Running app Runna announced Wednesday that users can now adapt their training plans to local weather conditions with its new Adapt for Heat feature, allowing them to stay on track instead of skipping workouts in hot weather. A popular run-coaching app found that 80% of its members skip workouts or modify their runs because of the summer heat. Runna launches in 2022 and is available on iOS and Android in over 180 countries.
The Adapt for Heat feature includes the following:
Color-coded hourly weather forecast: Based on local weather conditions, it shows the times of the day when it’s too hot or too cold, allowing the runner to choose the training window that works best for them.
Modified walk: Hot conditions require runners to slow down, and the Runna coach assigned to the user will adjust their pace accordingly.
More personalization for runners: Runna already personalizes training plans for runners based on their pace and other information they submit when they set up their account. Now, it will be able to recalculate based on the perceived temperature, as well as the assigned training session and its duration.
A representative for Runna did not immediately respond to a request for additional details.
As climate change brings hot summers and wildfires, athletes who enjoy running, biking, hiking and other outdoor activities should consider climate and environmental changes for safety reasons. Most athletes know that exercising early in the morning or later in the day is safe during extreme weather conditions, along with adequate hydration, electrolytes and proper heating. But being able to adjust their training is not always clear.
Lots of options for runners
Not all running apps or wearables allow runners to modify their runs based on the weather. Others provide feedback that can help improve training. Select Garmin running watches can now account for how heat and altitude affect a runner’s performance with a temperature and altitude feature. The feature adjusts maximum VO2 measurements – a measure of how well the body uses oxygen during intense exercise – when temperatures exceed 72 degrees. It also tracks altitude changes by comparing current conditions with previous training data.
Another wearable, the Core Body Temperature Sensor, is worn with a heart rate monitor belt and reads your core temperature in real time during training. This data shows how your core body temperature reacts and adapts to hot weather.
Other features coming to the Runna app in August include Future Plans, which will allow runners to create and schedule multiple training plans at once based on races throughout the year. Runna is also re-introducing Post-Race Recovery Programs, a feature designed to help runners safely return to training after a race by streamlining their recovery and preventing them from doing too much too quickly.
The Adapt for Heat feature is available in the app now, with Upcoming Programs and Post-Racing Recovery Programs coming in August.
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