Power Apps – point solutions

Power apps - calculating metrics

𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐬 – 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Power is still relatively new for runners. And while there are some apps that cover most of the important metrics, you may find that you need additional apps to plug the gaps.

Here are a few apps that can fill those gaps.

𝐔𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫

Apple Health doesn’t provide any of the important metrics.

Which means you’ll need to transfer your workout data from Apple Health into an app that can provide these, like WKO or Intervals.icu.

There are a few apps that will do this. I’ve successfully used HealthFit; other options are RunGap or Health Sync.

𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 (𝐑𝐄)

The only app to provide this (natively) is WKO.

If you’re a Stryd user, or if you’re using Intervals.icu, you’ll need to calculate RE manually or use SuperPower Calculator for Sheets (SPCs).

Steve Palladino’s video ‘Running Effectiveness and the SuperPower Calculator’ demonstrates how to use SPCs to calculate RE for a workout or a workout section.

𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐬

‘Getting Started’ covers other apps that can calculate power metrics, while the book’s online content provides a more complete comparison of Power Apps.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐬
⏩ Choosing Power Apps
⏩ Power Apps – Stryd PC/mobile
⏩ Power Apps – WKO
⏩ Power Apps – Intervals.icu
⏩ Power Apps – Point Solutions

Power Apps – Intervals.icu

Power apps - calculating metrics

𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐬 – 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬.𝐢𝐜𝐮

Intervals.icu analyses your rides, runs, swims and other activities (with and without power). It provides basic and advanced analytics and planning in an easy-to-use web interface with support for desktops, phones, and tablets. Intervals.icu is free to use, with additional features should you choose to subscribe.

It can calculate and display all the most important metrics … and then some.

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬.𝐢𝐜𝐮 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐬

✅ Threshold Power. Intervals.icu can calculate threshold power (using your choice from several models) based on the last 90 days of completed workouts or using a custom date range.

✅ Training Load Score. Intervals.icu uses the term ‘Training Stress Score’ (TSS) and can calculate a power-based TSS for each completed workout.

✅ Training Load Balance. Intervals.icu uses the term ‘Form’ to show the balance between ‘Fitness’ and ‘Fatigue’.

✅ Ramp Rate. Intervals.icu shows your week-on-week Ramp Rate (RR), overlaid on the same chart as fitness, fatigue and form.

✅ Running Effectiveness. Intervals.icu doesn’t calculate Running Effectiveness, although you can manually calculate this using the detailed workout review pages, or by adding a custom calculation.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐬.𝐢𝐜𝐮?

If you’re not using the Stryd ecosystem or TrainingPeaks/WKO, Intervals.icu is a great way to track your power metrics.

‘Getting Started’ covers other apps that can calculate power metrics, while the book’s online content provides a more complete comparison of Intervals.icu vs. other Power Apps.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐬
⏩ Choosing Power Apps
⏩ Power Apps – Stryd PC/mobile
⏩ Power Apps – WKO
⏩ Power Apps – Intervals.icu
⏩ Power Apps – Point Solutions

Power Apps – WKO

Power apps - calculating metrics

𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐬 – 𝐖𝐊𝐎

The WKO app is an analysis and charting tool that runs under MS Windows or on a Mac and provides a wide range of charts and graphs of your power data.

It can calculate and display all the most important metrics … and then some.

𝐖𝐊𝐎 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐬

✅ Threshold Power. WKO uses the term ‘Functional Threshold Power’ (FTP) and offers an automatically calculated FTP, as well as the option to manually record your FTP history (and use it in charts).

✅ Training Load Score. WKO uses the term ‘Training Stress Score’ (TSS).

✅ Training Load Balance. WKO uses the term ‘Training Stress Balance’ (TSB).

✅ Ramp Rate. WKO can chart your week-on-week Ramp Rate (RR).

✅ Running Effectiveness. WKO can show your Running Effectiveness (RE) for an entire workout or just for part of a workout (e.g. an interval).

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐊𝐎?

WKO comes with hundreds of pre-configured charts. You can also build your own charts and calculated metrics using a powerful charting language. WKO integrates seamlessly with TrainingPeaks, syncing planned and completed workout data and a range of health metrics.

‘Getting Started’ covers other apps that can calculate power metrics, while the book’s online content provides a more complete comparison of WKO vs. other Power Apps.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐬
⏩ Choosing Power Apps
⏩ Power Apps – Stryd PC/mobile
⏩ Power Apps – WKO
⏩ Power Apps – Intervals.icu
⏩ Power Apps – Point Solutions

Power Apps – Stryd PowerCenter / Mobile

Power apps - calculating metrics

𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐬 – 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 / 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞

The Stryd PowerCenter / Mobile apps are available to anyone using a Stryd footpod (most features are free, some need a subscription).

They calculate and display some (but not all) of the most important metrics.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐬

In the following, the term ‘Stryd’ includes Stryd PowerCenter and Stryd Mobile

✅ Threshold Power. Stryd uses the term ‘Critical Power’ (CP) and offers an automatically calculated CP (Auto-CP) as well as a manually-set CP (using various protocols).

