Running Tech Buzz: adidas miCoach

Photo: Scott Draper

Adidas’ latest smartwatch packs a lot into its burly body: GPS, heart rate, 4GB Bluetooth music player and a running/strength/flexibility coaching system. We took advantage of the many color-coded heart-rate or pace-zone run workouts and plans included, and also easily built our own. The assessment to set zones can be finicky in getting a fix on both pace and heart rate zones in a single workout—but is easy to adjust. The only caveat: Power can bleed fairly quick. A one-hour interval workout with heart rate, music, audio cues and GPS uses 30 percent battery; marathon mode without any audio extends battery life.

Breakdown

Phone-free music

Load your own—or as we did, rock the included MixRadio, which matches pace to adidas mixes.

Strength and flexibility workouts

miCoach can guide you through run and other sport-specific routines (with or without gym equipment) using on-watch demo animations, timers and heart rate.

Color and sounds

Color-coding of zones, values and screen layouts, along with audio and vibration cues, were clear and concise during interval workouts, keeping us aware and on track.

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