Hi Everyone,
My recent post about finding .icu analytics for measuring power for run has resulted in me looking at buying & subscribing for a Stryd footpod. However at $249 plus $15per month subscription ongoing it’s not cheap. Before I commit to this cost are they really that good for capturing run power and if so will it provide me the in depth analytics I require similarl to how .icu captures bike power which is excellent. Thanks for your input, much appreciated.
Cheers Adam
u dont have to subscribe unless you want to use their ecosystem for analysis etc.
And IIRC, i think they have a 6mths rebate or something for the sub. (baked into the stryd price)
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Great thanks.
Correct subscription is optional. When it comes to training metrics for running the priority should be Power > Pace > HR.
Specially if you have undulating terrain then Stryd stands out.
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I have a Stryd but to be honest, apart from the lovely metrics to geek at, I haven’t really found it useful for training.
I really only use it to monitor overall TSS when combined with a cycling power meter.
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Thanks @rob. I’ve proceeded with getting one as it will be interesting to see my run data in Watts rather than Pace and hopefully it will enhance the data analytics of intervals.icu.
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I did read your last post on pacing and running analysis and I think it is important to note that the Stryd is a power meter for running, just like the power meter you have for your bike.
So to answer your question it is important to really understand what metrics and training you want out of the data. Think of running pace similar to cycling speed and running power to cycling power. So yes you will get more data out of running power but you will need to put the data to use, so are you going to be training via running power zones.
Personally I use the ‘free’ Garmin running power metrics and as mentioned it looks really cool, that said I have yet to really be able to understand the full power of the metric. To be fair I have only just started running but I can see it being really useful in pacing longer events.
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i run trails mostly now. (pavement is too painful on joints) and stryd, even tho is said to be useful there, it’s will be tough to keep remembering the diff power targets between flat / slight climb / long climb etc… (per Andy D)
Never run to power @adam so I guess I’ll work out its usefulness when I start seeing the data but thanks for your insights.
You don’t need the subscription. HR is the primary for everything. Power provides some more insight. It can be as a second metric when setting baselines and for benchmark tests. Once you know your run power intensities for each HR zone then it helps make decisions about the readiness of your body, either at the start of a run or as things warm up, after which you can adjust accordingly (i.e. down to a walk) or even ditch the session. As far as the other Stryd metrics, leg-spring stiffness is something i find interesting.
Is running power necessary? No.
Is it helpful for adding dimension? Yes.
Is it better than pace on anything other than pancake flat? Damn straight!
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@Howie My Coach trains me for triathlon predominately on HR so he would definitely agree with everything you’re saying. I’m getting the Stryd so I can analyse my run pace as a power metric versus the HR I am generating. Doing all of this so I can see the data on intervals.icu until such time that run pace can be analysed as the primary metric which is on @david’s TDL.
I’ve read this book:
and it brings up some differences between Cycling Power and Running Power. You can’t analyze both in the same way for different reasons.
For running, the primary goal while training, is to increase pace for the same power avg. That means, working on technique and efficiency to move faster with a similar intensity.
For cycling, moving faster means putting out more power. There is no way around that.
I got into this recently when I purchased a Coros Pace 2 with wrist power. Experience is still rather limited but I’m slowly getting it.
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Please note that it’s not about one versus the other. Running power adds some insight but in no way can it replace HR data—regardless of activity.
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@MedTechCD, Alan Couzens and I sat in the back of the room during a presentation by Jim in Kona a few years back. It’s useful information but, as you point out, there are considerations. 
Note, Colby Pearce would be quick to point out that technique also plays a huge part in power creation and transfer, not to mention longevity, on a bike. 
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I’ve been using a Stryd for over 6 months, with no subscription. I don’t run to power, but still wouldn’t want to do without it. I run a lot of hills, with a lot of cumulative fatigue, so pace or HR don’t don’t really translate that well to my training load. With power meters on my bikes and the stryd pod, I feel my weekly load is accurate.
Also, the accuracy on distance, and near instantaneous current pace are great even if you care nothing about power.
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@Howie I poorly worded it. What I meant is I’d love to see some analytics on how over a period of time my heart rate (average) has reduced (or stayed the same) as my pace (not power) has improved. I can see it in an ad hoc & fragmented way via the other platforms I use but for me, it would put intervals.icu at the top of the fitness platform list. @david has advised pace analytics is at the top of the TDL list
@Adam_Plummer1, here’s a benchmark workout for you. Do it regularly after a lighter load week. This will help you dial in the metrics and get to know your body better.
===
Running Benchmark:
Do on pancake flat course or a track.
Can be done using 72% & 81% maxHR or with 65% & 75% Karvonen ((HRreserve = HRmax-HRrest) + HRrest). OR, if you know your exact HR at VT1 & VT2, then set HR for each interval a couple bpm under each. Don’t exceed the given HR for each interval.
Document HR, power, and pace for the two efforts. Stay aware of your respiration rate and noise. Raise awareness for how, where and when the body warms up.
Warmup
- 20' ramp 55-70% HR
Test Intervals
- VT1 10' 72% HR
- walk/jog 5' 50-70% HR
- VT2 10' 81% HR
Cool down
- 10' ramp 70-50% HR
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Hi, I have been using styd for several years, maybe I am among the first to use it, I know everything about the subject. I used the free version of garmin for my culture but with this I have never been able to find anything to manage structured workouts, it gives me instant data and I have to remember everything while running. With stryd there are many apps that help me manage structured workouts, as well as for the bike. I use RunPowerWorkout which integrates great with intervals. I would like to know if you have solved this problem?
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This podcast appeared in my list, so far it does a great job breaking down the differences between running and cycling power: Dr Will O’Connor on Running with Power — Endurance Innovation — Overcast
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Personally I do not find Stryd that useful and think HR training is more suitable for running.
Why do I day that? Well if I want to do a 5k parkrun I know the exact pace I need to run at to finish in 20 minutes no matter what course I run on - but I have no idea what power I need to run at to finish in the same time, because the correlation between pace and power is weak and even changes when you swap shoes.
In addition the Coros Pace 2 supports power natively and gives very close results to Stryd, is cheaper than Stryd in the UK and isn’t sensitive to shoe changes. So that kindof makes it obsolete.
Its an interesting gadget but can only be used as a supplement to pace or HR based training. not as a replacement.
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