Gear Fisher, Co-Founder and CTO of Peaksware and the original software architect of www.TrainingPeaks.com was recently interviewed by David Bernstein on The FredCast's Show #93 "Software for Performance". Listen or download the interview here: http://www.thefredcast.com/?p=317
(hint, the interview starts 40 minutes into the podcast)
The FredCast is the self-proclaimed "internet's premier cycling podcast" and based on the fact that it routinely shows up listed in the top 10 of Sports and Recreation podcasts on iTunes, it certainly is the most popular cycling podcast. And so it was an honor for Peaksware's Fisher when he was invited to be interviewed on the show.
After using TrainingPeaks and WKO+ for the last few months to communicate his training with his coach, David Bernstein, The FredCast founder was impressed and wanted to find out more about TrainingPeaks, so he interviewed TrainingPeaks' Chief Technology Officer Gear Fisher. Below is a snapshot of the interview, but take the time to listen to
entire 20 minute interview if you are interested in learning how to use technology to increase your fitness and become a faster, more efficient athlete. And to learn about TrainingPeaks first hand as Bernstein did, start your own free trial at
www.TrainingPeaks.com.
The interview begins with Fisher telling the story of the evolution of Peaksware's software products WKO+ and TrainingPeaks. From the inception of TrainingPeaks more than eight years ago to where it is today with more than 20 million workouts logged in it's library
(see more stats here), TrainingPeaks has not changed it's core mission of providing training tools to help make athletes faster and coaches more efficient in their business. But it has evolved into new markets and gained increased functionality. Originally created for, and still primarily used by, athletes and coaches in endurance sports, today TrainingPeaks and the desktop software WKO+ are also used by runners, personal trainers, action sport athletes.
"...ultimately, [our goal] is to provide software that helps [you] figure out how to go faster and how to reach [your] goals." - Gear Fisher, Peaksware CTO
Fisher goes on to describe how the TrainingPeaks desktop software WKO+ (created by coach Hunter Allen, physiologist Andrew Coggin, P
h.D. and software developer Kevin Williams previously under the CyclingPeaks brand) has also evolved over the years from software for hard core power meter users to an application that is simple to use and applicable to a broad spectrum of athletes. Fisher says, "WKO+ has been most noted for the invention of the trademarked terms
Training Stress Score (TSS) and Intensity Factor (IF) to quantify the amount of work a person is doing" (listen to an additional conversation describing in detail the value of TSS and IF in the
interview). However, more recently WKO+ is also becoming well known for its
compatibility with numerous devices such as heart rate monitors, GPS devices as well as power meters. And as Fisher describes it, the goal of Peaksware's ongoing development of the both WKO+ and TrainingPeaks is to "ultimately, provide software that helps [you] figure out how to go faster and how to reach [your] goals".
Here are a small sample of what you'll hear in the interview:
FredCast: I use TrainingPeaks and WKO+ with my coach. But there's so much data that's available from my power meter, GPS and heart rate monitor... how does WKO+ help people make sense of all that data and use it to enhance their training?
Fisher: WKO+ provides charts and analysis and does an incredible amount of number crunching behind the scenes. But to the user, it is simple and designed to be motivational so that without pushing any buttons you can see if you're getting faster by tracking Critical Power outputs for certain time periods, monitoring your
Performance Manager Chart, and a number of other charts. (
Learn how cyclists such as Levi Leipheimer monitor their charts).
FredCast: There's a big difference between data and information. I can get data right on my handlebars. But TrainingPeaks software translates that data into information that I and my coach can use over time to increase my fitness.
Fisher: Using WKO+ to analyze your workout data and plan your season will also increase the likelihood that you will do well at a particular event. The software helps you plan your season so that you meet you goals at a specific point in time.
FredCast: "There's a big difference between data and information. I can get data right on my handlebars. But TrainingPeaks software translates that data into information that I and my coach can use over time to increase my fitness". - David Bernstein, The FredCast
FredCast: How does TrainingPeaks interact with WKO+ and some of the other products?
Fisher: TrainingPeaks.com is the web based planning and communications tool whereas WKO+ is the deep analysis software tool. Altogether, our software products allow you to Monitor, Analyze and Plan (MAP) your training. Seamlessly communicate with your coach, plan your own workouts using the Virtual Coach or follow a professional coach's pre-built training plan. Input daily metrics, upload documents, share workouts and GPS routes. Track nutrition and plan your meals. Finally, WKO+ and TrainingPeaks are the one-stop-shop to keep all your training data in one place and to use that data to increase fitness.
Listen to the interview in its entirety and experience the benefits yourself of training with technology. Download your Free Trial of
WKO+,
TrainingPeaks or another
TrainingPeaks product today.
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Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 2:36PM 
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