i-tri Incorporates STEM

i-tri has partnered with Polar so girls can train with heart rate monitors, incorporating science, technology, engineering, and math principles into their learning curriculum.

As a part of the STEM-based program, The Science of Triathlon, the middle school students will be studying the effects of technology on their training process. Polar, an over 40-year-old wearable sports and fitness technology brand, is hoping the personal data will educate the girls on the physics and biology of their bodies during exercise while boosting self-esteem.

“Polar’s partnership with i-tri is a major step in empowering adolescent girls to be active and understand from a young age how real-time data is a reflection of what goes on inside our bodies,” said Tom Fowler, president of Polar U.S. “We look forward to further promoting that inspiration and providing resources to help. Introducing an active lifestyle early is key for encouraging healthy habits throughout adulthood.”

Polar, which began with heart-rate monitoring, has since expanded into multiple training solutions for elite athletes, coaches, and active fitness enthusiasts. This is the first national partnership for i-tri, which formed in 2010. The community-based nonprofit utilizes triathlon training as motivation.

“Because of their longstanding history of accuracy, Polar was the clear choice when we decided to partner with a sports technology company,” said i-tri founder and executive director Theresa Roden. “After training for and completing my first triathlon in my 30s, I saw more than just a physical transformation — I saw the way it positively affected me from an emotional and self-esteem standpoint, and I wanted to create a community to foster those same goals for girls in their formative years. We are confident that the technologies Polar offers will help do exactly that while creating the next generation of engineers and scientists.”

desiree@indyeastend.com