Now that we’ve made our official announcement of Forerunner 305 compatibility with New Leaf Health & Fitness (a company that provides metabolic testing and training plans), I can finally share some insight on the training plan I’ve been following the past few months. Eventually, I’ll share the performance results I saw after completing the initial 12-week plan. Most exciting was a recent race where I snagged a first-place in age group (field of 87) compared to my typical finish somewhere in the top quarter of the pack. I’m still no speed demon and I’ve never been formally coached, but with Forerunner and my New Leaf workouts, it’s truly like having my own personal trainer. Watch for future posts as I share training notes from my experiences. Follow the jump for a little more insight.

So, you’ve probably heard about metabolic testing like New Leaf Health & Fitness provides, but if you’re like me, your eyes glaze over at the mere mention of anything remotely scientific. I promise I won’t get real tech here, but for those who don’t know, it’s basically a 10-minute exercise test on a treadmill or bike while your heart rate and metabolism are measured as intensity increases. To find a testing site near you, go to the New Leaf site and type in your zip code. From the results of your assessment, New Leaf generates a series of workouts that are totally unique to you because they’re based on your heart rate zones, your current level of fitness and your goals. And now you can pair those workouts with the Forerunner 305, which makes it super simple to follow each workout. Forerunner prompts you when it’s time to change zones or when you need to increase or decrease intensity. Find out more about how the Forerunner 305 works with New Leaf Active Metabolic Testing on our website.