Sportlyzer leads users to personal bests

Dec. 15, 2011 - PRLog -- Sportlyzer leads users to personal records
Are we reaching the point where technology can replace coaches?
Dec 15th, 2011

Sportlyzer (Estonian startup, Seedcamp company) is developing an online training management platform for endurance sports enthusiasts that is powered by a proprietary smart training planning engine. Recently Sportlyzer’s customer Denis Harscoat achieved two personal records in a row while being coached just by artificial intelligence.

Sportlyzer’s user Denis Harscoat is a founder of mobile startup DidThis/Quantter and a co-organizer of Quantified Self London/Paris meetup. Denis: “I travel a lot and hence I’m not a member of any running club. Therefore, I had to find a different way to get fit for my 8.14 km running race of Konstanzer AltStadtLauf.” Denis decided to try Sportlyzer’s virtual coaching service and finished his race in an awesome 31'54". Shortly after he set himself a new goal to run 10K in 42’30’’ and as Denis himself puts it: “Thanks to Sportlyzer I’m super happy I did less than 40 min to the 10 km :)).”

Sportlyzer

At first glance Sportlyzer looks pretty much like an ordinary training diary, but under the hood there are 500+ complicated algorithms baked by sports scientists, coaches and a sports psychologist. Considering your profile it generates you a custom training routine specific to you and your goal. Afterwards every time you report your trainings the plan is re-calculated.

Founder and CEO of Sportlyzer.com Tõnis Saag explains how the smart system is developed: “Our sports scientists analyze a lot of sports theories, create a theoretical framework and turn it into algorithms or mathematical models. Then designers and programmers take these calculations and develop a friendly user interface. I would compare it to an iceberg - users can see the only the tip of it and the majority of the system stays below the surface.”

Sporltyzer, like some other sports tech companies (gainfitness.com, 2peak.com, firstbeat.fi, trainsmart.com, dailyburn.com, firstbeat.fi), has taken the challenge to automatize fitness analysis and training planning. Considering the complexity of the real world it’s not an easy task, but the first steps are taken.

Tõnis Saag: “I don’t believe that in near future coaches could be entirely replaced by technology. Apps can’t correct your technique or ask you what happened to your ankle. But they can make your exercising easier by doing your training planning, suggesting relevant exercises and tracking your workouts.”

Sportlyzer’s next step will be developing group features to give clubs and personal trainers a platform for managing athletes’ trainings and engaging their communities. Tõnis: “Working with coaches will help us turn our training planner into an effective digital side-coach for them. As a result more customers will get personal approach and coaches can make some extra money.”

Sportlyzer capabilities

Sportlyzer’s calculation of training cycles is based on dr. Vladimir Issurin’s popular block periodization theory. Algorithm creates custom training plan and gives daily instructions. Re-calculations are made both in weekly routine and long term training load strategy. Like a real coach besides considering objective numbers Sportlyzer asks you weekly how you feel. Sportlyzer is also a niche social network where all friends are put into an activity leaderboard where they get points for your trainings and lose points when being passive. Sportlyzer synchronizes to GarminConnect and lets you import files from Polar, Suunto, Timex and GPS devices.

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Sportlyzer is a web startup that builds a virtual coach, supported by online social workout application.