digital running events with friends and they will soon also be able to join major public events, such as marathons, from wherever they are, individually or as a team
• Apple Watch connection, enabling runners to benefit from the custom heart rate sensor and allowing runner data to be viewed on Apple’s Health app, providing an easy to read dashboard of health and fitness data

“Our mission is to help make fitness more fun,” said Marc Hardy, RunSocial’s CEO and cofounder. “Digital fitness is a hot space which is exciting, but most products focus on tracking and data. For RunSocial, these are inputs and outputs; our core value is trying to make the actual fitness experience itself more fun and motivating. We’ve started with the treadmill simply because so many of us do it yet most of us still relate to the term ‘dreadmill.’ We want to fix that.”

The app is available in the Apple App Store for free and all routes, along with free demos, are available for download within the app.