A Novel GPS-Based Training Device to Improve Track and Cross Country Training Effectiveness

Casey C. Miller, Mikel M. Miller and John Agnew

Abstract:	In the world of sports there is a constant effort to try to find more effective methods for training athletes. This paper presents the results from the first phase in developing a novel GPS-based training device to help monitor the training progress of track and cross country runners. The idea is simply that, if a runner’s velocity can be compared to his or her heart rate and the runner’s perception of work, then workouts can be run much more effectively. However, in the past, monitoring an athlete’s instantaneous velocity and position was not possible. Coaches had to rely on split times and make assumptions about speed at various points on the track or the course. The problem in finding an effective way to monitor position and velocity continuously was easily solved by using a GPS receiver with memory capabilities. This paper presents two prototype systems using two different GPS receivers and a Polar heart rate monitoring system [13]. In order to determine the runner’s velocity and heart rate, the runner wore a fanny pack containing a GPS receiver, a helmet holding a GPS antenna, and a heart monitoring system as shown in Figure 1.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 13th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2000) September 19 - 22, 2000 Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT
Pages:	1694 - 1702
Cite this article:	Miller, Casey C., Miller, Mikel M., Agnew, John, "A Novel GPS-Based Training Device to Improve Track and Cross Country Training Effectiveness," Proceedings of the 13th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2000), Salt Lake City, UT, September 2000, pp. 1694-1702.
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