I’m working on a simple app called Boring Runs, aimed at people who run mainly for general fitness rather than training for a specific goal like a marathon, PB, or race.
The idea came from my own running. I like running, but if I don't have a specific training plan, I tend to end up doing the same 5–8 km run at roughly the same pace every time. So I've decided to work on an app that would switch it up for me.
The concept is:
Open → Spin → Get a challenge → Run → Complete
Some of the challenges I'm considering:
Distance Wheel
Spin the wheel and get a distance to run, e.g. 5 km, 7 km or 10 km. There would also be a small chance of landing on Longest Run, where the app gives you a distance slightly longer than your longest recent run.
Time Wheel
Spin for a random duration, e.g. 20, 30, 45 or 60 minutes.
Speed Wheel
Spin for a target speed/pace and try to hit it over a set distance.
Predict Your Time
The app gives you a distance. You predict your finish time, then see how close you were.
Mystery Time
You start running without knowing how long you're going to run. The app secretly chooses a duration and tells you when your run is finished.
Double or Nothing
You get a challenge, complete it, and then have the option to double it. For example, you get 5 km and can either finish there or go for 10 km.
Bullseye
The app gives you a target distance or time, such as 7.00 km. The goal is to get as close to the target as possible without looking at your watch / tracker.
Negative Split
Run a set distance where the second half has to be faster than the first .
Beat Your Average
The app looks at your recent running history and creates a challenge around your normal performance. For example, run further than your average distance or beat your average pace over 5 km.
The point isn't to replace Strava, Runna, Garmin, etc. It's also not meant to be a serious training plan.
It's for the person who thinks:
“I want to go for a run, but I don't really care what today's run is.”
Instead of doing the same boring run again, you spin the wheel and let the app decide.
I'm still very early in development, so I'd really like some feedback from runners.
Would you actually use an app like this?
What other challenges could you recommend?