The numbers prove that far from being just an interesting theory, this idea is a solid fact. At one YMCA, retention of members shot up 10% after the gym simply began to record everyone’s workout data. Mason Goldberg, co-owner of Wicker Park Fitness, a Chicago gym that costs $500 a year to join, agrees. “People love to track things. It brings out their competitive spirit.”

When it comes to tracking all things fitness related, TrainingPeaks offers unparalleled functionality. “TrainingPeaks sucks up data from dozens of different fitness devices and reports back with visualizations of heart rate, power output, speed, distance, elevation, and much more,” reports Wired. TrainingPeaks is actually compatible with over 80 training devices, including the Nike+ device described on page 81 of Wired in the article by Mark McClusky.

Such comprehensive data tracking and analysis functionality is what makes TrainingPeaks the software that so many people use to find success in achieving their fitness goals, from losing a few pounds to racing an Ironman. As mentioned in the Wired article, Olympic Gold cyclist Kristin Armstrong even uses TrainingPeaks to track her training, part of which involved using GPS functionality to analyze the elevation data recorded from the Olympic time trial course in China to find a nearly identical elevation profile to train on back in Boise, Idaho.

Start tracking your own data in TrainingPeaks today – you can even get a basic account for free! You might surprise yourself with how much you can achieve when you start to “live by the numbers.”

Entrepreneur Magazine’s June issue just hit news stands and Peaksware has been listed within the “100 brilliant companies; 10 smokin’ hot industries” feature article. Listed within the fitness and health category, Peaksware was named one of 10 companies to keep an eye on.

“Peaksware LLC: This online coaching business’s TrainingPeaks software is the industry standard coaching program used by Tour de France riders, health-club trainers and amateurs prepping for their first 10K,” Entrepreneur, June 2009

Entrepreneur Magazine described the Fitness and Health category as, “Everyone from tweens to baby boomers is shelling out for wellness, that catch-all word that includes yoga mats, soccer camps and everything in between. Here are some of the young companies cashing in on the $100 billion trend.”

Peaksware was started in 1999 and has evolved to become a software company with special expertise. The company’s roots and capabilities were solidified within the endurance world, but exciting growth is being seen within the fitness, wellness and nutrition markets. The model of success that elite endurance athletes and coaches have used to manage training and nutrition programs, can now be offered to personal trainers, dietitians or anyone looking to improve their own personal health and wellness.

As the Official Training Software of Team Saxo Bank, TrainingPeaks, along with the cooperation of Matthew Goss, is proud to provide an inside look into the life of a grand tour racer.

In our last report posted Monday, May 11th we provided direct links to Goss’s TrainingPeaks public journal for stages 2 and 3.  He has now provided us with his TrainingPeaks Journals for stages 4-6. For a complete analysis of stages 2-6 please visit a special Velonews article posted here.

Goss’s racing and training details are managed through WKO+ and TrainingPeaks.com just like thousands of other athletes, elite and beginner alike,  use TrainingPeaks to communicate data to their coaches. Each day Goss finishes the race and works his way to his hotel room with his SRM in hand. Once he finishes cleaning up he downloads his SRM to his laptop computer by using TrainingPeaks WKO+. He then adds his daily comments and then simply clicks one button to send the data to his TrainingPeaks account. No e-mail attachments needed. From there Team Saxo Bank’s rider development director, Bobby Julich, has immediate access to the data and the days comments.

Click the links below to view Matthew Goss’s TrainingPeaks Journal entries and download his race files:

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6

The graph below shows the final climb on stage 5 up the Alpe di Siusi which took Goss 78 minutes to climb 25km at an average grade of 5.8 percent. He averaged 326w with an average heart rate of 166.

The chart below shows the daily Training Stress Score (TSS), maximum 5-minute and 20-minute power output for stages 3-6. Stage 6 had the highest TSS value at 409, along with the highest 5-minute power output at 480w, and also the highest 20-minute power output of the Giro so far at 397w.

Feel free to make your own charts by downloading Goss’s files from the links above and import the data into TrainingPeaks WKO+. Click here to download a free 14-day trial of WKO+.

