Why bother tracking at all
Using a tracking app is like having a coach in your pocket between sessions. They give real-time feedback, record your progress and offer structure. For Seattle athletes that is especially useful given our weather and our schedules — you can plan indoor work, track outdoor runs, or monitor recovery days.
- Motivation: seeing progress visually keeps you going.
- Accountability: reminders and goal tracking keep you consistent.
- Customization: workouts fit your needs and level.
- Data: detailed stats show what is working and what is not.
The apps worth trying
Strava
Best for runners and cyclists. GPS route tracking, detailed performance analytics, challenges, and a social layer for finding new routes around Seattle.
MyFitnessPal
If nutrition is part of your goal, this is the one. Meal logging, calorie counting, macro tracking, a large food database, a barcode scanner, and integration with most other fitness apps and devices.
Nike Training Club
A wide range of workouts from strength and endurance through to yoga and mobility, with video demonstrations so form is clear. Good for all levels, and free.
Fitbit
Even without a Fitbit device, the app tracks activity, sleep and heart rate using your phone's sensors. A solid all-rounder for daily health monitoring.
JEFIT
Built for lifting. Detailed workout plans, a large exercise library with instructions, and proper progress tracking for strength sessions.
What is free?
Plenty. Nike Training Club is free in full. Strava's free tier covers GPS tracking and the social features. MyFitnessPal's basic food logging is free and comprehensive. The Fitbit app tracks steps and basic activity without a device. The free versions are more than enough to get moving.
Choosing one
- Identify your primary goal — running, strength, weight loss, general health.
- Consider your workout style — gym, outdoors, or at home.
- Check it works with your devices.
- Look for the features you will actually use.
- Try before you commit; most have a free tier.
If you are a Seattle runner who likes exploring new routes, Strava's tracking and community features fit well. If you are focused on strength work in the studio, JEFIT or Nike Training Club suit better.
Getting the most out of it
- Set clear, realistic goals using the app's goal features.
- Log consistently — make it a habit, not an event.
- Review weekly and adjust rather than waiting for a monthly reckoning.
- Use reminders, and keep them few enough that you still read them.
The best app is the one you actually use. Keep it simple.
Worth knowing: Eastlake Performance clients already have app-based tracking built into their program — sessions, progress and body composition are logged for you, and the programming is adjusted from what the numbers show. A third-party app is a supplement to that, not a replacement.