Active Launches New Social Workout App

Workout apps have become the new gym. It’s convenient, you can do it within the comforts of your own home or on your own schedule, and it will even connect you to the community equivalent of a run club or group workout. Following this popularity of social-based workout apps—like Nike+ Running, Runkeeper and Strava—Active, primarily an endurance sports event listings site, is releasing its own app today called ACTIVEx.

RELATED: 7 Great Apps to Track Your Running Data

The unique idea behind ACTIVEx is the user’s ability to create and/or find his or her own active community through building a “pack.” A pack could be one that you athletically identify with such as the “active moms” pack or one you create and organize yourself with a group of invited individuals. For example, you can create a “training for your first marathon” pack and have people join and hold each other accountable in this endeavor by tracking everyone’s progress through the app.

The app also includes tabata (or high intensity interval training) style workouts with video guidance and voice-based coaching. Plus, it expands to all sorts of fitness activities besides running, including swimming, cycling, strength training, etc.—completely catering to all your cross-training needs.

ACTIVEx is currently available for free through iTunes and on iPhone. However, the premium version will cost you $3.99, which includes unlimited access to customized tabata workouts and training plans for your first 5K, half marathon and ultra.