For the last month or so in preparation for the 2011 Boston Marathon I have been using adidas miCoach. training program. I am finding micoach to be a fantastically well designed and executed program, once understood-integrating smart phones, web, and optional gadgets. It is a bit complicated from a "marketing" and initial presentation and explanation standpoint. I hope this post helps explain the various elements.The system can include:
- a free GPS based pacing program miCoach Mobile for certain Blackberry smartphones and carriers as well as an iPhone app. (more on this later).
- a free web site to upload the results of your workouts, see them on a map, tabulating elevation gained and even get a score vs. goal.
- very well designed workouts and calendar schedule for different race distances, abilities, and also for sports other than running.
- a line of associated gadgets for purchase including
- a heart rate monitor, the miCoach Zone ($69.99) ,
- a stride counter, audible pace, stride, distance HR player with transmitter to PC the miCoach Pacer ($139.99) all associated in a package with the heart rate monitor for situations where GPS based training doesn't make work such as indoors or on trails where heart rate would be more useful than pace. MP3 players can be plugged in to provide music and coaching.
I currently use the free miCoach Mobile GPS app, miCoach web site and the Zone heart rate monitor.
