Strava vs Training Peaks vs WKO vs Garmin Connect & any others..?
I have to confess that i don't analyze my rides or runs enough, lately, not at all...
curious as to how most people (especially the faster ones) manage tier data? what platform do you use? how do you analyze your rides/ runs? what are you looking for? how do you utilize the info to help you train better.
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- I check power #'s for intervals to see how I hit my targets
- I look at HR data to understand where my HR was for intervals and overall (over time you then get a great mental connection between HR and power/pace)
- I look at cadence to see where I was over the course of the workout
I also do a lot of comparisons to historical workouts that were similar at similar points in the training build. This is a really good part of EN since the workouts don't change much from year-to-year (and sometimes not at all). So, for example, I can compare a 20x100 swim set to the same workout the prior year. Or a 6x400. This is a great way to get a sense of fitness between tests. For power and pace, same thing...I figure I can peg my FTP oin the bike and LT pace on the run quite well based on analysis of my workouts.
In terms of software, I use 2 tools:
- Garmin Connect for logging and sharing
- TrainingPeaks (paid version) for planning, logging and analysis
I'm not going to open the whole TP vs. WKO debate here, lots on that in other threads. I do use all the nutrition functionality of TrainingPeaks. There is really good reporting that I use constantly to monitor my overall volume and training oad relative to targets (see my post on "training for a 3-hour marathon" where there are a lot of screenshots...that will give you a flavor).
Regarding Strava, I haven't added it to the rotation because
(a) I'm less interested in turning every training ride/run into a competition...given my psychology and how it would cause me to approach workouts I think it would be a recipe for disaster
(b) it is "one more thing" and I'm running out of time for all the admin given my 3 kids aren't getting any younger and I've recently started "commuting" to Asia 1 week out of every 3 for my job...
I am doing and thinking basically the same as Matt. Since I have 7+ years of data in WKO, I feel reluctant to change.
I use Golden Cheetah ( was recommended to me by another EN member a while ago). It's free and gives you all the data you need. You can customize it so you see the data you want to see and don't have to worry about all the other data. Once you've uploaded your data to Garmin Connect, export the tcx file and upload it into Golden Cheetah.
I keep data everywhere... But I only upload through Garmin connect. My Edge 510 does this automatically through my phone and my watch just needs to be near my computer with the ANT+ stick. I then setup all of my accounts here: https://tapiriik.com/ I think I "donated" $5 and once an hour or so for a year it automatically "sync's" all of the websites. So it sees that you have a new fie on Garmin Connect and it copies and sends it to Strava and to Trainingpeaks (and to Runkeeper). The first time you do it it will also sync all of your "old" files (if you want it to) to make sure all of the files are everywhere. It is also smart enough not to duplicate any files if you have already uploaded them to multiple locations. This first sync takes pretty much all day, but then subsequent sync's almost always happen within an hour, but usually even faster and you can also "force" it to sync anytime you want.
I use Trainingpeaks to analyze bike files and to keep track of my TSB, etc. and to compare to where I was in previous years. I use Garmin Connect for finding simple run and bike stats (to populate my spreadsheet which I'll mention later). I use Strava to keep track of regular segments that I do and of course to compete with myself and others. I also use Strava as motivation because I follow and am followed by a group of friends and I know I am accountable to all of them and I am inspired by the awesome workouts I see them doing. I don't even have a "The Facebook" account, so my social medial is basically EN and Strava (and a tiny bit of "the Twitter").
I have found that one of the most useful tools I have used for about the last year is a simple spreadsheet that I also use to log each workout. This allows me to put notes on workouts and track simple thing like "hours" or "distance" of each of swimming, biking, and running. I can "very easily" look back over the last several months to just visually compare similar workouts and paces and HR, etc. This is something I never could figure out an easy way to look at (the way I wanted to) in any of the other fancy dancy websites (Strava, TP, Garmin, etc...). You can read the thread about the spreadsheet and even download the template for yourself here: http://members.endurancenation.us/Forums/tabid/57/aft/13943/Default.aspx