Training help on your Garmin/Fitbit etc

[Jonno34]

Maybe I am lazy and looking for instant answers but I think it would be great to have a section on what people get out of their devices. There are many training assists on these devices and personally I don't know where to start. I know some that do 5k and 10k plans some do intervals but when I look at these I come away with more questions than answers. It would be useful if those that are trying these "apps" would be willing to post about them and maybe take a few questions in a section that we could build a sort of reference library from.

I regularly run 5s and 10s but when I, looked at the Garmin 5k trainer, seemed easy to set up but I had no idea what it expected of me and if it would help me increase my speed or if it was basically going to do some 5k training plan.

May be something to think about, I think it would be a good resource.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon]

You can choose what you hope to achieve from your plan, for instance if you choose 5K you can choose to get to the distance (which you can already do easily) or set a time goal, and maybe more...choose how many days per week you want to run, which day you want to do your long run...they ask you to be optimistic but realistic...you can change the plan and your goals as you go along.

I think you need to know what you want to achieve rather than browse what could come from a plan - which is a pity.

I'm on the third week of a 10K plan with a time goal. I want to run 10K in 1:15..so far I've done stride runs (high cadence) interval runs (high pace) long runs, easy runs...

Hopefully other people will have more info to share x

[Jonno34 Marathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Exactly the sort of thing I am suggesting

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

We could set something like this up, I'll have a think...

[Jonno34 Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Diamond!

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Jonno34]

If you don't see anything after a couple of weeks feel free to remind me!

[Jonno34 Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Ah yes, I know that feeling! Trouble is I will probably forget the whole thing by tomorrow.

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Jonno34]

Lol! The dream team 😊😊😊

[Katnap Marathon]

Runkeeper WIN THE LONG RUN 5k programme works well. You do your own thing except for 1 guided run per week.

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[SkiMonday Ultramarathon]

I'm following a training plan that calls for interval runs and I've set my Garmin up for that.

Configuring the intervals was easy but I have to remember to select "interval run" and not just press start.

When I first used it, I found I had to keep changing screens to see pace and then how much time was left in the interval. I've now set it to display "interval time" and "interval pace" which works much better.

Now, the displayed time restarts at the beginning of each effort and each recovery interval. To know how long is left, I have to remember how long the intervals are set to but I haven't had a problem with that and the watch tells me when I've reached the end of each run.

I have to remember what my target pace is but I think it's useful having it display pace for the current interval (although there are still some issues with the displayed pace varying a bit).

[misswobble Marathon]

I switched to IntervalsPro app as the Nike run Club app (who’s marathon plan I was following) was pants at the intervals recording

You set the intervals up on the app and you get them precisely voiced over. Saves falling arse over tip Cos you’re trying to check your phone or watch while running 🙂