How to Upload Workout Data
From Peaksware Help Center
Contents |
Methods of Uploading
There are now three different ways to upload data files from electronic training devices into your TrainingPeaks account. Please note that all three options require that your account is in a Paid Subscription , or that your account is in the Coached Athlete format.
WKO+
1) You can purchase WKO+, our desktop based deep analysis software, and use this software's build in direct upload to TrainingPeaks feature. For more info on this option, go to: http://www.trainingpeaks.com/cyclingpeakspr1.asp For more info on WKO+, go to: http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com/wko/
Device Agent
2) You can download and install our new free upload utility, called Device Agent (note, using WKO+ AND Device Agent is redundant). Device Agent is a new program that replaces the use of Messenger (our old free upload utility, which we have phased out). To obtain our latest version of Device Agent, please follow this link and click the download button: https://www.trainingpeaks.com/deviceagent/ Then, once the program is downloaded on to your computer, open and install the program. Now, open Device Agent, enter in your TrainingPeaks Username and Password, and use it to extract files from your device and upload them in to your TrainingPeaks.com account.
Upload from Daily Log
3) The last option is to use the "Upload Data!" button in your Daily Log of your TrainingPeaks account. Use the manufacturer's software that came with your electronic training device to extract the data file from the device. Once you have completed the steps necessary to extract the file from your device (each device is different, so consult your specific device's owner's manual), and you have saved it to your computer (we recommend saving it to an easy to remember location, like your desktop), than you are ready to login to your TrainingPeaks account to upload the data file. - Now, log in to your TrainingPeaks account, and go to your Daily Log, create a new workout if one is not already planned, click the "Upload Data!" button found in the middle towards the bottom of the workout entry form. - Click the Browse button in the screen that appears, find the file that you want to upload, then click Upload Now.
Tips and Troubleshooting for Uploading
Training With Technology Resources
*Make sure to take a look at our Training With Technology resources pages, which can be found at: http://www.trainingpeaks.com/trainingwithtechnology/
How Actual Uploaded Workouts are Assigned to Planned Workouts
- When TrainingPeaks receives the data, it checks the day for which the file is set to see if you have any workouts planned. If you do have one planned, it checks to see if the type of workout (bike, run, walk, etc) matches between the designation in the device and that planned in your account. At the same time, it looks to see if there is any ""actual"" data stored yet(meaning you have not done the workout yet), and if the planned duration is similar to the actual duration. If the upload file matches the type of workout (bike, run, etc), there is no file already loaded for that workout in that day, and the duration is similar to what was planned, it will attach the uploaded data to your planned workout. If you don't have a planned workout, it will create a workout automatically for you and store the data.
Why Does Data Extracted from my Training Device Through Device Agent or WKO+ not Match the Numbers I Get When Downloading to that Device's Manufacturer's Software?
Extracted data from Device Agent or WKO+ won't be dead-on exact compared to the Device Manufacturer's Software. This is especially true with GPS enable devices (but applies to all devices), since the GPS devices are able to calculate a more precise location than what they record in the time series data, which is what we mostly use to do calculations. For example, If I go out and do a bike workout using a Garmin Edge 305, the EDGE might read 42.06 miles, but once downloaded the data might show 41.9 miles. To apply a correction to every single reading to force the time-series data to match the overall "lap" data would be sort of fudging. We have decided to stick to showing the raw data, and not try to interpolate what the device thought the raw data meant. Typical discrepancies are within +/- 5%; rounding errors and lots of other things can play into it. We do our best to match manufacturer's data, but after working with many major vendors, you'd be pretty amazed at how much smoothing and adjusting of the "raw" data goes on. We choose to show true "raw" data (if we can get it), instead of adjusted data.
Another reason that Garmin's differ is that the watch may be using Latitude, Longitude, and Altitude to determine the distance traveled (if it doesn't have a wheel sensor or footpod to override the positional calculation internally) when directly displaying data to the user. Garmin Training Center will have it's own method of (re)calculating, etc. WKO+ will use the speed and/or distance values from the file or device if they are provided. If not, WKO+ uses only Latitude and Longitude when determining speed and distance for Garmin devices because the elevation readings are so erratic.
So, devices capable of reading from a wheel sensor or foot pod will produce the most accurate results. The Garmin Forerunner 301 is not so capable, as it is older technology. Thus, if you have a wheel sensor or foot pod, use it!
The Garmin's by the way, do not provide a way for us to tell where the distance and speed values come from, if reported.
Depending upon your firmware and/or version of Garmin Training Center producing the files, or used when first downloading the workout from the device, speed and/or distance may not be provided.
Over time, we have noticed that the underlying sample points issued by the Garmin devices seem to be getting farther from the starting and times of laps. That is, as the functionality has increased, Garmins seem to worry less and less about matching up end points. Recent changes inside WKO+ (and Device Agent) have increased attempts to insert points where they might be missing (such as exactly when a lap starts or ends)and extrapolate the data in between.
Also, a common problem of today’s GPS devices is less than desirable elevation accuracy. This is an inherent problem that plagues GPS devices which is caused by the simple fact that GPS satellites are only above you, and a proper “fix” can never be obtained below you (through the earth) resulting in accuracy that’s roughly 1/2 as good as the horizontal position. What does that mean? Elevation is the least accurate component of a GPS position... leading to obvious inaccuracies in your data files. This is not a bug in the software, but rather just the nature of the GPS Elevation data. We have created a tool in the latest version of WKO+ to help with this issue, called Ground Control; more on Ground Control can be found at http://blog.trainingpeaks.com/2008/01/ground-control-elevation-correction-for-your-gps-device.html
Regarding differences between version of our software - we are mainly interested in knowing that downloads into WKO+ match downloads into Device Agent which should match what is displayed in a TrainingPeaks account online. Likewise, files imported into WKO+ should match those imported directly to the web site. Finally, downloads to WKO+ should very much match imports of the same workout coming from Garmin Training Center (+/- 1 second and including the differences stated above).
Compatible Devices
- For general download instructions (ie, how to extract the data file from the training device), go to How to Download.
- For recommended upload procedures and instructions per device model, select the Manufacturer below-
