TrailRunner for Mac

Pros

Looks like it has a lot of features

Cons

Doesn't work out of the box

Summary

Waste of time. I'm starting from scratch, using only this app to create a new route. 1st, it is cumbersome to get just the zoom level & area you want. 2nd, creating new route, how? I click, it drops pins, they are not connected. No route. Then, trying to extend route(pins) scroll to area off screen, using scroll bar at bottom, and the whole map disappears into blue. Can't get it back to where I was. Just wasted half an hour. Done here.

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Pros

possibility to manage training relatively easily

Cons

recommended donation is too expensive
I find it not so easy to create a trail and to assign it to training sessions

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Pros

Easy interface, useful features

Cons

I used it for a while, I didn't find anything wrong

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Summary

This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Being new to running I don't have the fancy gizmo's to figure my route mileage. I use to drive the route in my truck to figure it out. Now I can mix my run's up throughout the neighborhood using TrailRunner before I jog and know exactly how many miles I'll be running.

It does take some time and patience to figure it out, but once you've done it a few times it's a piece of cake. It can be a little slow at times, but considering the map detail I would almost expect it to be.

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Summary

This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I've been using TrailRunner now for about 3 months and I'm impressed and there are versions for both Tiger and Leopard and both are working real well.

I use the app for creating and recording routes for mountain biking and bike road work and the diversity of maps which it displays make setting up routes very easy. Satellite images are also downloaded via keyhole and are very useful for planning routes which are not easily done on normal maps, a real nice touch.

The maps are downloaded from the internet and put in a cache folder, so the more the app is used the better volume of maps are in the cache folder and the quicker the map shows in the display. The fact that the maps are stored on your computer means that you don't need to be connected to the net to use TrailRunner. Most of the maps will download freely and are not throttled. The satellite images are throttled however, so if you download too many maps the server will boot you off for 24 hours until you are able to download more. A small problem which becomes less of a problem as the cache store of maps increases.

I have also exported and imported kml files. This means that you can create routes in GoogleEarth, export them as kml files and import them into TrailRunner (and vice versa). I have used this feature alot and it works very well.

I haven't used a gps device with it yet so I can't comment on that.

Also - which I think is important - during my learning curve I emailed the author with a question or two and he answered them quickly and was very helpful. Considering this app is free (donations accepted) and the maps are free I am really glad I found this app. If you run or bike and like to keep a diary of your runs it does this as well and it kind of encourages you to keep good records of your runs and take more interest in your sport/hobby.

It also downloads elevation data from the net for routes and paths you have created and shows this on a profile chart - this showed a climb up Snowdon i did very well - the mountain profile was very interesting to see!

One last thing I noticed is that TrailRunner has that Mac kind of look and feel and the latest Leopard version has been facelifted to fit in with the Leopard look as well.

I have not covered every aspect of this app (I'm still learning about it) but for the parts I have used so far it has become very easy to use and exactly provides the features that I was hoping for.

And no, I am not connected in any way with the author of this great app!! I just had to leave a good comment based on my experiences of using TrailRunner so far.

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Summary

This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
While I dont use this for running, I do use it to plan routes for my cycling adventures. Since it works so well for me, I can't imagine what it does for runners with the Garmin models!

It grabs maps freely and you can plot away very simply where you want to route to.

The developer supports you very quickly and without hesitation.

He even added a feature for me to exports to routes instead of tracks to support my Garmin 60CSX gpsR.

It integrates with LOADMYTRACKS nicely which is an added bonus...

I suggestion giving this application a try. Its got a nice Mac like GUI.

Update have been done very frequently, what else could you ask for?

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Summary

This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I was looking for a runner's log and found something much more in TrailRunner.

In a sense, TrailRunner is a graphic database of running routes. Import some maps and trace your run routes. TrailRunner can then generate routes of a desired distance. The program has shown me how to recombine common routes in ways I had never considered!

The interface can be a bit confusing at times, but this program is free (donations accepted), and the author is responsive to questions and suggestions. A good effort for version <1.0.

Give TrailRunner a try!

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