Introduction
ViRun Pod aka Virtual Running Pod is a unique application that act your smartphone as running pod. Very suitable for use when walking/running on a treadmill to take your indoor workout to the next level. The application using dual-sensing sensor (accelerometer and physical activity sensor) to measurements walking/jogging/running data and sends them over the Bluetooth Low Energy to fitness application like Zwift, etc.
🏃♂️ What Is ViRun Pod?
Use your phone as a sensor while walking/running on a treadmill for Zwift, etc. It’s perfect to work together with non-smart treadmills.
🏃♂️ Is It Free?
Yes, absolutely! :)
🏃♂️ Requirements
Minimum Android 5.0 Lollipop
Download
Download ViRun Pod for FREE on Google Play Store
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Stralizer (Strava Visualizer)
Combines Strava activity with photo to create great looking design workout memories.
More About ViRun Pod
🏃♂️ How It Works
ViRun Pod use smartphone internal accelerometer and physical activity sensor that measures torso movement to calculate these metrics:
- Total steps
- Speed, it is measured in kilometers per hour.
- Cadence, is the number of steps (left and right) per minute
- Stride length, is the length in meters of your stride from 1 footfall to the next
And then broadcast calculated running speed and cadence data over BLE (your smartphone act as bluetooth peripheral/central device). Use it as a Running Pod and pair it with fitness application like Zwift on your computer or other smartphone.
🏃♂️ Using ViRun Pod
For best results, put your phone in running pants pocket, an arm band or take it in your hand.
🏃♂️ Use Case
Is it suitable for your walking/running? Absolutely YES, if:
- You are running hobbies
- You don’t have access to a smart treadmill
- You are fitness application user like Zwift
- You don’t have real running pod device (Garmin Pod, Stryd Pod, Coros Pod, Zwift RunPod, etc)
- You are a runner to make indoor running fun again
- You don’t have smartwatch with virtual run features (Garmin, Coros, etc)
- You are a beginner runner that care with indoor workout to the next level
- You don’t have heartrate sensor with running dynamics features (Garmin)
🏃♂️ How to Use
- Enable bluetooth
- Open ViRun Pod
- Approve permissions (if requested)
- Complete setup like gender and height (if requested)
- Press start button (the RSC service is now live)
- Open fitness application like Zwift on your computer or other smartphone
- Scan for speed/cadence sensor and pair it (should be
phone name [number]) - Run
Informations
🔋 Battery
Please do not restrict background activity and disable battery saver for the app, the app need run as background activity in working perfectly.
📣 Important to Zwift User (Windows)
If you get disconnected regularly with ViRun Pod, it’s because you are using built-in bluetooth and direct connection (default in Zwift). In this situation, you must use the Zwift Companion app on a second phone to connect with ViRun Pod.
🔧 Known Issues
As you know, I can’t test it in all phones. So if it can’t work for your phone, just uninstall it, I’m sorry to waste your time. You also can send a mail stralizerapp[at]gmail.com to let me know your phone model, if I solve it, I will let you know.
⚙️ Others
ViRun Pod is still under active development and will get more features as the app ages.