✅ Training Load Score. Stryd uses the term ‘Running Stress Score’ (RSS) and offers a unique calculation which includes a term representing the additional biomechanical stress put on your body from running (vs. cycling).

✅ Training Load Balance. Stryd uses the term ‘Running Stress Balance’ (RSB) and offers guidance for how to interpret your RSB.

❌ Ramp Rate. Stryd does not show your Ramp Rate (RR). You’ll need to calculate RR manually using Stryd’s 42d Avg (in Stryd Mobile) or use another system to track this.

❌ Running Effectiveness. Stryd does not show your Running Effectiveness (RE). You’ll need to calculate RE manually using another system, or use one of Stryd’s alternate metrics – for example Form Power, Leg Spring Stiffness, Impact Loading Rate.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 / 𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞?

The Stryd ecosystem is probably the most power-friendly app at the moment, designed with power in mind, and aimed at runners who are getting started with power.

‘Getting Started’ covers systems that can calculate the missing metrics, while the book’s online content provides a more complete comparison of Stryd vs. other Power Apps.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐬
⏩ Choosing Power Apps
⏩ Power Apps – Stryd PC/mobile
⏩ Power Apps – WKO
⏩ Power Apps – Intervals.icu
⏩ Power Apps – Point Solutions

Choosing Power Apps

Power apps - calculating metrics

𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐬

Power is a complete system using effort as its fundamental metric.

Power uses your second-by-second effort from completed workouts to calculate metrics that build a detailed picture of your running capabilities.

Imagine you run 3 times per week for around an hour each time. That’s 60 pieces of data per minute, 3600 per hour and for 3 runs, over 10,000 pieces of data. That’s a lot of data!

Which is why power relies on power-aware applications (‘apps’) to calculate your metrics.

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐚𝐩𝐩?

The choice is yours, but some apps are more power-aware than others, with the best apps able to calculate the most important metrics.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭?

✅ Threshold Power. Represents your current running fitness.

✅ Training Load Score. A score (per workout) that combines ‘how hard?’ and ‘how long?’ – represents the workout’s metabolic stress, its impact on your body.

✅ Training Load Balance. Indicates whether your training is ‘productive’ – enough stress to encourage adaptations, but not so much that there is a greater risk of injury or over-training.

✅ Ramp Rate. Replaces ‘the 10% rule’ with a metric based on your training load scores – to monitor whether you’re adding training load too quickly.

✅ Running Effectiveness. Measures how effectively you convert power into speed – used to estimate finish times, to assess changes to your running form and to evaluate your fatigue resistance.

There are other criteria that will influence your choice of apps, but being able to calculate these metrics is key.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐬
⏩ Choosing Power Apps
⏩ Power Apps – Stryd PC/mobile
⏩ Power Apps – WKO
⏩ Power Apps – Intervals.icu
⏩ Power Apps – Point Solutions

What else do you need (apart from a power meter and watch)?

Picture of a runner looking at their mobile and running watch

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 (𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡)?

To get the most from a power meter, you’ll need one or more applications (‘apps’ for short) to:
🔹 plan your training
🔹 display and record power while you’re running
🔹 review completed workouts and monitor your power metrics

For the best result (and to minimise manual effort), your apps should work seamlessly with your watch and power meter.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐩𝐨𝐝?

The Stryd Ecosystem should meet most of your needs, especially if you’re using a fully compatible watch.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

There isn’t an ecosystem for wrist-based power – instead, you’ll need to connect a few different apps.

Your options will vary based on the watch you’re using and on your budget. The webpage below contains some information, while the ‘Getting Started’ book contains a detailed chapter about choosing apps.

You can also ask questions or ask for advice in the from1runner2another Facebook group.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐝? 𝐎𝐫 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

Because running power is still relatively new, there are few ‘easy to use’ solutions.

This is likely to change over the next few years, but until then, your choices are likely to remain a trade-off between cost vs. ease of use:
✅ Stryd is more expensive, but easier to setup and use
✅ Wrist-based power is less expensive, but more complex to setup and use

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on choosing apps, see getting started choosing apps

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
⏩ What is a power meter?
⏩ Do running power meters provide meaningful numbers?
⏩ Can you use a Stryd footpod to Run with Power?
⏩ Can you use a running watch to Run with Power?
⏩ What else do you need (apart from a power meter and watch)?

Can you use a running watch to Run with Power?

Picture of a runner looking at their mobile and running watch

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

Yes.

All the major running watch manufacturers (Garmin, COROS, Wahoo, Suunto, Polar, and even Apple) include wrist-based power in their new models.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

You may already have a watch that can provide wrist-based power, which means you don’t need to buy a separate power meter.

You may be a multi-sport athlete. The Stryd Ecosystem only supports running, so the investment in Stryd is less attractive.

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬?

There are no independent studies testing whether wrist-based power provides repeatable, valid power numbers. However, I ran my own (N=1) study, comparing wrist-based power from Garmin, Coros and Apple to numbers from a Stryd footpod. I found they produce repeatable numbers that, for recreational runners, are correlated to the Stryd footpod.

There isn’t an ecosystem for wrist-based power – instead, you’ll need to connect a few different apps.

