Fitbit Partners With New York Road Runners to Help Runners of All Levels Train Smarter and Achieve Their Goals at the TCS New York City Marathon
As the official fitness tracker of the world’s largest marathon, Fitbit offers runners access to critical tools to help fine-tune and analyze performance
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fitbit (NYSE: FIT), the leader in the connected health and fitness market, today announced a two-year partnership with New York Road Runners designed to provide runners of all levels with relevant data, inspiration and guidance to reach their goals at the TCS New York City Marathon. The association between Fitbit, the first-ever official fitness tracker partner of the race, and the largest marathon in the world, extends beyond race day, encouraging runners to participate in enriching community-building activities and to use Fitbit’s platform of activity trackers and mobile tools to perform at their personal best.
“At Fitbit, we’re all about inspiring people to reach their health and fitness goals – whether that’s shaving a few minutes from a marathon personal best, or running in their very first race,” said Tim Rosa, VP of Global Marketing at Fitbit. “By joining forces with the largest marathon in the world, we’re going to help even more people by giving them meaningful tools and motivation to do their best. Today’s news is just the beginning as we work to deepen our partnership with the New York Road Runners organization.”
“We are excited to welcome Fitbit as a partner of New York Road Runners, and the official fitness tracker for the TCS New York City Marathon,” said Sarah Cummins, head of business development and strategic partnerships at New York Road Runners. “Fitbit’s track record of helping people lead healthier more active lives makes them a great new partner to our community. With Fitbit’s help, we’ll further carry out our mission of helping and inspiring people through running.”
Train like a Champion
Fitbit presents a rare opportunity to train like Fitbit Ambassador Ryan Hall. As the current American record holder in the Half Marathon and Marathon, Hall created a unique 10-week plan for advanced runners who are training regularly based on his extraordinary experience and vast knowledge of the sport. The plans contain daily tips and guidance to help them prepare for the race and are available for download on Fitbit’s website.
“Based on my own training experiences and methods, I’ve designed a plan for runners that will help them train strong and feel great heading into the marathon,” said Hall, elite runner and Fitbit Ambassador. “Proper training includes keeping track of way more than just distance, pace and heart rate. Nutrition, hydration and sleep are also incredibly important in promoting proper muscle recovery and preventing injury – these are all things Fitbit enables that you can track with your Fitbit device to train smarter as you get ready for the starting line in New York City.”
How to Improve Your Training and Performance with Fitbit
The Fitbit® platform – consisting of activity trackers and mobile and social tools – provides motivation and enables people to be more active, exercise more, sleep better, eat smarter, and manage their weight – all key components when training for a marathon. Here’s how it works:
Fitbit Activity Trackers
- All-day, Effortless Activity Tracking: Fitbit offers a full line of wearable health and fitness devices that automatically track daily steps, calories burned, distance traveled, floors climbed and active minutes so you get insight into your most important stats. Select Fitbit devices also feature SmartTrack to automatically track common exercises like biking, running, and other sports
- GPS Tracking: Fitbit Surge™ and Fitbit Blaze™ use GPS tracking for real-time actionable stats like distance and pace right on your wrist, so you can make instant changes. Following runs, see your route, pace and split times on the Fitbit mobile app or online dashboard to easily compare performance over different parts of your run and make adjustments to improve – because for many, seconds matter
- PurePulse® Heart Rate Tracking: Fitbit Surge, Fitbit Blaze and Fitbit Charge HR™ use continuous wrist-based heart rate tracking to help you optimize workouts using simplified heart rate zones and let you track resting heart rate to see how your cardiovascular fitness is improving – all without an uncomfortable chest strap
- Multi-Sport and Exercise Modes: Fitbit Surge, Fitbit Blaze and Fitbit Charge HR let you record cross-training and other activities beyond running – yoga, cycling, weight-lifting – so you can see stats like workout intensity and calories burned for a full picture of your training in prep for the big race
- Automatic Sleep Detection: Track how long and how well you sleep, illustrating where adjustments in lifestyle might be necessary during training for better recovery and performance
Mobile and Social Tools
- FitStar™ Personal Trainer and Yoga Apps: Virtual coaching through customized fitness plans and interactive workouts let you stream video workouts anytime, anywhere to build strength, gain flexibility and maintain endurance
- Nutrition and Hydration Tracking: Log food and water intake within the Fitbit app to monitor calories in vs. calories out to so you get the right amount of hydration and fuel while training for race day
- Motivation: Social connectivity with friends and family on the Fitbit app provide added support as you train, motivate, and challenge each other to reach your next training milestone
- Strava Integration: Fitbit and Strava offer a unique, two-way integration empowering you to track your all day activity, exercise and maximize your workouts, as well as connect, compete and engage with other performance athletes on Strava
Connect with Fitbit at the TCS New York City Marathon
To kick-off New York Road Runners’ premier event, Fitbit is offering unique opportunities during race week. At the race expo, runners will be able to demo Fitbit activity trackers and receive tips and instruction on the best ways to utilize the Fitbit platform for their marathon. Fitbit will also host shakeout runs led by its brand ambassador team of professional athletes including Ryan Hall as well as his wife Sara Hall, a premier distance runner who is running the 2016 TCS New York City Marathon, and ultramarathon runner Dean Karnazes. The events let runners connect with each other, get inspired, and have some fun before race day. The runs will take place leading up to the race with specific details available soon on Fitbit’s website.
