Another Treadmill trot

[Instructor57]

Well, that was interesting !

So much for Garmin treadmill calibration 😳

I decided to do a 3K on the treadmill this morning for no other reason than wanting to get used to it and check the Garmin Calibration!

Well, I'm getting used to it fine !

BUT

The Garmin Calibration is way off !

I upped the treadmil pace on this one to just being on the edge of conversational.

It was certainly quicker than my first run on it but I have already forgotten the numbers (can't get used to working in Km/Hour) 😐

I had a fan set up this time and I needed it.

I actually enjoyed the run and definitely know I had a workout .

I stopped at 3K on the treadmill and was very surprised to see Garmin said I had done 2 46k !

And that's AFTER a previous calibration.

So of course pace would also be incorrect!

The annoying thing was I was not given an option to enter it as another calibration which is strange .

My running style today was probably quite different to the first mill run , as I say, I picked the pace up , I had a longer stride length as well and I varied the speed throughout the run .

I can only assume these differences did not agree with the Garmin Calibration !

Ahh well, it's a learning curve 🙂

Misty as usual was unimpressed 😐🐱

Happy running!

[GTFC Graduate10]

You're experimenting and doing which is everything 👏👏👏👏

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to GTFC]

Thanks Dean, I have edited the run in Garmin connect but can't seem to now upload to Strava 😐🤔Ahh well

[nowster Graduate10]

Perhaps it's tree cover confusing the GPS. 🤪

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Think it was the shirt on the treadmill 🤣

[Hidden]

Misty bleb!!! 😍😍😍

Want to know the reason why I bought myself the Runn sensor? Because both my treadmill and my Garmin watch always argued with each other and I never knew who was right. Guess what, neither one was right. My treadmill shows more distance done than I actually do and my Garmin goes both ways. Either less or more than the treadmill. It all depends on how you run, shorter steps, longer steps, faster, slower, etc. Without GPS Garmin is blind and can only base itself on 'feels'. I do get the possibility to calibrate my run after every run though.

Either way, should you think you will use your treadmill a lot, I would suggest to look into the Runn option. It cost me 105 euro with shipping from Ireland to Belgium. It takes a bit fidgeting to get it installed, though YouTube video's are a great help (such as to use glue to stick the stickers on the running surface). You use a separate app to calibrate the Runn to the treadmill and while it now gives slightly less distance than my treadmill, I actually believe my Runn as treadmills always exaggerate.

And again: KITTY BLEB!!

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Evy, However, I believe the treadmill distance to be quite accurate and stable .

After all , it's an easy measurement to take !

The problem is the Garmin Calibration, for not least the reasons you have mentioned yourself like stride length , cadence and the like !

I'm happy the treadmill distance is accurate by my pace, time of the run and perceived effort .

It's the Garmin accelerometers that are struggling .

[hamit Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

I found that a lot is dependent on my arm movement. So exaggerating the run arm movement seems to increase the pace. I can get a really good pace at times with the garmin set to treadmill going nowhere.

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to hamit]

Yes, so I understand! 😁

[John_W Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

"My treadmill shows more distance done than I actually do"

How do you know that ?

[Hidden in reply to John_W]

Because I have read that all treadmills give more distance than you actually do. I have now installed a Runn sensor and calibrated it and it has given me proof that the treadmill gives more distance than I actually run. On 1,7 km it is not much, just 300 meter or so. But I can imagine that on longer distances the difference will be much more.

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

The runn sensor measures belt speed .So does your treadmill

[Hidden in reply to Instructor57]

And yet there is a difference between them. Also in time for example. The time on my treadmill goes faster than the real time (on my phone and / or watch). In 20 minutes it differs 7 seconds or more. So if my treadmill lets time pass faster than it does, it is no surprise that he also counts more distance than actually passes.

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Actually, it IS a surprise!1k is 1k

Irespective of speed or how fast time passes.

