A month or two ago, I started using an iPhone app called RunKeeper to log how far and how often I take long dog walks. I’m trying a variety of routes to see which one are easiest, longest, etc.

The program uses the GPS in the iPhone to track exactly where you are walking. Of course, you can make the maps private if you’re afraid of stalkers. It’s a free app, so it’s worth a try.

If you have the first-generation iPhone (like I do), you’ll have to go in and manually clean up the map coordinates after your walk, because the first-generation iPhone’s location reporting is based on unreliable cell tower triangulation, not GPS. But, if you have an iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS, it will probably work perfectly for you. It’s a good alternative to the Nike + system.

Check out a (cleaned up) map of my latest 5.21-mile walk by clicking the above image or going to http://bit.ly/M4AL8.

Originally published on my lifestream at MichealFoley.com

As of 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning, I was winning in my Foursquare battle against my work friend Jen P. (Photo by foleymo)

I started playing Foursquare on my iPhone almost two weeks ago and I’m totally addicted.

If you’re not familiar with Foursquare, it’s a Web and mobile app that turns real life into poin-accumulating game. Players are rewarded for being adventurous and outgoing in real life.

Here’s how it works:

When you go out to a favorite restaurant, attraction or venue, check in online or with a mobile app.

Foursquare will award points based on your check-ins — five points for adding a new venue, five points for checking in at a new place, one point for checking in where you have been before.

There are also other goals. You can become “mayor” of a venue by being the person who has checked in there the most over the last two months. You also can collect badges by accomplishing certain tasks. It’s also a good way to keep tabs on what your friends are up to. For example, when a friend of mine checks into a bar down the block from me I can easily drop in on them or text them to set up plans for later.

After explaining Foursquare to my friends and asking them to join, I usually get one of two responses — “Sounds like fun. How do I join?” or “What do the points get me? Nothing? Why would I want to do that?”

Their answer tells me a lot about them. If they are for it, I assume they are the kind of people who grew up accumulating points in Pac-Man, for no other reason than to have fun. If they are looking for the real-world personal payoff for this online game, I can gather that they are solidly grounded in the real world and don’t like to feel like they’re wasting their time.

Anyway, I think it’s fun. And I’m determined to beat Jen P. in this week’s game (it ends at midnight).