Garmin Acquires Two Major Sports Data Platforms: TrainingPeaks and TrainHeroic

On July 22, the renowned GPS navigation and smart wearable brand Garmin announced the acquisition of two sports data monitoring platforms:

• TrainingPeaks, a data platform for running, cycling, and triathlon enthusiasts
• TrainHeroic, a data platform for strength, endurance, and power athletes

TrainingPeaks was founded in 1999 by renowned American endurance coach Joe Friel and his son Dirk Friel. It is not just a simple activity tracking tool but provides athletes and professional coaches with a full closed-loop system covering training planning, execution and tracking, data analysis and insights, strength training plans, intelligent coach matching (athlete version)/multi-athlete monitoring (coach version), health, recovery, and overall performance. In 2024, the platform also acquired indieVelo and launched an indoor cycling platform, TrainingPeaks Virtual, which can be integrated into its paid plans.

Its subscription prices are:

Athlete version: $134.99/year (approximately ¥900/year); Coach version: from $21.99/month (approximately ¥140/month).

TrainHeroic plays a similar role in strength training and fitness training. Founded in 2011, it currently has approximately 500,000 users and 10,000 coaches. Both companies are based in Louisville, Colorado.

Its subscription prices are:

TrainHeroic: Athlete version Pro service: $29.99/year (approximately ¥200/year); Coach version base fee: $9.99/month (approximately ¥60/month), additional athlete fee: $1/month per athlete.

Both platforms are under the holding group Peaksware, which also owns several music education software brands. After the transaction, the group retained its music education business, which continues to operate as an independent entity.

Garmin was co-founded in 1989 by Dr. Min Kao and Gary Burrell. In its early days, the company's products were highly acclaimed for the integrated GPS100 navigation device, gradually applying related communication and navigation technologies to aviation, marine, automotive navigation, outdoor, and fitness markets.

In recent years, to strengthen its free fitness and health platform Garmin Connect, Garmin has made several acquisitions:

• In 2025, acquired Dutch timing technology company MYLAPS, helping Garmin create a full-chain experience from "race registration to real-time timing to performance analysis."
• In 2020, acquired physiological analysis and HRV (heart rate variability) technology company Firstbeat, whose algorithms remain the foundation of core health/training metrics in Garmin watches.
• In 2019, acquired smart indoor trainer and cycling software platform Tacx, later integrated into the Garmin Tacx Training app.

Above: Garmin's various sports devices; Garmin Connect is the service extension for these devices.

Last year, Garmin launched Connect+, a paid subscription service bundled with its Garmin Connect app. However, overseas media noted that the service received polarized user feedback, with the main controversy being "whether it's worth paying for." The addition of TrainingPeaks and TrainHeroic may increase the subscription appeal of Garmin Connect+.

Garmin Co-Chief Operating Officer Brad Trenkle said: "The addition of these highly successful platforms to the Garmin ecosystem will expand access to more authentic coaching experiences—connecting athletes with professional coaches who guide, motivate and inspire them to reach their goals."

TrainingPeaks co-founder Dirk Friel posted a statement on his personal LinkedIn account, stating that he will continue as a strategic advisor, while President Lee Gerakos will continue to lead the company.

Above: Garmin's screenless wristband CIRQA launched this week

| Source: Official press release, dcrainmaker, mac4ever, Dirk Friel LinkedIn account

| Image source: Garmin official website, TrainingPeaks and TrainHeroic official websites