Suunto 9 gets live TrainingPeaks metrics via SuuntoPlus

Today, Suunto 9/9 Baro and Suunto 5 users get some more goodies added to their watches through new SuuntoPlus features. We already saw the addition of STRAVA Relative Effort on SuuntoPlus at the end of last year and now is the turn of Training Peaks

Here is a link to refresh your memory on the SuuntoPlus launch alongside more detailed info on Strava Relative Effort.

STRAVA Relative Effort on Suunto

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First up, today’s new features are NOT simply a routine to upload or download stuff from Suunto to Training Peaks. This is proper, new functionality on your watch for use LIVE, whilst you exercise. It’s pretty much the same sort of thing as an app or data field from Garmin CIQ.

I know I can be sometimes cynical about the usefulness of some tech but I’m pretty stoked about some of today’s additions. Although relatively straightforward, they are actually useful. Before I get too excited let’s have a quick look at what’s new

TrainingPeaks in Real-time

TrainingPeaks features will help you understand your level of effort and training stress in real-time while running or cycling. Here are your new screen choices on SuuntoPlus

• TrainingPeaks with Cycling Power: Normalized Power® (NP), Training Stress Score® (TSS) and Intensity Factor® (IF)
• TrainingPeaks with Running Pace: Intensity Factor® (IF), Running Training Stress Score® (rTSS) and Normalized Graded Pace (NGP)
• TrainingPeaks with Heart Rate: Heart Rate Training Stress Score® (hrTSS).

What these mean

Alongside the headline features, there are also some regional updates to GNSS performance with Beidou (Asia) but the wording of the info from Suunto also suggests that we could all see accuracy and power consumption improvements with GNSS as well as FusedAlti improvements in how it uses GNSS to refine current altitude measurements.

How It Works

I think everyone should be able to see and use these metrics regardless of whether or not they are linked to a Training Peaks account. You access the features after you have selected your sport profile and you can only choose ONE of the SuuntoPlus features for each workout – ie it is not possible to use the existing Strava Relative Effort AND the new Training Peaks Running Pace.

Each of the new Training Peaks ‘apps’ effectively adds a complete page to your workout profile and I’ve listed, above, the exact metrics that you would get on each page.

Opinion

Pretty cool.

I can see how useful NGP is for running on undulating ground. STRYD users will smirk, knowing that power just handles that but MANY MORE runners prefer to use running pace rather than power to guide their efforts. At the same time, most runners appreciate that running uphill or downhill affects their effective speed but, I suspect, few do much to try to quantify that. Sure there have been NGP metrics available for years but it’s nice to have another option for Suunto users.

Here’s where you ask me how pace from STRYD work feeding into the NGP field. IDK!! if footpod speed is taken, it should mean that NGP is more accurate with STRYD when adjusted for grade!!)

Do other things affect NGP like surface type and wind?…. A: yep. And these are not covered here. Again, I can’t resist pointing you towards STRYD and running with power.