I don’t have a power meter – what do you recommend?

If you have a recent sports watch or Apple Watch, it may already include Power. Check with your watch manufacturer to see if it includes Power.

Alternatively, you can buy a Power Meter – power meters for running include the Stryd Footpod, the Garmin Running Dynamics Pod, the RunScribe Plus or Red, and the the Polar Grit or Vantage V.

Personally, I’ve used Stryd Footpods (non-wind and wind versions) since 2018 and am 100% happy with them. Plus, Stryd consistently scores highly in reviews and comparisons (fellrnr, dcrainmaker, Outside) and comes with great customer service.

For more information on Power Meters, please see the following posts:
🔹 What is a Power Meter?
🔹 Do running power meters produce 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)?

Is there a beginner’s guide to running with power?

To learn about running with power, try the 5-Minute Guide to Running with Power.

Alternatively, try one of my Running with Power books:

  • Running with Power: Why would you? WHY you might Run with Power. Explores what running with power is, what’s different about power, and why you should use it – the benefits.
  • Running with Power: Getting Started HOW to start Running with Power. Takes you through choosing equipment and apps. Covers the five fundamental concepts behind power, including 13 activities for you to experience what it’s like.
  • Running with Power: The Basics HOW to Run with Power. Covers the powerful models and metrics that you can use to guide your training and racing more effectively than using Heart Rate or Pace.

Why Run with Power?

Power provides numbers that represent your effort – how hard you’re working when you run.

But that’s not the most important thing. The most important thing about power is that once you can put numbers to your effort, all sorts of things become possible.

To explore what power makes possible, please see the following posts:
🔹 Get your training targets right
🔹 Power targets are clearer than pace or heart rate targets
🔹 Metrics to manage your training load
🔹 Personal best race-day targets
🔹 Measure running form improvements

Why do you only provide power-based plans and coaching?

I started running in 2014 age 50.

I’m not a fast runner, but I trained hard for my first marathon and, using online tools and methods like Yasso 800s, was predicted to run sub-4. I ran 4 hours 20 minutes. Not bad, but not sub-4.

However, each of my next 4 marathons was a similar story: predicted sub-4; actual, 4 hours plus. And half-marathons? 1 hour 50 or longer.

I struggled using heart rate – how do you stay in Zone 2 on a long run? And I struggled using pace – how do you maintain a certain pace running uphill or downhill?

Then in mid-2018 I found power and the Palladino training plans. In November 2018, I ran a 1:37 half marathon; The following April, a 3:49 marathon!

What changed?

Everything.

Running with Power gave me:

⚡ Numbers matching my effort – increasing when I worked harder; decreasing when the running was easier.

⚡ Measured improvements in my running fitness – using Threshold Power, rather than relying on “feeling fitter”.

⚡ Workout targets matched to my fitness – no more “run 20 seconds slower than a 10k pace” or “run in Zone 2 for 2 hours”.

⚡ A way to balance my training load – to get the most from my training while minimising fatigue and injury risk.

⚡ Precise race targets – no more “hopeful goal times”.

As a coach, power provides the metrics and tools to bring out the best in my runners, even when coaching remotely.

And as a runner, power brought out the best in me.

Power can do the same for you.