I’m sure a few of you have fallen under the Nike+ spell over the last year, measuring out your workouts as you go, publishing results on Facebook and elsewhere in an attempt to impress your friends (come on, you know that’s what you’re doing when you put those numbers up). Well, Nike’s traditional rival Adidas is getting in on the act by announcing that its MiCoach system will now be available as a free app for iPhone and BlackBerry users.

As with the Nike version, MiCoach uses GPS to allow joggers to track their progress in real time when out and about doing anything even vaguely sporty. There’s also voice coaching too to help keep you going (I wonder if they could put on an option to use the voice of the Drill Sergeant from ‘Full Metal Jacket’, that’d get anybody’s legs moving) .

Users can pick specific conditioning programmes for their sport, such as soccer, tennis, running and basketball (no hurling or Gaelic football though) with six documented training plans for each of the sports. You can also create personalised conditioning programmes online to tailor to your own fitness level and goals and somewhat bizarrely you can download the voices of sports stars to provide motivation as you train.

Would you want to hear Steven Gerrard’s voice while you train? Eeeeeee…. no.

As TechRadar notes, the MiCoach app syncs with MiCoach.com, offering tailored programs and calendar, coaching and navigation options from the web and on your phone. The application and online portal also gives you more information on your training, even down to things like shoe wear.

It will be available to download now from the Apple App Store and from 6 August and it’s already up for grabs at BlackBerry App World.