Review: Pear Sport + Giveaway

I’ve always found the easiest way to stay motivated to push through your workout is to get your motivation WHILE you work out.  Sometimes I have a hard time going that extra distance or even going a little faster to get that real burn that I need.  Keep in mind, I am not a runner.  I have ran a couple of 10 miles races and even trained for a half marathon.  I just found that running is not for me but I do love working out at the gym, walking up the steepest hills, hiking, strengthening training, skiing, you name it, basically any activity but running, I love to do.  So why might you ask am I reviewing the latest gadget on the market for running?  Well, the other GGS gals are recovering from running injuries so I had to step up to the plate to do this review.  And besides, this little unit has some features for people just like me.  Let me introduce to the PEAR Sport, Training Intelligence.

This tiny little gadget is like having a personal trainer right by your side to train the distance you need at the speed you want to go at.  Included in the kit:

• Ultra small, lightweight PEAR Sport system
• Secure fit Sport Earphones
• cord to sync up your computer up with your PEAR
• Wireless PEAR Heart Rate Monitor
• Wireless PEAR Foot Pod
• Cute case to carry all of this gear

An iPod shuffle fits securely on the PEAR so you can have music for your workout.  I personally don’t have a shuffle and have every ‘i’ device out there except a shuffle but I was able to use my iPod Nano without any problems. 

PEAR constantly monitors you via the wireless heart rate monitor and foot pod, measuring your body’s response to a workout and telling you exactly what you need to know. Using interactive audio coaching, PEAR tells you when you’re off goal and motivates you to stay on track according to your custom tailored plan. 

They have many plans to choose from including training for Boston Marathon, Run a 10 mile faster, treadmill workouts,  learn how to run 1/2 marthon and so forth. For myself being a non-runner, I started to do the program, learn to run, free form workout (where there is no coaching but you can tell how hard you worked once you sync up with the computer) and the treadmill workout.

PEAR is a SMART biofeedback training system that uses a wireless heart rate monitor and foot pod to measure your body’s response to a workout and delivers real-time coaching to keep you on track towards meeting your goal.

Turn on your PEAR, fire up your music and let Training Intelligence™ do the rest.

To help the PEAR understand your fitness level, it asks that you do a fit test before you start.  You can re-do this test any time you like as your endurance and speed start to improve.  After completing the test, I started with the learn to run program.  I found this program really motivating for me as a non-runner, as each session was approx 30 minutes long and the PEAR told you exactly how you were doing, how much longer you had, your heart rate, when to run and power walk.  This program started off really slow, power walking 3 minutes and running for 30 seconds. The PEAR also encourages you as you do the program with wellness tips, mindful moments, all with a ‘air high five’.

For an athlete that spent most of her time in the water- running has always been scary and I had no idea where to start or what I should be doing. With the PEAR I am finally confident. I have a plan, I am getting tips and I am being coached, I cant ask for anything more.”

Jamie Vessey
NCAA Division 1 Athlete

The PEAR also has a ‘free style’ coaching system which I also really enjoyed.  I just strapped everything on and went out and did my steep hill climbing.  I could tell how I was doing instantly by pressing a button on the side of my special ear buds.  This would report, time, heart rate, distance and calories.  LOVED that! 

My only compliant that I have is that the calories the PEAR said I burnt was WAY off.  I would even go to say it was off by even double.  Everything else the PEAR reported was dead on including the zones that I was working at.  I would 100% recommend!

And guess what?  PEAR Sports and GGS Media have paired up to give one lucky GGS reader a PEAR Sports to have and to hold through all of your training.

Really wanna win? For one extra entries do any or all of the following:

• Tweet it out using @GirlGetStrong for extra entries (you can use the tweet button below)
• Like PEAR Sport on Facebook
• Like GirlGetStrong on Facebook(right hand side)
• Post the giveaway on your Facebook Page (you can use the share button below)
• Make sure to tell us in the comment section on what you did for the extra entries for them to count

Contest ends May 7, 2012(midnight PST). Winner will be notified by email. US and Canadian residents only. Good Luck!