TrainingPeaks vs. Pacing (2025)

TrainingPeaks vs. Pacing (2025)

TrainingPeaks vs. Pacing: Which platform fits the way you plan, analyze, and execute your run training?

TrainingPeaks is the long‑standing standard for structured planning and deep data analysis across endurance sports. Pacing focuses on generating truly customizable run workouts and plans you can edit down to the interval, then guide with real‑time audio on the run. Here’s how they compare so you can choose what matches your training style.

🥇 TrainingPeaks at a glance

What TrainingPeaks offers (2025)

  • Planning and periodization
    • Annual Training Plan (ATP): plan your season by duration, weekly TSS, or goal CTL; automatic or manual periodization; ramp‑rate safeguards; compare planned vs actual Fitness (CTL), Fatigue (ATL), Form (TSB).
    • Calendar tools: schedule/shift/reschedule, recurring workouts, goals/events, availability and weather on calendar.
    • Workout Builder: drag‑and‑drop structured workouts; plus a structured Strength Workout Builder with 1,000+ video cues.
  • Execution and integrations
    • Device/app ecosystem: sync to/from Garmin, Apple Watch (auto‑send next 7 days to native Workout app), Wahoo, Zwift, Polar, Suunto, COROS, STRYD, WHOOP, FORM, and more.
    • On‑device prompts: real‑time targets on watches/head units and Zwift; Apple Watch integration supports auto‑send and native execution; Apple imposes some target limitations (e.g., no indoor run pace targets; run power targets/ranges shown only on Apple Watch Ultra).
    • TrainingPeaks Virtual: virtual cycling (ex‑indieVelo) included with Premium as of April 2025.
  • Analysis and feedback
    • Metrics and charts: TSS, CTL/ATL/TSB (PMC), peak performances, HR/pace/power charts, HRV/RHR/sleep duration charts, Weekly Fitness Summary, StackUp percentiles.
    • Compliance colors, subjective RPE/feel, coach/athlete comments and file review.
  • Plans, coaching, marketplace
    • Large training plan marketplace across sports; Coach Match; full coach and team platform (libraries, templates, athlete monitoring).

Pricing (athletes, 2025)

  • Basic: free (14‑day Premium trial).
  • Premium: $19.95/month; $134.99/year (annual price effective 2025‑04‑02).

Sources:

  • Pricing and inclusions: TrainingPeaks Pricing for Athletes (updated 2025‑04‑02)
  • Price change coverage: DC Rainmaker (2025‑02‑28)
  • Feature updates: TrainingPeaks Feature Updates; Strength Workout Builder; Apple Watch integration help; EnduranceSportswire press release
  • ATP/TSS/CTL resources: TP Learn guides and articles

Where TrainingPeaks shines

  • Season design and forecasting with ATP and the Performance Management Chart.
  • Broadest device ecosystem; clean push of structured runs to Garmin and Apple Watch.
  • Deep analytics for data‑driven runners and coaches.
  • Ecosystem breadth: plan marketplace, coach tools, new strength/indoor features.

Common limitations to note

  • Editing is powerful but utilitarian: great builder, but frequent micro‑tweaks on mobile can feel heavier than a dedicated builder‑first run app.
  • Real‑time audio coaching: relies on device prompts; no rich phone‑based “coach in your ear” by itself.
  • Apple Watch nuances: Apple limits some targets (e.g., indoor run pace), and target persistence UX is Apple‑controlled.

⚡ Meet Pacing: a builder‑first running app you can mold

Pacing is built for runners who want AI‑generated starting points that are totally editable—down to the warm‑up, intervals, repeats, rests, and cool‑down—plus a real‑time audio coach during the run.

Core Pacing features

  • Personalized five‑zone pacing from your history/results; zones drive targets.
  • Instant, tailored workouts (tempo, intervals, hills, long easy) with warm‑up/main/cool‑down.
  • Adaptive goal‑based plans that update as you train.
  • Edit‑anything customization:
    • Build from scratch with nested repeats, custom rests, distance/time targets.
    • Edit any AI/user workout step‑by‑step; reorder, add/remove, change intensities.
    • Organize into shareable Collections (blocks/programs); recipients can load instantly; updates can sync.
  • On‑run guidance: phone audio coaching with pace/HR cues, “speed up/slow down,” interval progress, next‑step prompts.
  • Flexible calendar: drag‑and‑drop; easy rescheduling.
  • Community/sharing: share individual workouts or full programs; great for clubs/coaches.
  • Strava integration and detailed post‑run interval analysis (pace, HR, cadence).
  • Local‑first privacy: data stays on device; no sign‑up; no cloud sync.

