Hasta La Gadget!

Runtastic, an Austrian running startup with an aim of hitting the Polars and Nikes of the world where it counts, has released something it’s calling “Story Running,” essentially an app that tracks your run and replays an audio story that becomes more exciting as you approach the high points of an interval run.

There have been a few of these already, most notably Zombies Run! and, unless you’re ensconced in a long audiobook, they do add a bit of aural pleasure to the long slog of keeping you out of an early grave. There are a number of genres, including “Fantasy,” “Adventure” and “Travel.”

Runtastic also announced the Libra scale, a BMI, bone mass, muscle mass, and BMR/AMR calculating scale that connects to an iOS device to track your weight and important statistics. It costs 129 euro and will be available in November.

Most app developers have few incentives to build their own hardware, let alone the resources. With 25 million mobile users, Runtastic has both — so it only makes sense that the company is bringing a slate of complementary exercise gear to the US for the first time. The initial catalog won’t shock cyclists and runners who have ever toyed with tracking their progress, but it’s certainly complete. Along with Runtastic’s take on a GPS watch ($150), there’s also an app-friendly heart rate monitor ($70), a speed sensor ($60), an armband and a bike mount. While the peripherals only truly make sense for Runtastic loyalists, they’re available today through Amazon — and they might seal the deal for athletes who want a harmonious blend of hardware and software.

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Wearables

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Source: Runtastic