SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME ENVIRONMENTALLY NORMALIZED ENDURANCE ATHLETIC TRAINING AND COMPETITION

摘要

A near real-time GPS and computer-implemented system and method for measuring the physical capability of an athlete in an athletic endurance event and displaying, in near real-time, performance parameters after adjustment by at least one environmental normalization factor. The system and method performs the following steps in a specially programmed computer in near real-time: accepting near real-time data input from at least one sensor taken from the group of heart rate monitor for measuring an individual athlete's heart rate and a GPS device for determining distance traveled by the athlete in a time period, accepting environmental data correlated to the factor in near real-time, the data being accepted from at least one of a remote transmitter or a measurement device worn or carried by the athlete, computationally adjusting the athlete's measured actual performance by means of at least one environmental normalization factor taken from the group of temperature, humidity and elevation, wind, air density, and elevation change (hills), to compute an environmentally normalized performance value, dynamically recalculating said normalized performance values in near real-time based on additional environmental data accepted at subsequent times during said performance, and providing an indication in near real-time to the athlete during said performance regarding whether the current performance is within specified limits as compared to the normalized performance values for the individual athlete including adjustment by said normalized environmental factor to allow the athlete to take timely action during said performance to improve his or her performance. The system and method also enables virtual real-time events where environment normalization displays real-time progress/results for participants in different environments while they compete in the same event. The system and method normalizes the results from users participating at high altitude versus those a lower altitude (along with wind, temperature, elevation change, etc.) so that all participants effectively compete on a virtual “level playing field” during the event. Environment normalization can validate or certify real-time that performance data submitted during virtual racing events are valid based on the athletes actual environment normalized potential.