Training App: Pear Sports Reviewed

Pears Sports provides motivation and guidance for your individual workouts.

As age-group triathletes, the majority of us don’t have a coach in our ear issuing those vital words of encouragement during a tough track workout. And unless you’re in a spin class, you’re the only one driving that long trainer workout. Unlike many of our coached pro counterparts, we don’t have that ongoing verbal reinforcement or responsive feedback to help us optimize our limited training time.

A Solana Beach, Calif., company called Pear Sports wants to change that by opening up access to quality, elite coaching with its “training intelligence system” delivered either via the Pear Pro iPod-like device, or through your iPhone and the Pear app. Users purchase workouts and/or full training plans from the Pear site/app, and get real-time, responsive audio coaching from the likes of Matt Dixon, coach to triathlon stars Linsey Corbin and Chris Lieto.

How it works using the iPhone: First, you download the free app through the App Store. Purchase the Pear Bluetooth heart rate monitor and patented technology earphones for $100 on Pearsports.com. Then browse and purchase workouts—from Dixon’s free “50 Minute Building Intensity Trainer Session” to marathon training plans ($50) to a custom eight-week plan ($160). Before getting started, users do a guided 20-minute calibration workout to determine heart rate zone levels. During a workout, your “coach” can relay a variety of data, from pace and heart rate to mileage and calories burned. And if, during that workout, you venture into the wrong heart rate zone, the voice in your ear will be there to get you back on track. (High-fives not included.)

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