A Runner's Guide to the COROS POD 2

The COROS POD 2 is a game-changer for runners looking to maximize accuracy and efficiency. It is designed to enhance your running experience by delivering accurate pace, distance, and advanced running dynamics. Whether you're training indoors, running in challenging GPS environments, or refining your form, the POD 2 provides data to optimize your performance.

Why Use the COROS POD 2?

The COROS POD 2 offers benefits that go beyond wrist-based GPS tracking. By attaching it to your shoe or waistband, you gain access to improved accuracy and deeper insights into your running form. Here’s why it matters:

• More Accurate Pace and Distance: Ideal for treadmill running, poor GPS environments, and track workouts.
• Real-Time Running Dynamics: Analyze stride length, ground contact time, left/right balance, and more.
• Form Optimization: Provides insights to enhance efficiency and reduce injury risk.

*Dual: Indicates that data inputs are coming from both your watch and the POD 2 to create a stable and highly accurate measurement

Foot vs. Waist: Where Should You Wear It?

The POD 2 can be worn on your shoe or waistband, with each placement offering unique advantages. While foot-worn POD 2 provides performance oriented metrics useful during race day or key workouts, waist-worn POD 2 provides relevant insights regarding running form and injury prevention for coaches and athletes to monitor.

Waist Placement

Waist-related metrics displayed from the POD 2 refer mostly to biomechanical variables that can help you optimize your running economy/efficiency. Therefore, wearing the POD 2 on the waist would best suit road or track runners looking to improve their running form with the most accurate biomechanic metrics available. A waist-worn POD 2 could then become a reliable tool for athletes throughout their training to improve running efficiency during the off-season or during specific form focused workouts.

A few instances of using the waist placement would be:

• Standard Outdoor Runs: If you're looking to maximize your data collection, it is advantageous to use the POD 2 on your waist for running dynamics measurements, while relying on GPS for pace and distance.
• Running Form Test: The POD 2 waist placement is required for the Running Form Test, which will give you numerous insights into your running form and efficiency.
• Outdoor Track Workouts: If you’re a runner looking to improve biomechanic components such as building form and running efficiency, wearing the POD 2 on the waist during workouts would provide better insights.

Foot Placement

As seen from the chart above, foot-related metrics displayed from the POD 2 refer mostly to distance and pace measurements along with external variables such as temperature and altitude. Therefore, wearing the POD 2 on the foot would best suit runners who wish to gain access to accurately enhanced measurements as well as instant adjustments of crucial metrics such as running pace. For example, short and fast high-intensity interval workouts would benefit from the POD 2 data enhancement.

A few instances of using the foot placement would be:

• Treadmill Runs: With pace and distance measurements only available with the foot placement, you will certainly want to place it here for your treadmill runs.
• Indoor Track Workouts/Races: GPS signal is often not an option for indoor track sessions, so the POD 2 foot placement again comes in handy with unmatched pace and distance accuracy.
• Outdoor Track Races: Instant pace data is crucial when making a move during a race, so the POD 2's foot placement is optimal. When analyzing the race afterwards, the precise pace measurements are key to finding specific moments in the race.
• Outdoor Runs with poor GPS Signal: When running through spotty GPS signal, such as through tunnels, the POD 2 can take over and provide pace and distance data until you restore GPS for dual measurements.

Coaches Note: The POD 2 foot placement also records ambient temperature - perfect for tracking your training trends in hot or cold environments.

Accuracy: Treadmill & Indoor Track Performance

One of the biggest advantages of the COROS POD 2 is its superior accuracy in treadmill and indoor track running. Unlike GPS and wrist-based tracking, which can struggle in these environments, the POD 2 uses advanced motion sensors to provide highly precise pace and distance readings.

• Treadmill Accuracy: The POD 2 captures stride-based metrics to give an accurate reading of speed and distance. Below is an example of a treadmill workout with the POD 2 in the foot position. It easily measured both small and large changes in pace, along with a variety of different speeds.

• Indoor Track Accuracy: With GPS signals often bouncing indoors, the POD 2 provides a stable alternative. Below is an example of the POD 2 being used in the foot position during an indoor 5K race. The distance is spot-on, and the POD 2 was even able to track changes in stride length as the athlete rounded the tighter corners of a 200m track.

Getting Started

Setting up the POD 2 is simple:

1. Attach it to your shoe or waistband.
2. Pair it with your COROS watch via Bluetooth.
3. Start running and analyze real-time feedback directly from your watch or in the COROS app.

To get the most out of your POD 2, ensure it's securely attached and up-to-date with the latest firmware. For additional details, visit the COROS POD 2 FAQ.

If you would like to know how the POD 2 would best suit your needs as an athlete, do not hesitate to reach out to COROS Coaches via coach@coros.com and we will happily discuss it with you!