Always be training?! Sending Coach Garmin on leave.

[ForbiddenPlanet]

I've been empathising with other posters who've had issues with their Garmins recently.

I should say I love Garmins - it was getting a Forerunner 235 that provided the spark for me to do C25K in August 2019.

Several weeks ago I got a new one, a 245 Music, which offers workout suggestions, and I decided to try following them.

A few days ago my watch told me I needed to increase the volume or intensity of my training. "Buddy", I thought, "I've been doing the workouts YOU suggested. If they're not enough it's down to YOU not ME!". Yes - having a conversation in my head with a wristwatch! 🤣

I think what it really wants is for me to join one of the plans to train for a 5K, 10K or HM. Always be training, for a race, or to improve, seems to be the Garmin way.

As it happens I'm quite happy marking time for the moment. I've lost a stone and my easy pace has increased from 7:00 min / km to 5:50. Compared to where I was at the beginning of June when I wasn't doing any running I'm very happy. I'd like to lose another couple of stone, but I want to build up a natural desire to do that, rather than drive myself to do it.

So, I've paused training, sent Coach Garmin on leave, at least for now!

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Sounds to me like you have done and are doing the right thing !After all , what does Mr Garmin know 😁

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks - yes I believe so - I'm running for health and well being, not to be a dedicated athlete. 😀

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to ForbiddenPlanet]

Absolutely ! It's too easy to get drawn in to something we're not really looking for 👍

[nowster Graduate10]

I've never used the Garmin training programmes. They always looked too much like hard work. 🤣

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

🤣Yep - I'm impressed by the dedication and grit of those who are following them, but for my part I'm happy to bumble along in the slow lane!🏃‍♂️

[Cmoi Graduate10]

I just don't like training, full stop!

Also, challenging myself is one thing, but being told by a watch that I need to do X, Y or Z in order to "improve" is just ridiculous. There's more to running than numbers, at least as far as I'm concerned.

Happy coach-free running!

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks - I am a sucker for gadgets, but looking forward to doing my own thing! 👍

[damienair Administrator]

Mr Garmin is just an algorithm inside a plastic strap. End of story. I have a Garmin Forerunner 35. Nice and basic, but even with that I have it completely dumbed down. All it tells me now is what distance, pace and time I’ve ran. I’m not interested in anything else. Like you I’m running and healthy eating. As a result I lost 3 stone in weight and went from running 5K in 39 minutes to getting a PB of 25:36. I’m a bit off that and 1 stone heavier, but I’ll lose that COVID stone again and get my parkrun finish times down too. Run how you want and not how a piece of plastic tells you.

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Well done on the weight loss! 👍

I needed to lose 3 stone back in June, just partway there, but the benefits are really noticeable. 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Coach Garmin is a pain in the ……and hey I found your stone do you want it back?? but well done

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

🤣Really don't want it back if that's OK? 😂

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to ForbiddenPlanet]

Ok, I’ll try and find another recipient 😂I gave up smoking 21 months ago and put on a stone and a half i’ve lost the half but the stone is stubborn, reading how the weight loss has increased your speed has spurred me on to lose my stubborn stone

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Good luck - I will be hoping to read that it's going well. 👍 Interesting - I also got a third of the way through my hoped for weight loss and now I've plateaued. 🤔

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to ForbiddenPlanet]

Thanks, lots of reasons for a plateau, my trouble is i’ve been working very long hours and am tired I always eat more when I’m tired but good luck to you in beating your plateau into submission,

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

It's great work that you do, so thank you for that. 👍

To be honest, I am waiting until not losing more weight annoys me so much that my motivation to do so will be strong. From past experience I believe that forcing myself to do it will be no fun and ultimately unsuccessful!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to ForbiddenPlanet]

Yes I’m with you there, I know it will go but only when i’m ready

[Frizzbomb67 Graduate10]

I agree 👍🏻 I don’t always want to be going further or faster, and I certainly don’t want to be dictated to by a watch 😂. My Apple Watch is always shouting at me and I ignore it 😂. I want to run because I love it 😊

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10 in reply to Frizzbomb67]

Thanks - me too! I don't mind some of the alerts, but my new watch makes a high pitched squeal before telling me my pace is out of range etc. which can be deafening when I'm listening to classical music. (Maybe I should stick to loud rock music!)

[DylanTheRabbit Graduate10]

There's a nice feeling of accomplishment when you reach a goal or achieve a challenge, but chasing all the time is not my thing either. Here's to the simple pleasure of just running!

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10 in reply to DylanTheRabbit]

I agree. I just watch my heart rate now, as I'm trying to run in Zone 2 or lower. If the time turns out good (by my standards) it's a nice surprise.

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Mr (or Mrs) Garmin can be quite the bossy boots! It insinuated that I was lazy on Tuesdays because two Tuesdays in a row I hadn’t reached 10,000 steps. Never mind that I’d done a 10 mile run in between! Madness 🤣.

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10 in reply to Frenc]

Yes, I agree, she / he (it?!) is not very good at taking account of different data points. 🤔

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Well done you forbiddenplanet - bullying by a watch is not on. Perhaps that’s the bonus of me having the base level FR35 - it’s not that clever. 😂😂

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy. I do love a gadget, so bullying a little self induced! Phenomenal performance by UTS in the Gun Shot Residue btw. (Sorry - that's what I think of when I see "GSR" - too much watching of CSI!).