The RALCoach: A Virtual Coach Technology for Recreational Runners

Running with a coach or a set goal has been shown to improve performance and training effectiveness. However, these are not viable solutions for most recreational runners. The RALCoach is designed as a system that users wear while running, providing a music pacesetter and constant visual feedback about their performance. It assists runners in achieving their exercise goals by monitoring their pace and playing music with specific features selected to nudge them to either speed up or slow down to match their specified goal. Early results have been auspicious: RALCoach enabled 12 out of 15 recreational runners to improve their performance, and, even more importantly, 13 out of 15 users declared they felt better while training.