Checklists and more!
A few months ago I reviewed an iPhone app called Tri-Checklist and shortly thereafter a buddy told me to check out TriEssential’s iPhone app which includes a checklist and much more. I really like the simplicity of Tri-Checklist. It simply did what it was supposed to without any additions or flare, something the minimalist in me loves. But I also have a creative side and I was excited to check out what TriEssential had to offer.
The TriEssential app is currently free. You must have a WiFi connection when downloading due to the numerous high-resolution photos that come with the app. The app has a different tip for everyday of the year along with a picture. There are also quotes that can help you get through your work day or work out. There are also quick-links to a handful of blogs that can be helpful on your quest to health and/or an Ironman. All these items are very cool and are fun to surf through when you have a few moments to spare, but the real meat of the app are the tools; Time Projector, Race Checklist and PR Keeper.
The Time Projector is really cool. How many times have you been sitting with your tri-friends talking about what your finish time will be on any given event? And how many of those times have you had to pull out a pencil and try to figure out the ridiculous math and compare pacing to finish time? It is typically too difficult so we give our times in general terms. Well, TriEssential has come to the rescue. You can enter your pace time or final time for each leg, including transitions, and the app will instantly provide you with your final projected finish time. It is awesome.
There are some limitations with the Time Projector. You can only use the time projector for Olympic, Half and Full distance Triathlons. The next triathlon I have signed up for with my buddies is an Olympic but the bike distance is a few miles short of the full Olympic distance. The Time Projector doesn’t allow for any customization. The swim only gives a pace per 100 meters. For over 30 years I have always swam in yards, so I still need to google the correct pace. It can also be a little difficult to get the slider to the exact time that you want. I will slide my finger to the desired pace, but when I remove my finger from the screen it will sometimes bump a few seconds up or down. The only other problem is that the run pace gets maxed out at ten minutes per mile. I can do that for the Olympic and Half Iron distance, but for the Full Ironman, that pace is out of reach. The Time Projector really is great, so don’t let the small limitations prevent you from enjoying this great tool.
The Checklist and Personal Record (PR) Keeper are basic tools that are nice to have at your disposal. The checklist is completely customizable. The default gives you sections for preparation, swim, bike, run and finish. All of the basic items for each section is already loaded into the system and you can also add more of your own and even delete the ones you don’t need. The one thing I wish the TriEssential Checklist had, is the ability to add different race checklists. That way I could have a marathon checklist and a triathlon checklist. This would allow the user to customize a different checklist for every event that they participate in.
I love the PR Keeper. I used to keep all my PR information on my phone’s notepad. It always reminded my of just scratching notes on a yellow pad of paper, rather than having some pride and displaying them nicely. The PR Keeper also allows you to customize the screen for your events. Another nice addition is that it allows you to keep some notes for each event. It is a great little tool to have on hand wherever you go…and it is even more fun when you can update those times.
The Bottom Line ~
This is currently a free app and well worth your time to download. The tools are very helpful although there are a few limitation. The motivation tips, quotes and pictures are incredibly helpful for those days you struggle. The app also allows you to email some of its content to your friends to help motivate them. I really like this app and encourage you to check it out. It adds a lot to your standard checklist app.
The simplicity of Tri-Checklist makes it a winner, too bad it isn’t a free app anymore.
