If you’re including running, jogging or walking as part of your fitness regimen, you may want to try out StepTrakLite to help track your progress. StepTrakLite breaks down your step counts into walking and running steps, and activity into moderate and vigorous exercise. A total number of steps is shown at the top of the screen and is based on the date and time the program was opened. When starting a new walk, tap Reset at the top of the screen.

Since StepTrakLite isn’t equipped to manage your walking regimen, they have cleverly included two methods for you to track your step counts. If you already have a Twitter® account, you can enter your user ID and password in Settings in order to tweet your progress. You can choose from three different types of messages and add a personal message if you like, then tap Tweet to send the information. Users with an account at MapMyWalk.com can send their step counts and duration to their log. While I’m not a MapMyWalk user yet, their free membership seems pretty comprehensive and using StepTrakLite in conjunction with their web-based application looks like a great way to stay motivated.

If you want to use StepTrakLite while listening to music, you’ll have to fire up the iPod® app first, then start StepTrakLite. Most importantly, don’t use the top power button to turn off your phone while StepTrakLite is running. If you do, the program will reset to zero.

Pros: Great motivational tool. Works in the background while you’re walking. Allows two different methods of tracking via the Web.
Cons: Because of Apple’s® policy with not allowing applications to run in the background, you can’t use this with Pandora or Last.fm. If you lock your phone while it’s running you will lose steps.