Pacing pricing (2025)

  • £4.99/month
  • £32.99/year
  • £79.99 lifetime

🔍 TrainingPeaks vs. Pacing: head‑to‑head

Planning your season and weeks

  • TrainingPeaks
    • Best‑in‑class season planning via ATP with TSS/CTL modeling to target race‑day form; weekly ramp‑rate controls; robust calendar and goals/events.
  • Pacing
    • Goal‑based plans that adapt as you go. Emphasis on making it easy to change the plan or any workout without breaking the flow.

Workout creation and editability

  • TrainingPeaks
    • Structured Workout Builder (plus Strength Builder). Robust and coach‑friendly, but frequent micro‑edits feel more “workbook” than “composer,” especially on mobile.
  • Pacing
    • A true composer: edit any step of any session, create complex nested repeats, and instantly reflect changes in audio guidance.

On‑run experience

  • TrainingPeaks
    • Executes structured targets on your watch or head unit; Apple Watch auto‑send up to 7 days; Apple‑specific caveats for target displays (e.g., indoor pace).
  • Pacing
    • Phone‑based real‑time audio coaching tied to your zones with explicit nudges and next‑step callouts.

Integrations and devices

  • TrainingPeaks
    • Broadest ecosystem: Garmin, Apple Watch native push, Wahoo, Polar, Suunto, COROS, Zwift, STRYD, WHOOP, FORM, and more; plus TrainingPeaks Virtual.
  • Pacing
    • Strava sync and phone audio today; device export/sync beyond Strava is evolving.

Analysis and review

  • TrainingPeaks
    • Deep analytics: PMC (CTL/ATL/TSB), peaks, HRV/RHR/sleep, StackUp; powerful athlete/coach feedback flows.
  • Pacing
    • Interval‑level charts aligned to your custom session structure; shareable for discussion.

Coaching and community

  • TrainingPeaks
    • Massive plan marketplace; Coach Match; full coach/team platform (libraries, templates, athlete monitoring and communication).
  • Pacing
    • Shareable Collections with live‑sync updates — ideal for clubs and coaches iterating blocks together.

💰 Price and value

  • TrainingPeaks (Athletes, 2025)

    • Basic: free (14‑day Premium trial)
    • Premium: $19.95/month
    • Premium: $134.99/year (effective 2025‑04‑02; TP Virtual included)

  • Pacing (2025)

    • £4.99/month
    • £32.99/year
    • £79.99 lifetime

Value summary:

  • TrainingPeaks: Excellent if you’ll use ATP/PMC, deep analytics, and broad device coverage (plus strength and virtual riding).
  • Pacing: Exceptional value for runners who want total workout editability, adaptive AI, and live audio guidance — including a lifetime option.

🧭 Which runners fit which app?

Choose TrainingPeaks if you want:

  • Season‑long planning with quantifiable targets (TSS/CTL/TSB) and A/B/C race forecasting.
  • Seamless execution on a broad array of watches/computers and rich post‑run analysis.
  • Access to coach tools and plan marketplace, plus strength and indoor cycling in one ecosystem.

Choose Pacing if you want:

  • To sculpt every workout — steps, repeats, rests, intensities — within an adaptive plan.
  • A pragmatic AI start (~80% there) with tools to dial the last 20% precisely.
  • Real‑time audio coaching and easy sharing of workouts/programs with live updates.

✅ Bottom line

  • Data‑driven planners, coaches, and multi‑device athletes will thrive with TrainingPeaks’ ATP, PMC, and vast integrations.
  • Runners who want to craft exactly what they run — with adaptive AI and on‑run audio guidance — will feel at home in Pacing.

Explore Pacing:

📚 References (accessed 18 Aug 2025)

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