Of course it would give you a different pace though

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

This is more like !

.

[Cmoi Graduate10]

Well done Instructor57 ! Love that pic, Misty has absolutely nailed how I feel about Garmin, and treadmills too, come to that!

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

Haha 🤣

[Hidden in reply to Cmoi]

🤣🤣🤣😁

[Frizzbomb67 Graduate10]

I’ve long since stopped trying to measure treadmill runs. Without the GSP tracking it’s nonsense. My watch measures movement and the treadmill measures belt speed so neither of them take account of stride length. I tend to use NRC interval runs on the treadmill and just enjoy it rather than measuring it in any way.

It’s a learning curve. You’ll get there. Enjoy the journey.

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Frizzbomb67]

Absolutely, but belt rotation for working out distance traveled is likely to be quite accurate

[John_W Graduate10 in reply to Frizzbomb67]

and yet your stride length on a treadmill will be different to what it is outside ...

[John_W Graduate10 in reply to Frizzbomb67]

The Garmin tries to estimate your stride length from your arm movements .

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Isn’t Misty gorgeous? 😍

When I ran on the treadmill I use to do it by time rather than distance as I never felt it was ever accurate enough for me. As long as you’re running that’s the main thing 👍

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Absolutely !However, I feel the treadmill distance is actually quite accurate.

And yes, Misty also thinks she's gorgeous 😁

[John_W Graduate10]

Which Garmin have you got ?

I had a TomTom Cardio Runner before my FR235 and that had the option of calibrating after every treadmill run and I religiously went by treadmill distance ... never what the watch tells me.

I'm doing a lot of treadmilling currently and it's frustrating that my FR235 doesnt have the calibration option for treadmill runs. It's hopeless at estimating my distance. I've even adjusted my stride lengths with 2 extremes : long and short and they both give the same result!

Not sure I can justify a new Garmin soley on basis of having the option of treadmill "calibration".

Let's face it, it's not a calibration if a calibration produces the wrong distance next time around.

It should be renamed as a "corrrection" - far more accurate.

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to John_W]

Sorry John .Who are you asking ?

Which Garmin have you got ?

[John_W Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

You!

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to John_W]

Haha ok 😁I have a forerunner 45S

[John_W Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

And if you 'calibrate' a treadmill run then that calibrated distance gets synced to Strava, yes?

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to John_W]

Yes

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to John_W]

Garmin do suggest that doing more GPS runs will also help to improve the treadmill calibration

[John_W Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

That's nonsense in my opinion - I've done about 70% of my running outdoors and yet treadmills runs are still overestimated by 25%.

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to John_W]

Yes, I must admit I can not see the logic there

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to John_W]

Yes, it's very frustrating but I certainly feel the treadmill data is more accurate than the 'Calibrated' Garmin .I could tell this morning as I worked out before the run what speed I needed for a particular pace and I ran that speed .

The distance was certainly comparable to what I would have expected to run at that pace for the same time

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

I'm afraid that Misty has totally distracted me and also stolen my heart so well done on your 3k and please, please, please can I adopt Misty 🥰🥰🥰

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Beatlesforever]

Haha, she's a darling 😁❤️

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Good treadmill run, it will sort itself out and Misty is enjoying the nap

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yes, thanks !I'm actually really happy with the treadmill data .

It compares very closely with the same distance run outside at a similar pace .

But the Garmin is WAY OFF.

And as always, Misty couldn't care less 🤣

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Instructor57]

I think Garmin is more use outside

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yes, I would agree !The data from the accelerometers used on non GPS runs leave a lot to be desired .

I will stick to treadmill data when on the treadmill 😁

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Ah I think Misty’s actually blowing a raspberry at Mr Garmin! But it sounds like a really good run regardless of any calibration calamities 🤩. And great you changed pace and speed throughout. I think a fan’s a must on a treadmill, it can get jolly warm! 😊😊😊