Runna’s New Feature Adjusts Training Plans Based on Extreme Weather

Running app Runna announced on 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 during hot weather. The popular run-coaching app found that 80% of its members skipped workouts or adjusted their runs due to the summer heat. Runna launched in 2022 and is available for iOS and Android in over 180 countries. Here’s one example of what the Adapt for Heat feature looks like in a training plan.Giselle Castro-Sloboda/ CNET The Adapt for Heat feature includes the following: Color-coded hourly forecast: Based on local weather conditions, it shows the times of day when it’s hottest or coolest, allowing the runner to choose a training window that works best for them. Adjusted pacing: Hotter conditions require runners to scale back their pace, and the Runna coach assigned to a user will adjust their pace accordingly. More personalization for runners: Runna already personalizes runners’ training plans based on their pacing and other information they submit when setting up their account. Now, it will be able to recalculate based on the feels-like temperature, along with the assigned training session and its duration. A representative for Runna did not immediately respond to a request for more details. With climate change bringing hotter summers and wildfires, athletes who enjoy running, cycling, hiking and other outdoor activities must take weather and environment changes into consideration for safety reasons. Most athletes are aware that exercising early in the morning or later in the day is safer during extreme weather, along with extra hydration, electrolytes and proper fueling. But knowing how to adjust their training isn’t always clear. More options for runners Not all running apps or wearables allow runners to adapt their runs based on the weather. Some provide feedback that can help adjust training. Select Garmin running watches can now account for how heat and elevation affect a runner’s performance through a heat and altitude acclimation feature. The feature adjusts VO2 max estimates — a measure of how efficiently the body uses oxygen during intense exercise — when temperatures exceed 72 degrees. It also tracks altitude changes by comparing current conditions with data from past training. Another wearable, the Core Body Temperature Sensor, is worn on a heart rate monitor strap and reads your thermal vitals in real time during training. This data shows how your core body temperature responds to and adapts to hot weather. Other features coming to the Runna app in August include Upcoming Plans, which will allow runners to create and schedule multiple training plans at the same time based on races throughout the year. Runna is also relaunching Post-Race Recovery Plans, a feature designed to help runners safely return to training after a race by guiding their recovery and preventing them from doing too much too soon. The Adapt for Heat feature is available in the app now, with Upcoming Plans and the revamped Post-Race Recovery Plans coming in August.