Athletes are continually being introduced to new training technology, and there is no doubt that the industry continues to move forward at a rapid pace. Over the past five years, training computers and GPS watches have added an impressive number of features, making them increasingly sophisticated—and increasingly complex.

But there is an important question athletes should ask before becoming captivated by the latest technology:

Does all of this additional data actually lead to better performance?

At the end of the day, data only has value when it is used to create meaningful change. Simply collecting more information without knowing how to apply it can waste time, create confusion, and give athletes the false impression that they are improving simply because they have more numbers to analyze.

More Training Data Does Not Necessarily Mean Better Results

Consider the evolution of the modern Garmin training device. When some of the early devices were introduced, triathletes were eager to get their hands on them because of their new swimming features. The devices could calculate swimming pace, stroke count, distance, and SWOLF, a metric intended to measure swimming efficiency.

The assumption was that this information would help athletes identify weaknesses and improve their swimming—often considered the most difficult discipline in a triathlon to improve.

After these devices had been in use for several months, I would ask customers whether they were still uploading and reviewing their swimming data. In my experience, very few were. Once the novelty wore off, most athletes simply stopped looking at the information.

Why?

The problem wasn't necessarily the technology. The problem was the application of the data.

It is relatively easy to determine how many laps you have completed, calculate your distance per stroke, or check your pace using a pool clock. And simply telling an athlete that they are an inefficient swimmer is not particularly useful if they already know they need to improve.

The valuable question is not "How inefficient am I?"

It is "What specifically should I change to become more efficient?"

That distinction is critical.

If a training device could identify a swimmer's technical limitation and then direct that athlete toward a qualified swim coach or an appropriate training process, the information would become considerably more valuable.

Running Metrics Have the Same Problem

The same principle applies to many of the advanced running metrics found on modern training watches.

Metrics such as cadence, vertical oscillation, and ground contact time can provide valuable information about running mechanics and efficiency. But simply knowing your numbers does not automatically make you a better runner.

For example, a watch can tell you your cadence. It cannot necessarily tell you why your cadence is what it is, whether it is appropriate for your individual running mechanics, or exactly what you should do to change it.

Running efficiently is a highly learned skill. Developing better running mechanics requires instruction, repetition, feedback, and time.

The number on the screen is only the starting point.

What About Left-Right Power Data?

Power meters provide another good example.

Some advanced cycling power meters measure the difference between left- and right-leg power output. This can be interesting information, but almost every athlete will have some degree of left-right variation.

Natural differences in leg dominance, functional or anatomical leg-length differences, previous injuries, and individual biomechanics can all contribute to an imbalance.

So if a power meter tells you that your right leg produces 2% more power than your left, what are you supposed to do with that information?

If the answer is simply "nothing," then the data has limited practical value.

The important question isn't whether there is a difference. The important question is whether the difference represents a meaningful limitation—and, if it does, what specific intervention will improve it.

That is where coaching and proper analysis become far more important than simply collecting additional data.

Athletic Efficiency Requires More Than Technology

Swimming and running are extraordinarily complex sports from a biomechanical perspective.

A competitive swimmer can spend years refining technique and making extremely small adjustments to their stroke in an effort to gain fractions of a second. Running, contrary to the popular belief that it is simply a natural activity, is also a learned and highly trained skill.

In both sports, efficiency must be taught, practiced, and developed.

A device can measure certain aspects of that process, but it cannot replace the process itself.

This is an important distinction for athletes considering the latest training technology. A more expensive watch, cycling computer, or power meter may provide more information, but more information does not automatically produce more improvement.

Data Is Only the Beginning

Athletes are bombarded with information from increasingly sophisticated training devices. As technology continues to advance, the amount of available data will only increase.

The challenge for athletes and coaches is therefore not simply to collect more data. It is to determine which data is useful, what it means, and how it should influence training.

It is easy to believe that purchasing a new training device will lead directly to better athletic performance. In reality, technology is only a tool.

When it comes to improving efficiency, athletes still need quality instruction, repetition, feedback, and patience.

The first step in effective coaching is gathering information. But gathering the data is just the beginning.

The next—and far more important—step is applying that data to a specific training process.

If you truly want to improve your swimming, become a more efficient runner, or refine your cycling mechanics and pedal stroke, don't simply collect more numbers. Find a process that identifies your specific limitations and provides a clear path for addressing them.

The goal isn't to have more data. The goal is to know what to do with it.

Coach Matt Russ enjoyed a professional coaching career spanning over two decades of working with professional endurance athletes. His athletes have achieved numerous regional, national, international and championship titles under his direction. Matt achieved the highest level of licensing by both USA Triathlon and USA Cycling, and was a licensed USA Track and Field Coach. His accomplishments include being named "Team USA" Coach for the 2011 Beijing World Championship. Head Coach and founder of The Sport Factory, a USA Triathlon Certified Performance Center, he has authored many articles on a wide variety of endurance related topics.