Because power is still relatively new, and because you’ll need to use a few different apps, setup is more complex than with a Stryd.

Finally, few running watches produce power numbers when running on a treadmill.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭?

No one has independently validated wrist-based power yet, and setup is more complex than using a Stryd.

But it may be a budget-friendly way to try Running with Power.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on my N=1 study into wrist-based power, see Running with Power – 2G+AW+COROS

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
⏩ What is a power meter?
⏩ Do running power meters provide meaningful numbers?
⏩ Can you use a Stryd footpod to Run with Power?
⏩ Can you use a running watch to Run with Power?
⏩ What else do you need (apart from a power meter and watch)?

Can you use a Stryd footpod to Run with Power?

Picture of a runner looking at their mobile and running watch

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐩𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫?

Yes.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐩𝐨𝐝?

It’s a power meter that works with all major sports watch brands, with Apple Watches, with mobile phones, and with some smartwatches.

It provides power-based metrics, accurate speed and distance metrics (even in poor-GPS locations) and some additional metrics that measure aspects of your running form.

It works outdoors or on a treadmill.

At least 10 independent studies have tested the Stryd footpod, finding that it produces repeatable numbers that are highly correlated with O2 consumption (a gold standard for measuring exercise energy consumption).

The footpod comes with the Stryd Ecosystem, an end-to-end solution (from planning through reviewing) that’s built around running power. The ecosystem provides all the functionality you need to run using a Stryd footpod and most of the important power metrics. It also provides access to coaches and training plans.

Support is excellent, and there’s a very active Facebook group where you can ask questions and learn from others.

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬?

It’s an additional expense on top of the cost of a watch. And while most of the Stryd Ecosystem is free to use, some items require a paid subscription.

Finally, because power is still relatively new, setup can be a little complex – even with the detailed instructions on the Stryd website.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭?

On balance, the Stryd footpod is a beginner-friendly way to start Running with Power.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on independent testing of the Stryd footpod, see Steve Palladino’s article Stryd Power and VO2

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
⏩ What is a power meter?
⏩ Do running power meters provide meaningful numbers?
⏩ Can you use a Stryd footpod to Run with Power?
⏩ Can you use a running watch to Run with Power?
⏩ What else do you need (apart from a power meter and watch)?

Do running power meters produce meaningful numbers?

Picture of a runner looking at their mobile and running watch

𝐃𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬?

Running power meters provide numbers showing how hard you’re working when you run – your effort.

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭?

No.

Running power meters provide numbers that 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡 your effort.

𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬?

No.

Running power meters provide usable information … as long as the power numbers are repeatable and valid:
🔹 Repeatable? The same effort under the same conditions gives the same result.
🔹 Valid? The numbers are highly correlated to an existing ‘gold standard’.

At least 10 independent studies have tested the Stryd footpod, finding that the footpod produces repeatable numbers that are highly correlated with oxygen consumption (a gold standard for measuring exercise energy consumption).

Wrist-based power has not been independently validated. However, I ran my own (N=1) study during 2024 and 2025, comparing wrist-based power from Garmin, Coros and Apple to power numbers from a Stryd footpod. I found they produce repeatable numbers that, for recreational runners, are correlated to the Stryd footpod (which in turn is highly correlated to oxygen consumption).

𝐒𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬?

Far from it.

You can use running power numbers to measure your effort when you run.

And once you can measure your effort, that’s when the magic begins.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

For more information on independent testing of the Stryd footpod, see Steve Palladino’s article Stryd Power and VO2
For more information on my N=1 study into wrist-based power, see Running with Power – 2G+AW+COROS

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
⏩ What is a power meter?
⏩ Do running power meters provide meaningful numbers?
⏩ Can you use a Stryd footpod to Run with Power?
⏩ Can you use a running watch to Run with Power?
⏩ What else do you need (apart from a power meter and watch)?

What is a Power Meter?

Picture of a runner looking at their mobile and running watch

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫?

A Power Meter provides numbers representing how hard you’re working – your effort or running intensity.

Running power meters use readings from multiple sensors to calculate a power number.

Most recent running watches have a power meter built in.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫?

Running intensity is important when training, so that you can target the adaptations that will give you the best chance of success at your upcoming event.

There are other measures of intensity runners can use, but running power overcomes some of the disadvantages of those other measures:

🔹 It’s objective, rather than subjective, providing a number that represents your effort – unlike perceived effort.

🔹 It matches changes in your effort, even when running hilly routes – unlike pace.

🔹 Changes in effort produce an immediate change in power and there’s no upward drifting towards the end of longer runs – unlike heart rate.

𝐃𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭?

No.

Running power meters provide numbers that 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡 your effort.

𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬?

No, as long as the numbers are repeatable and valid (more on that in the next post), you can use them to measure your effort.

And once you can measure your effort, that’s when the magic begins.

𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓?

❓ Questions?
📖 Getting Started

𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
⏩ What is a power meter?
⏩ Do running power meters provide meaningful numbers?
⏩ Can you use a Stryd footpod to Run with Power?
⏩ Can you use a running watch to Run with Power?
⏩ What else do you need (apart from a power meter and watch)?