Blog
Honest writing about fitness competition.
Wearable accuracy, scoring fairness, the apps we compete with, and what we ship. From the MoveTogether team.
35 posts
guides · July 22, 2026 · 10 min read
Average mile run times: 2026 benchmarks and how to improve
The global average mile is about 10:25, and 9:54 in the U.S. Here are the 2026 mile benchmarks by sex and level, plus a simple plan to run faster.
guides · July 21, 2026 · 12 min read
How to be a better runner: an actionable guide
Getting better at running is simple, not easy. Build a repeatable week, keep most runs easy, add strength, recover like it counts, and trust your data.
guides · July 20, 2026 · 10 min read
8 exercises with ankle weights that actually earn their place
Eight exercises with ankle weights, organized by goal, with the form cues, realistic light loads, and safety notes that keep them useful, not risky.
guides · July 19, 2026 · 8 min read
Dynamic warm-up for running: your 5, 10, or 15-minute routine
A dynamic warm-up makes the run feel better sooner. Here are 5, 10, and 15-minute routines, the drills that matter, and the warm-up mistakes to skip.
guides · July 18, 2026 · 12 min read
9 Sedona trails built for a fair group hiking challenge
Sedona has the views. Fair scoring is the hard part. Nine Sedona trails matched to a group competition format that works across Apple Watch, Garmin, and iPhone.
guides · July 17, 2026 · 10 min read
7 cycling core exercises that actually transfer to the bike
Cycling core work makes you more durable, not more powerful. Seven moves that transfer to the bike, mapped to what each one trains and how to program it.
guides · July 16, 2026 · 10 min read
The correct way to run: a no-nonsense guide to form
There is no single correct way to run, but there are principles. Here is how to improve your form, cut braking, and use cadence and video without the dogma.
guides · July 15, 2026 · 8 min read
Does alcohol slow heart rate? What your wearable is really telling you
Alcohol almost always raises your heart rate, not lowers it. Here is what your wearable's overnight RHR and HRV really tell you after a night out.
guides · July 14, 2026 · 5 min read
Fitbit removed Workweek Hustle. Here's how to get challenges back.
Fitbit removed Workweek Hustle, Weekend Warrior, and Challenges in 2023. Here's how to rebuild those friend competitions across any wearable, not just Fitbit.
guides · July 14, 2026 · 5 min read
Does ice help sore muscles? An honest guide to timing
Ice can dull sore-muscle pain fast, but easing pain and speeding recovery are not the same. Here is when icing helps, when heat wins, and how to use each.
guides · July 13, 2026 · 15 min read
Cross country running training: a complete season guide
A complete guide to cross country running training: how to phase a season, pick weekly workouts, build strength, and track progress fairly across mixed devices.
guides · July 12, 2026 · 10 min read
The best exercise for inner thigh strength: 7 moves that hold up
Strong inner thighs steady the knee and pelvis, not just how shorts fit. Seven adductor moves from beginner-friendly to brutal, plus how to pick two or three.
guides · July 11, 2026 · 12 min read
Heart rate monitor for swimming: an honest guide
Wrist sensors are unreliable in the pool. An honest guide to swim heart rate monitors: chest straps, goggle sensors, live data, and fair cross-device scoring.
guides · July 10, 2026 · 11 min read
An ab workout for runners you will actually do
A practical ab workout for runners that holds form when fatigue hits: three routines by level, form cues, and where core work fits in a real training week.
nutrition · July 9, 2026 · 13 min read
8 low-calorie oatmeal recipes for busy training weeks
Eight low-calorie oatmeal recipes mapped to real training jobs: fast pre-workout carbs, higher-protein recovery bowls, and high-volume options for hungry weeks.
guides · July 8, 2026 · 10 min read
The 7 best cross-training apps for 2026
The best cross-training tool is the one you will actually repeat. We compare seven, from Apple Fitness+ to Centr, plus how to keep it fair on mixed devices.
guides · July 7, 2026 · 12 min read
10 monthly fitness challenge ideas for mixed-device groups
Ten monthly fitness challenge ideas mapped to fair scoring, so Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, WHOOP, and phone-only users compete on one honest leaderboard.
