Patent ID: 6898550

Claim:
A method, comprising steps of: (a) determining at least one calculated parameter based upon at least one determined performance parameter of the user and at least one determined variable physiological parameter of the user, wherein the at least one determined performance parameter of the user includes at least one determined foot contact time of the user, and the at least one determined variable physiological parameter of the user includes at least one determined heart rate of the user; (b) repeating the step (a) during a first outing to obtain a first plurality of calculated parameters, each of the first plurality of calculated parameters being calculated based upon a respective determined foot contact time of the user and a corresponding heart rate of the user; (c) calculating an average value of the first plurality of calculated parameters; (d) repeating the step (a) during a second outing to obtain a second plurality of calculated parameters, each of the second plurality of calculated parameters being calculated based upon a respective determined foot contact time of the user and a corresponding heart rate of the user; (e) calculating an average value of the second plurality of calculated parameters; and (f) comparing the average value of the second plurality of calculated parameters with the average value of the first plurality of calculated parameters to identify an increase or decrease in the user's fitness level.