Runkeeper API Essential Guide

What type of API does Runkeeper provide?

Key API Types

1. REST (Representational State Transfer)

   • Most popular and widely used API architecture today
   • Uses standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.)
   • Typically returns data in JSON format
   • Stateless and supports caching

2. SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)

   • Older protocol that uses XML for message format
   • More rigid and formal than REST
   • Better suited for enterprise environments with strict security requirements

3. GraphQL

   • Query language for APIs developed by Facebook
   • Allows clients to request specific data they need
   • Single endpoint that can return flexible response structures

4. gRPC

   • High performance RPC framework developed by Google
   • Uses Protocol Buffers as interface definition language
   • Good for microservices architectures

Conclusion

Without specific information about Runkeeper's API, I cannot definitively state what type they use. However, given that Runkeeper is a consumer-facing mobile fitness app, it is most likely that they use a REST API, as this is the most common choice for mobile and web applications today. REST APIs are well-suited for the kind of data exchange a fitness tracking app would need.

To know for certain, you would need to check Runkeeper's API documentation or developer resources if they are publicly available. If this information is not publicly accessible, you may need to contact Runkeeper directly to inquire about their API type and specifications.

Does the Runkeeper API have webhooks?

Based on the search results provided, it appears that the official Runkeeper API does not have webhooks. The search results do not contain any information about Runkeeper's official API or webhooks.

Key points:

1. The search results primarily contain information about webhooks for other services like SparkPost, not Runkeeper.

2. There is a mention of a GitHub repository called "Runkeeper-Webhook", but this appears to be a third-party project that fetches data from Runkeeper's API and posts it to a webhook, rather than an official Runkeeper webhook feature.

3. The official Runkeeper API documentation is not included in the search results, so we cannot definitively confirm or deny the existence of webhooks in their API based on this information alone.

Conclusion:

Based on the available information, it seems unlikely that the official Runkeeper API has webhooks. However, to get a definitive answer, it would be best to consult the official Runkeeper API documentation or contact their developer support directly.

Rate Limits and other limitations

Based on the search results provided, here are the key points about the API Rate Limits of the Runkeeper API:

Rate Limit Details

• Rate limiting is applied mostly on a per-user token basis.
• There are also global per-application rate limits that are reset daily.
• When an app exceeds a rate limit, a 429 status code is returned along with a message containing details of the rate limit.

Specific Rate Limits

1. 300,000 calls per day (daily limit)
2. 5,000 calls per 15 minutes (short-term limit)

Best Practices

To avoid hitting rate limits, Runkeeper recommends the following techniques:

1. Caching: Store API responses in your application or site if you expect to read the same data or resources often.
2. Prioritize active users: If your application has many users, consider only requesting data for users who have recently been active.

Additional Information

• If you have implemented the above measures and still need increased rate limits, you can contact [email protected] to discuss your use case.
• The error messages in the search results suggest that these limits apply to the entire application rather than individual users, as indicated by the "(user None)" in the error messages.

Summary

The Runkeeper API has both daily and short-term rate limits. Developers should design their applications to use the API efficiently and only make calls when necessary. Caching and prioritizing active users are recommended strategies to stay within the limits. If higher limits are needed, developers can contact Runkeeper directly to discuss their specific use case.

Latest API Version

Unfortunately, I do not have enough information to determine the most recent version of the Runkeeper API. The search results do not provide any specific version numbers or release dates for the Runkeeper API. However, there are a few key points to note:

Key Points:

1. The Runkeeper Health Graph API documentation link (https://runkeeper.com/developer/healthgraph) appears to be no longer available, as it redirects to the Runkeeper home page.

2. According to a response from Runkeeper in September 2020, they have stopped accepting new registrations for their Health Graph API.

3. Runkeeper stated that they are only supporting clients they have specifically built partnerships with, and are no longer allowing general access to their API.

Conclusion

Based on this information, it seems that Runkeeper has discontinued public access to their API. The most recent version would likely only be available to their current partners, and there is no publicly available information about the latest version number or release date. If you need to access Runkeeper data, you may need to explore alternative methods or contact Runkeeper directly to inquire about partnership opportunities.

How to get a Runkeeper developer account and API Keys?

To get a developer account for Runkeeper and create an API integration, here are the key steps and considerations:

Previous Process (No Longer Available)

Prior to this change, the process to get a developer account involved:

1. Creating a Runkeeper account
2. Registering a new application in the Runkeeper Applications Portal
3. Obtaining a Client ID and Client Secret for the registered app
4. Implementing OAuth 2.0 flow to authorize access to user data

Key Points to Consider

• The closure of new API registrations significantly limits the ability to create new integrations with Runkeeper data.
• Existing users and partners may still have access, but new developers cannot obtain API credentials.
• This change reflects a shift in Runkeeper's strategy to focus resources on existing partnerships rather than open API access.

Alternative Approaches

Given the current limitations, developers interested in fitness data integrations may need to consider alternative platforms or approaches:

1. Explore other fitness tracking platforms that offer more open API access.
2. Consider using platforms that aggregate data from multiple fitness sources.
3. For personal use, some users have created scripts to export their own Runkeeper data, but this is not a scalable solution for wider integrations.

Best Practices

While not directly applicable to Runkeeper now, when working with fitness APIs in general:

1. Always respect user privacy and data protection regulations.
2. Implement secure OAuth flows for user authorization.
3. Be mindful of rate limits and data usage policies.
4. Keep your application and access tokens secure.

What can you do with the Runkeeper API?

Based on the search results provided, I don't have specific information about the data models that can be interacted with using the Runkeeper API. The search results don't contain details about Runkeeper's API capabilities or data models.

However, I can provide some general information about typical data models and interactions that fitness tracking APIs often support:

• User data:

• Basic profile information (name, email, etc.)
• Physical attributes (height, weight, age, etc.)
• Goals and preferences

• Activity data:

• Runs, walks, bike rides and other fitness activities
• Duration, distance, pace, calories burned
• GPS routes and maps
• Heart rate data (if available)

• Workout data:

• Planned workouts and training plans
• Completed workouts

• Achievement data:

• Personal records
• Badges and milestones reached

• Social data:

• Friends and connections
• Activity sharing

• Device data:

• Connected fitness devices and apps

• Aggregate statistics:

• Weekly/monthly/yearly totals and averages

Typical API interactions may include:

• Retrieving user profile data
• Logging new activities
• Querying activity history
• Updating goals
• Managing social connections
• Syncing data from devices

Without specific documentation on Runkeeper's API, I can't confirm which exact data models and interactions they support. The above represents common patterns in fitness tracking APIs, but Runkeeper's actual capabilities may differ. To get accurate information, you would need to consult Runkeeper's official API documentation.