Opportunities unveiled
Perhaps most interestingly, Milly’s digital twin data reveals the impact of “hidden hard runs” on her heart. These are activities where, afterwards, Milly’s heart rate recovery appears normal, but her heart muscle continues working harder for an extended time, revealing signs of “residual strain” So, while a run may feel easy, Milly’s watch data may show a good recovery time, and she doesn’t feel fatigued afterwards, in reality, a longer rest may be necessary for full internal recovery.
This is where digital twin technology really comes into its own. Its ability to see areas that consumer wearables can’t and provide recommendations that may sometimes seem counterintuitive, like Milly needing extra recovery time after apparently low-strain sessions enables athletes to train smarter and find new gains. It adds a recovery-aware lens that makes training more sustainable and effective, providing athletes with opportunities to make adjustments that could prevent injuries, reduce health risks, and improve performance.
Some of the key recommendations to emerge from the digital twin data were the importance of Milly getting sufficient sleep and managing her stress levels. Strength training was also highlighted as a potential superpower for Milly, boosting her musculoskeletal resilience while enhancing her responsiveness to running sessions.
The analysis indicates that Milly is well-positioned to build on her abilities and, incredibly, shows that she can reduce her marathon time by more than an hour.
