I wrote this post a few weeks ago, then held off on posting it because not long after I wrote it, I read a few other very similar posts, plus a similar article on Active.com. I didn’t want to look copycatish (I like to invent words), so I kept it in the draft folder. And now that my iPhone has died and won’t be replaced until the weekend (the joys of living in the boonies), I’m posting about my favorite apps.

I’m also teaching about irony this week, so that makes it even more fitting, right?

These are six of my favorite apps, and they will be among the first (after the all-important Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, of course) that I download again when my poor little phone is replaced:

1. Rock My Run
   
   I discovered this app just a few weeks ago via #Runchat on Twitter, and I really like it. It’s got DJ-mixed playlists for basically any mood and any pace.  It’s like a party on the treadmill. (I don’t listen to music outside). The shorter mixes are usually available for free; longer mixes are available with a premium account, which I don’t have, because I’m too cheap to cough up the (reasonable) $2.99 a month.
2. Lose It!
   
   This one’s pretty obvious, since it’s one of the most popular health apps out there, but it’s a great one and still worth mentioning. Obviously, Lose It!’s primary job is to count calories, so if that’s not your thing, maybe this isn’t your app, either. I like to count calories every so often just to see where I’m at, especially when I’m increasing mileage (to make sure I’m fueling adequately). This app helped me realize that I tend to eat fewer than half my daily calories before dinner. Whoops. That needs worked on, for sure. Lose It! also calculates your percentages of calories from carbs, fat, and protein. I used it a lot after I read The New Rules of Marathon and Half-Marathon Training, because it was a lot easier to have it calculate carbs (I was trying to eat more of them, not fewer) than to do it myself.
3. Yoga Studio
   
   This terrific little app has 30 pre-designed “classes,” ranging from 15 minutes to an hour and from beginner to advanced. If you get sick of those, you can also design your own class. I have yet to make it past the beginner levels (maybe because I do yoga once in a blue moon), but they’re easy to follow, and the “instructor” has a pleasant voice. For those of us who either can’t afford or can’t seem to make it to a real yoga class, this app is a great option and well worth the $2.99
4. Abs Trainer
   
   Core work is really important for runners, and I try to incorporate it after most of my runs. This app makes it super easy to do a complete core workout in whatever time and with whatever equipment I have handy. The app has a library of exercises, with step-by-step instructions and pictures so you can be sure to do them right, so you can put together your own workout. It also has pre-designed workouts, divided by difficulty and equipment needed (I usually just do bodyweight), so you can grab one of those and crank out some ab work without a ton of planning.
5. TrainingPeaks, free
   
   I started using this one a couple of months ago, as Heather uses TrainingPeaks for her coaching plans. I really like it and will keep using it after this training plan is finished. It syncs with the TrainingPeaks website, so with just a tap or two, you can view or record your workouts. I like the layout and the ease of use.
6. MilePost, free
   
   A daily inspirational running quote? Yes please. I scheduled mine to come right before the school day starts, which means on weekends, it comes right around when I’m starting my long run. It’s a nice little moment of happiness and motivation.

I like all these apps a lot, but I’m constantly on the lookout for more. What are your favorite health and fitness apps?