guides · July 6, 2026 · 11 min read
10 workplace fitness challenge ideas for mixed-device teams
Ten workplace fitness challenge ideas mapped to fair scoring, so Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, and iPhone-only teammates all compete on one honest leaderboard.
guides · July 5, 2026 · 12 min read
Fitness tracker comparison for fair group competitions
A fitness tracker comparison built around one question: fair competition. See how Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, WHOOP, and Oura stack up for mixed-device groups.
guides · July 4, 2026 · 12 min read
8 daily fitness challenges for any wearable
Eight daily fitness challenges you can run on any wearable, each mapped to a fair scoring method so Apple Watch, Fitbit, and Garmin users compete on one board.
guides · July 3, 2026 · 15 min read
How to measure fitness progress without guessing
Most fitness data never answers whether training is working. The fix is a system: pick a goal, match it to one or two metrics, and judge trends, not days.
guides · July 2, 2026 · 12 min read
What is a fitness accountability app? A guide for mixed-device groups
A fitness accountability app sits above the trackers your group already uses and turns mixed-device activity into one leaderboard people trust.
guides · July 1, 2026 · 8 min read
How to set fitness goals that survive past February
Most fitness goals collapse by February. Here is how to set goals that survive real life, mixed devices included, with fair scoring and honest milestones.
guides · June 30, 2026 · 13 min read
10 best fitness motivation apps for 2026
A fitness motivation app works when its mechanic fits you. We compare 10 for 2026, from social competition and AI coaching to story, stakes, and guided runs.
guides · June 27, 2026 · 8 min read
What is an AI fitness coach? A plain-English guide
An AI fitness coach turns your activity data into personalized feedback and nudges. Here's what they really do, where they fall short, and how to pick one.
guides · June 26, 2026 · 8 min read
Nine group fitness challenge ideas that survive past week two
Nine group fitness challenge ideas for steps, rings, and streaks, each mapped to a fair scoring method you can run across Apple Watch, Fitbit, and Garmin.
guides · June 25, 2026 · 9 min read
How to plan a family fitness challenge that actually lasts
Most family fitness challenges collapse over unfair scoring. Here's how to pick the right scoring method, stay fair across devices, and keep everyone going.
guides · June 24, 2026 · 3 min read
How to do an Apple Watch competition with a group of friends
Apple's Activity competitions are one-on-one only. Here's how to run an Apple Watch group competition with your whole friend group on a single live leaderboard.
guides · June 24, 2026 · 3 min read
Best group fitness challenge apps to compete with friends in 2026
An honest shortlist of the best apps for running fitness challenges with a group of friends — including which ones work when everyone is on a different wearable.
guides · June 22, 2026 · 4 min read
How to compete with friends who have different fitness wearables
Apple's Activity sharing is Apple Watch–only. Here's how to run a fair fitness competition when your friend group is on Garmin, Fitbit, WHOOP, or Oura.
announcement · May 23, 2026 · 5 min read
The "new" MoveTogether — what changed in this rebuild
The app you used to know was a different MoveTogether. Here's what the rebuild changed: scoring, leagues, Coach Mo, pricing, and what it means for existing users.
wearables · May 23, 2026 · 7 min read
How accurate is Apple Watch calorie tracking?
Apple Watch calorie estimates are directionally good and absolutely fallible. Here's what they get right, what they miss, and how to use them without lying to yourself.
scoring · May 23, 2026 · 6 min read
Percentage of Goals vs Apple's Move ring — what's actually the difference?
Apple's Move ring measures one person against their own goal. MoveTogether's Percentage of Goals scoring is a fairness layer on top so you can compete with people whose goals aren't yours.
guides · May 23, 2026 · 8 min read
Best fitness apps for couples in 2026
Most fitness apps are built for solo tracking. A short, honest list of the ones that actually work when you're trying to stay active together — and where MoveTogether fits.
scoring · May 23, 2026 · 5 min read
Why HRV and VO2 Max aren't in MoveTogether's scoring
HRV and VO2 Max are useful personal metrics and bad competitive metrics. Here's why we deliberately left them out of the scoring layer.
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