Start using TrainingPeaks.com today. It is easy to use and is perfect for the beginner and elite professional alike. Create a free account here.

During his journey, Chris has enjoyed the support of his friends and family. “I would have to say my family and close friends have been my biggest supporters and inspiration.  I’m just not around the house as much because I’m often training.  My family attends most races and that makes for a fun-filled finish!  My friends have been great because many of them are involved in my training.  Be it my Running Coach Craig Moss, or my Weight Trainer Jordan Yuam, having friends as coaches is HUGE!”

His community of coaches really helps Chris stay focused and motivated. “I met my Running Coach Craig Moss at the gym.  He spotted me one day while I was doing Bench Press.  I met my Triathlon Coach Jason Healey while we were both picking up our kids from an after school education program.  He overheard me talking about my training and my goal to do and Ironman.  He introduced himself, and the rest as they say, is history!”

With such a great team, Chris is able to design a training schedule that works for his lifestyle. “I train six days a week.  My set off day is Sunday.  An optional day off is Wednesday.  I use my Timex Ironman Triathlon watch and its Heart Rate Monitor system.  I’m a bit old-school and don’t fully use all of the technological tools at my disposal.  I DO look forward to hooking up my Timex with the USB system and then monitoring my workouts via TrainingPeaks.com.  I just need to stop long enough to set it up!”

Although he has a more traditional training philosophy, Chris enjoys using TrainingPeaks because it is so simple and easy to use, keeping him on track. “I like the simplicity of the TrainingPeaks system.  I’m a bit old-school (like I mentioned).  So the ability to get an early E-mail telling me what my workout is like for the day is FANTASTIC!  It reinforces my training goal for the day and I don’t feel right if I do not complete my workout for that day.  I also like how it allows my Triathlon Coach and me to communicate about a certain workout if we wish.  I hope the system will help me by allowing me to see my progress and measure that progress.  In turn, that will fuel future successes!”

It’s really all a balancing act!  Between the needs of my family (with two sets of twins five and seven years-old)… Work as the morning news anchor for KNBC in Los Angeles… And training, having an easy-to-understand system can make a world of difference!

Chris has been enjoying the process of discovering just how much he is capable of achieving. “Last season was one of discovery.  What does it feel like at the start of a race?  What pace can I maintain?  Learning that I can be a bear leading up to a race.  All of it was wonderful.  And with the exception of one race (the one following my first marathon), I improved with every race I ran.”

This season, Chris is getting more comfortable and experienced with his training and racing. “My season this year has gone well.  I feel like a veteran.  I perform like a veteran.  I plan my training leading up to each race better than ever before.  My biggest goal for 2009 is completing Ironman Arizona in 14 hours or less.  That would make a "Clydesdale" like me very happy!  All the other races and triathlons (LA Marathon, Vineman 70.3) will be marvelous milestones on the way to completing that ultimate goal come November 22nd in Arizona!”

For Chris, having a race on his schedule to look forward to is the most important part of staying motivated with his training. “I think the biggest obstacle I’ve overcome during my training is complacency.  I make sure to always have an event on the calendar.  It keeps me motivated.”

One of his biggest accomplishments was making a successful transition from pure running to multisport events. “I think my biggest triumphs so far have been completing that first marathon back in November of 2008 (Long Beach International) and then successfully transitioning into triathlons. I think some people might be intimidated by the idea of finishing a triathlon.  It does require a greater set of skills, but the sense of achievement and cross-training make it all rewarding!”

Finally, balance between training and the rest of his life is very important to Chris, which is why he appreciates having TrainingPeaks to help him manage his time. “It’s really all a balancing act!  Between the needs of my family (with two sets of twins five and seven years-old)… Work as the morning news anchor for KNBC in Los Angeles… And training, having an easy-to-understand system can make a world of difference!”

Read more about Chris and follow his daily training on the NBC website!

With features like the file viewer, meal builder, and power analysis pods, TrainingPeaks offers the most complete online training and nutrition software available to athletes, coaches, trainers and nutritionists all over the world. Now with functionality in six different languages, TrainingPeaks is truly a global solution for everyone to achieve their health, fitness, and athletic goals.

Find out more by reading the full article on Outside Magazine!