HEAVY_SHOWER  I had to go through my Preferences folder, and normally I ignore the Size and Kind categories hidden beyond the Finder window, unless I open the window wide -- well, I decided this time to list everything by Kind. So, upon extending the window to access the column header, so as to view the Kind category, I was surprised to see that practically all of my preference files were identified as "TrailRunner Model Snapshots"! What's that all about??  
(Version 1.8v295)

KAYEL  This app works great with the iPhone and iTrail. I am still discovering features and I find it very useful to track my workouts and map my progress in training off-road. In addition, the developer is very responsive and helpful. Definitely worth a try. Thumbs up.  
(Version 1.8v292)

FREEZYJOSY  I use TrailRunner for like over a year now. This spring I also forged out the money for a Garmin ForeRunner 305 and I must say that I am impressed on how TrailRunner has developed. I can't even think if I would have bought the Garmin if TrailRunner wasn't there.

TrailRunner really keeps me motivated on running. And as I can see from the latest Beta for TrailRunner 1.8 it looks like the developer explicitly heads into the biking sector by giving a direct access to the diary in the main window.

I think TrailRunner is a killer app and would be even worth 40 USD if it was shareware (in fact TrailRunner is freeware with a donation hole to fill if you like).

Berbie, keep up the good work.  
(Version 1.7v250)

FREEZYJOSY  I think it's ok the developer goes with the development progress of apple and tries to integrate the latest technology into TrailRunner. TrailRunner for Leopard is much faster and cleaner as the 1.6 version. Looks like it was worth it.

And for the ones still using Mac OS X Tiger, there's a compatibility version available on the websites download section.  
(Version 1.7v250)

BRUCE_Y  Why has this changed to Leopard only?

Last version of it that I had downloaded about a month ago (June) was Tiger version, now it requires Leopard -- to what purpose are Tiger users left behind?

Unhappy about this, sigh :(  
(Version 1.7v248)

ROBERT COOGAN  This would be much better if it interfaced with Google Earth. I use HoudahGeo to pin my photos to GE, why not this?  
(Version 1.6v225)

ARS  I am only an occasional user of this software, so that I skip many of the, for me too frequent, upgrades the developer makes. This does not take away however that this is very nice piece of software.It works very welland I like the (recent?) the possibility to see your trail with Google Earth. I think the software excels at showing where you have been (after having recorded your track with a GPS). It is not always as useful to plan a new hike, as it uses free maps which often do not trails marked on them. I do not hold this against the software, as it would cost money (usually) to get such marked up maps (via Topo e.g.). Some other sites have free trails in GPX format (I believe the backpacker.com site has these),sothe user has to download them first.  
(Version 1.6v221)

MAGOSILVAN  Seems not to read correctly files made with version 1.5. (G4 1.25 Dual 1.25GB)  
(Version 1.6v221)

DESIGN-Q  Nice appl. Cannot try it fully as I don't have any of the specified kits (GPS/Nike plus etc.) but it did get my location correctly (UK:ABZ) with more than 3 sources of maps on tap and a couple of useful web-links to help you adapt/import routes etc.

System: PowerMacG4 1.0GHz 1.75GB RAM OSX 10.4.11  
(Version 1.6v210)

PDXMPH  Nice app. I've been using GPS to geocache, track bicycle rides and record hikes for about six years, and I edited a book on geocaching (The Complete Idiot's Guide, avg. rating of 4.5 stars on Amazon). Prior to that, I used GPS tech in the army as a communications team chief and led training sessions on the use of the military's primary handheld unit in the mid/late '90s, and through 2004: the PLGR.

During that time I've gone through GPS apps on Windows (Nat'l Geographic's Topo! state series and street mapping sub-version, ExpertGPS) and the Mac (MacGPS Pro, Topo again, Topo's newest city versions) and Google Earth on both.

One very nice feature is the way TrailRunner provides useful maps at no cost to you. Nat'l Geographic makes its money on selling sub-par software wrappers around its map data. MacGPS Pro, while a good app, also has a hidden cost in that regard. You can see where you've been very easily ... if you want a map to interpret that, you'll pay for some data. TrailRunner downloads the maps you need on the fly. As the USGS data is slowly pulled behind for-pay walls in "private distribution partnerships," TrailRunner is providing a nice convenience. I also like how easily it produces kml files for use with Google Earth/Maps, which makes annotating and sharing run/ride information online a snap.

I recently upgraded my Garmin Forerunner 101 to a 205 to use for rides and runs, entirely because I wanted to be able to upload information instead of recording it by hand. When I compare what TrailRunner does for how I want to use it with all the other apps I mentioned, I'm really pleased. It took a little bit of time (none spent with the docs) to get it to work. It's under continual development ... several updates a week. All the author asks for is a donation. Compared to stuff I paid upwards of $100 for, that's a bargain.

I still appreciate Topo! for planning hikes (even though it feels pretty clunky and un-Mac-like), but for seeing where I've been and providing some useful information right up front, TrailRunner is great. I can get meaningful information out of it in very little time and with no fiddling.

Since free software is more of a time proposition than a money proposition, rather than asking "should I spend my money to have this" you should ask "should I spend my time documenting any bugs I've found to make this more useful to me?" I'd say that if you've tried it out and something hasn't worked correctly, it's definitely worth your time to take five minutes and let the author know of your problems. That's a small investment that'll pay itself off quickly if you've spent a lot of time trying to wring useful training information out of other GPS apps.

Four stars only because I think the user interface needs some simplifying and refinement. Nothing that detracted from my daily use once I figured out its quirks, but something that, once fixed, will make this app perfect for its audience.  
(Version 1.4v167)