Always with your  smartphone

An extension of our hand for the past few years, the smartphone has quickly become an indispensable accessory in our daily lives. It was therefore only natural that we also saw it make its way into our sporting activities.

Some see this as something negative, constraining, or even as something that distorts the original spirit of a running outing — namely that running is a breath of fresh air, a bubble we create to forget everything else. But isn't the opposite also true? Hasn't the smartphone actually become an asset and an important boost in our training and preparation?

What are the reasons to run with your phone?

  • 1. Safety

    As we say, "Better safe than sorry!" When you head out for a run, it's best to be prepared. Hurting your knee or spraining your ankle can happen very quickly. Fortunately, with a smartphone within reach, nothing is easier than calling a loved one or the emergency services — even if we obviously hope you never need to.

    And besides, it's always handy to have a phone when you're completely lost in the middle of a forest in total darkness, right?

  • 2. Track your performance and health stats

    Having your smartphone with you on your run isn't just useful for your safety. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned marathon runner and running enthusiast, you love tracking your performance! With your phone close at hand and the dozens of specialized apps available, checking your performance or health stats has become child's play. Bring on the progress charts and other statistics you only half understand.

  • 3. Listen to your favorite music

    Seriously, what could be more enjoyable than listening to your favorite playlist during your weekend run? An upbeat, punchy track that gives you a massive dose of motivation and energy and pushes you to give your best. Besides, music can be a great way to find motivation. It's well known — several scientific studies have proven that music has a positive impact on sports performance. It reduces feelings of discomfort and fatigue that come from physical activity, it increases tolerance to effort and helps with concentration. That said, choose your music wisely — not sure that "Ne me quitte pas" by Jacques Brel is the most fitting for the occasion.

    And, a little tip from the Shapeheart team: there are even playlists designed for running at exactly your pace on streaming platforms like Spotify and Deezer.

  • 4. Capture moments

    We've all been there at least once — that really annoying moment when you want to capture a beautiful landscape or a funny little incident to share with family or friends, but your phone isn't on you! And it's exactly in those moments that you realize carrying your smartphone on your run isn't so pointless after all.

    And speaking of which, why not share your best photos from your solo or group running sessions with us using @Shapeheart_ on Instagram?

  • 5. Never miss a professional or family call

    And finally, saving the most important for last — what do you do after a full day of work when responsibilities are still there? How do you respond to your boss, your clients, your family if the calls are important and can't be postponed?

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Step 1

OK, but where do you put it?

To best choose the sports accessory you need during your training, you first need to establish ALL your requirements. We especially recommend figuring out whether you need a large space for your keys, watch, earphones, credit card, mobile phone or not.

Now that you've established your needs, let's look at the options:

  • The armband

    Stylish, comfortable, affordable, waterproof, sweat-resistant… Our sports armband lets you easily access your phone (GPS, music, apps) thanks to its detachable magnetic sleeve.

    Sports armband 

  • The belt

    Our sports belt features, in addition to its detachable magnetic sleeve, 3 extra storage compartments for keys, gels, cards and soft flasks. It's the perfect ally for runners!

    Sports belt 

  • The sports bra

    OK, it's not the most elegant solution, but there are sports bras on the market specifically designed with a built-in smartphone pocket. Located at the front, you can store your smartphone, keys, money and other valuables.

    The only downside: having to stop every time to check your phone.

  • The backpack

    For the most experienced runners, it may seem like a trivial solution, but it is possible to store your phone in hydration packs. Sure, if the pack is only used to carry the phone it's not very useful and there are far more practical, less bulky and less expensive solutions. However, if you're about to run for a long time, you need to bring water with you to stay hydrated. In that case, it would be wiser to get a hydration pack that includes a pocket for your phone.

  • The pockets

    Here we get to the least practical solutions, which are almost survival situations. We don't really recommend this solution — it will hinder you more than anything else.

    At this rate, it's time to invest a little!

  • In your hand?

    First, we'd rather warn you: while having your phone in your hand might seem like the simplest and least expensive solution, you may not realize it yet, but it comes with risks we advise you not to take…

    The "weight" of the phone, however light it may be, can cause quite a few minor issues. As a result, it will create an imbalance throughout your entire body. To hold the phone, you'll tense the muscles in your arm and consequently those in your shoulder. You'll end up with a misalignment of all your upper limbs and risk injuring yourself! So this solution should be ruled out right now.

On your marks, get set,

GO!

Now there are no more excuses — gear up accordingly and go improve your stride and your performance.

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