The below is an email we received yesterday from RunKeeper user Kevin Robins, that we are reprinting with Kevin’s permisson:
Jason,
I just wanted to take the time while I’m resting my legs to say a very big thank you!
I was a heavy smoker for twenty years (despite only being 32) and never exercised or played sports until a year ago this week (25th November) when I stopped smoking and ran around the block for the first time. I found very quickly a real passion for running but suffered a lot of injury and problems in the first few months, probably from so many years of sitting on the couch and very nearly gave up. That was when I found Runkeeper… and I don’t really know how to explain just how much of an impact it has had motivationally, but it’s been HUGE!!! I’ve gone from 8 miles a week in January to between 40 and 50 miles a week now (a total of 1,460 miles with Runkeeper!!). There’s been a lot of pain along the way, but something about trying to beat my last time, and last week’s total, and last month’s total that has meant I’ve been out running in all weather, with blisters on blisters on top of blisters… and I can’t remember the last time I was able to walk down the stairs properly.
I guess I don’t have to tell you every last little thing I like about RK since you built it, but the latest addition of Average Pace is my favourite! When I’m talking people into using RK PRO I tell them that as a tool for the job at 5.99 it’s perfect, but as a companion for running it’s priceless. I’ve had the odd glitch but never disappointed, in fact I had to use a 2G iPhone for a few months after my 3G one got wet (it records the time and a few points, so you can edit reasonably to keep the records straight).
Question I keep asking myself though, and I do have a lot of time to think in between the mile markers, is whether I enjoy running and use RK to track runs, or whether I enjoy using RK and run to give it something to track.
Anyway, I know I’m clearly a bit crazy, but I decided back in January that I was going to mark my 1st year anniversary of stopping smoking by running the Florence Marathon and that is exactly what I’ll be doing next Sunday! My target time is 3 hours 15 minutes. A hard target for my first, but I don’t do things half heartedly and that’s what I’ve been training all year for.
So, I just wanted to say thank you, for all the effort you’ve put into the developments over the last year, rest assured that each and every update and feature has been appreciated!
http://runkeeper.com/user/KRO348
Oh, and I think I invented a new strange use for RK:
“GPS painting”, or at least “leaving a picture or message in your GPS trail”. I tried running up and down a bit to spell “I love RK” in the middle of a run… but it didn’t work very well, edited version below I’m sure gives you the idea… blimey, looking at it now, this is just an example of how over-training and dehydration can affect the brain… 
