Whether you’re running casually or training for competition, it helps to have a coach keep track of stats and give you motivation to keep going. PEAR Sports’ PEAR Square ONE plus an iPod Nano, which uses ANT+ to transmit data, puts a virtual coach in your ear to keep you updated on heart rate, calories and other stats. The coach also sets the pace for each workout. PEAR Sports President and Co-Founder Kristian Rauhala talks about the personal coaching PEAR Square ONE provides as you run through the season.
KineticShift: How does PEAR help users understand the basics, especially for new users?
Kristian Rauhala: PEAR is perfect for everyone, but especially new users or beginners because the coaching does everything for you. There is so much confusion out there with regards to Heart Rate Training (i.e. How to calculate your zones, how to train with heart rate, etc.) and with PEAR, you don’t need to understand any of this because the coaching does it all for you. It begins when you do your first run with PEAR and are guided through a 20 minute test workout that automatically calculates your lactate threshold heart rate and individual heart rate training zones without your having to press a single button. These remembered zones are then used to ensure that you perform each subsequent workout correctly.
Unlike other systems out there that function as mere “information gauges,” PEAR coaches you real-time based on how your body is reacting to the workout. We work with world-class coaches such as Matt Fitzgerald and Jenny Hadfield. The coach does everything a hands-on coach would do: tells you the purpose and structure of the workout, tells you what’s coming up next, speeds you up when you’re going too slow, slows you down when you’re going too fast, gives you form tips, encourages you, makes you laugh, holds you accountable, etc. It’s so much more of a human-to-human experience than a human-to-machine experience. Bottom line: everyone wants a personal coach and this is what you get with PEAR.
KineticShift: There seems to be a lot of data – and more all the time with calories burned, heart rate, distance, time, etc. – to receive during a workout, so is there ever too much?
Kristian Rauhala: Everyone out there works out for a different reason: some merely want to see their calories burned while others want to get faster. PEAR can be customized so that the user can pick and choose what they want to listen to, and even at what time intervals. For example, you can hear your data every minute or every 30 minutes, whatever the user wants. The coach will also summarize the data and tell the user what’s most important in terms of how the user is responding to the workout. We’ve tried to filter the most relevant data for users to look at based on their interests and goals.
KineticShift: Do you think the coaching aspect will help keep users motivated during their workouts?
Kristian Rauhala: Absolutely. It’s no secret that most runners, and anyone with a fitness goal, appreciate a coach for motivation, direction, encouragement and accountability. While this seems to be common sense, we learned from our research that most people want to be coached, but they just can’t find the time to workout around others’ schedules and can’t afford a personal coach. PEAR allows you to train when you want and still feel like you’re being coached like a pro. Our feedback so far has been excellent as PEAR keeps you motivated and accountable – ultimately on track towards achieving your goal.
KineticShift: How do you see PEAR evolving? Will it be able to see progress with those using it and adjust accordingly?
Kristian Rauhala: It’s called PEAR Square ONE for a reason. PEAR is evolving as far as the PEAR platform. We have more and more coaches joining in with different workouts and different sports. I like to use the App store analogy in how it began small and then grew to accommodate more interests and subjects. While running is our key focus right now, we’re already working on plans for cycling, SUP, weight training and yoga.
KineticShift: What else can we expect from PEAR in the future?
Kristian Rauhala: In the future, we can expect much more content, improved Training Intelligence and other new cool products.
Thank you to Kristian for talking with us.