miCoach makes running accessible to all runners creating personalized fitness plans based on individual information and goals

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- adidas, a global leader in running, today kicked off its worldwide New Year's Resolution to help you become a better runner with the launch of the miCoach training platform. At a launch event at the company's Las Vegas Sport Performance store, adidas will unveil one of the only devices in the marketplace to verbally coach an individual during a run. Through live demonstrations with professional coaches Greg McMillan and Terrence Mahon, adidas will show how miCoach simplifies the science of running and showcase the importance of personalized coaching.

The launch event at the adidas Sport Performance Store in Las Vegas begins at 10:30 a.m. and is open to all media attending the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Shuttle service will be provided beginning at 9:50 a.m. from Stop D located outside the Las Vegas Convention Center to the adidas store located at 3791 Las Vegas Boulevard South. In addition, adidas will use CES as a launch pad to educate the more than 110,000 attendees on the features and benefits of the miCoach platform. adidas will host product presentations throughout the show at its booth located in the Meeting Place in South Hall 2 #25336 as well at the adidas Sport Performance Store.

The new miCoach interactive training platform, featured on micoach.com, completes the adidas promise to make you run better. Not only does adidas provide the most innovative footwear and apparel to perform in, the company now offers personal coaching services so athletes of all levels can get fitter, run faster and simply be better in 2010.

The miCoach offering features two separate products:

The miCoach Pacer - a small, lightweight device that delivers real-time audible coaching as a user exercises via headphones or combined with their own MP3 player. During a run, the miCoach Pacer verbally coaches the runner (i.e. speed up to green zone, slow down to blue zone, etc.) to ensure that they are staying within their targeted heart rate zone and keeps them running at the right personal level.

The miCoach Zone - an easy to read color-code LED display on a wristband device provides accurate, real-time information making it easy to train at the right intensity with the help of a heart rate monitor.

The miCoach Pacer - a small, lightweight device that delivers real-time audible coaching as a user exercises via headphones or combined with their own MP3 player. During a run, the miCoach Pacer verbally coaches the runner (i.e. speed up to green zone, slow down to blue zone, etc.) to ensure that they are staying within their targeted heart rate zone and keeps them running at the right personal level.

The miCoach Zone - an easy to read color-code LED display on a wristband device provides accurate, real-time information making it easy to train at the right intensity with the help of a heart rate monitor.

"miCoach makes it easy for anyone at any level to get personal coaching. The instant progress reports help you get the most out of your run and achieve your personal goal," says Bernd Wahler, chief marketing officer of adidas Sport Performance. "The audible coaching feature of the miCoach Pacer provides a new dimension to any workout experience allowing users of any level to discover their true potential. This product is really about offering our consumers a personal way to train."

The adidas Innovation Team (aIT) began research and development for the current miCoach platform and devices more than two years ago with the objective of creating the most advanced personal training product in the marketplace. adidas also worked with some of the world's finest athletic trainers in developing the miCoach training methodology, including Mark Verstegen, the founder and director of the Athletes' Performance Institute (API), an elite training and sport research center based at Arizona State University.

"This is all about reaching your next level, whether you want to improve your personal best time, lose weight or want to train for your first marathon," said Christian DiBenedetto, program director, digital sports products, adidas Groups' adidas Innovation Team. "miCoach acts as your own personal coach who is there with you on every run. It practically does all the thinking for you and knows exactly what you want to accomplish and exactly how to help you get there."

At www.micoach.com, a user can create personalized training plans, set goals and proactively monitor and manage their progress over time. The miCoach platform includes six goal-based categories: Learn to Run; De-Stress; Be Fit; Lose Weight; Run a Race; and Finish Faster. Based on this personal information, miCoach creates an individualized training program that's tailored to a users heart rate zones and will help them achieve their fitness goals more efficiently than traditional exercise regimens. miCoach listens to a runners heart to determine their personal training zone ranges, each represented by a distinct color for easy-to-understand and effective training - blue, green, yellow and red. miCoach helps runners set goals and then reach them by monitoring their heart rate and telling them when to slow down or speed up to meet their personal goal .

The Suggested Retail Price for the complete miCoach Pacer system is US $139.99 and the Zone is available at a SRP of US $65.99. Both products can be purchased at any adidas Sport Performance Store or online at shopadidas.com

About adidas:

adidas is a global designer, developer and marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories with the mission to be the leading sports brand in the world. Brand adidas is part of the adidas Group, a corporation that includes brands such as Reebok, TaylorMade and Rockport.