About Fitbit, Inc. (NYSE: FIT)
Fitbit helps people lead healthier, more active lives by empowering them with data, inspiration and guidance to reach their goals. As the leader in the connected health and fitness category, Fitbit designs products and experiences that track everyday health and fitness. Fitbit’s diverse line of award-winning products includes Fitbit Surge®, Fitbit Blaze™, Fitbit Charge HR™, Alta™, Fitbit Charge™, Fitbit Flex®, Fitbit One® and Fitbit Zip® activity trackers, as well as the Aria® Wi-Fi Smart Scale. Fitbit products are carried in 54,000 retail stores and in 64 countries around the globe. Fitbit Group Health uses the power of the Fitbit activity trackers, software, and services to deliver innovative solutions for corporate wellness, weight management, insurance and clinical research.
Fitbit, the Fitbit logo, Fitbit Surge, Fitbit Blaze, Fitbit Charge HR, Alta, Fitbit Charge, Fitbit Flex, Fitbit One, Fitbit Zip, Aria, PurePulse, SmartTrack and FitStar are trademarks, service marks and/or registered trademarks of Fitbit in the United States and in other countries. All other trademarks, service marks, and product names used herein are the property of their respective owners.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties including, among other things, statements regarding Fitbit’s partnership with New York Road Runners and events and offerings, such as product demonstrations and training programs, by Fitbit made in connection with the TCS New York City Marathon. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual results due to a variety of factors, including the effects of the highly competitive market in which we operate, including competition from much larger technology companies; any inability to successfully develop and introduce new products, features, and services or enhance existing products and services; product liability issues, security breaches or other defects; and other factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained herein are based on information available to us as of the date hereof and we do not assume any obligation to update these statements as a result of new information or future events.
About The TCS New York City Marathon
The TCS New York City Marathon is the premier event of New York Road Runners (NYRR) and the largest marathon in the world. Over 1,000,000 people have finished the race since its first running in 1970 with just 127 entrants and 55 finishers running four laps around Central Park. The race expanded to all five boroughs in 1976 and is now in its 40th year as a five-borough affair. Held annually on the first Sunday of November, the race features 50,000 runners including the world’s top professional athletes and a vast range of competitive, recreational, and charity runners. Participants from over 125 countries tour the city, starting on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and running through the neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx before ending in Manhattan. In 2015, the inaugural NYRR Youth Invitational at the TCS New York City Marathon gave young runners the opportunity to run 1.8 miles of the race course in Central Park, beginning near mile 24 and finishing at the famed TCS New York City Marathon finish line. More than one million spectators and thousands of volunteers line the city streets in support of the runners, while millions more watch the live television broadcast in the New York area on WABC-TV, Channel 7, nationally on ESPN2, and via various international broadcast partners around the world. The race is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, which features the world’s top marathons—Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York—and crowns the top professional male and female marathoners each year. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting, and business solutions organization, is the premier partner of NYRR and the title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon. The 46th running of the TCS New York City Marathon is set for November 6, 2016. To learn more, visit www.tcsnycmarathon.org.
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Fitbit, Inc.
Jen Ralls, 415-941-0037
[email protected]
Source: Fitbit, Inc.