Every Garmin Running Watch Metric Explained

Got a running question?

I just upgraded from a vivoactive 3 to a FR 955 and you have no idea how much I needed this video.

My most used metric is definitely heart rate! I’m a fairly new runner (about 3 months) and I find it helpful to focus more on what heart rate zone I am in rather than pace. It takes the pressure off for me and I’m less likely to let my ego win and end up running at a pace that might be too fast for me that day!

I love the suggested workouts. It wasn't said in the video but you can add races to your calendar in the watch and the suggested workouts will switch to help you perform best at those races. It gives hints on what periods of time are planned to achieve what, like improving stamina first and then improving your strength. As bonus: its a bit exciting to wake up and see the summary of "Oh you rested so good! Here's a suggested workout for today! Go for it!" :D

68 years old, took up running a couple of months ago. Averaging 5km three times a week at the moment. Spotted a very strong correlation between pace and cadence, so whilst running CADENCE is my default focus screen. Will probably also add HR zone as feedback is that I have too much high aerobic and too little low aerobic !

I am 54 with a fitness age of 20, a VO2 max of 54... and was having all manner of difficulty running any distance at all. It turned out I have a neurological condition that my watch was able to pick up on for about two years before diagnosis. I'm back running again and did my first marathon in two years last week.

I use pace the most to make sure Im keeping myself honest (very new to running) and its helping me work on my 5km time! Love the channel and the content is always top tier :)

Loved the video! Finally a useful content channel. The running form & gait metrics are the most useful for my current journey.

I was impressed by the Hill Climb Feature. I will use this Garmin feature as I’m building up to my first 5km run. As I’m 65 years of age I need all the help I can get 😊

I definitely use the heart rate and average pace the most often. I really enjoy looking at how my metrics differ depending on how I've been feeling that day and how it affects my runs. Thanks for yet another informative video!

Very interesting and succinct! The feature I probably use the most overall is heart rate, I use it during my runs and afterwards to analyze whether I've been in the right zones. I have a love-hate relationship with the body battery feature, I think it's often very helpful but sometimes it just seems a bit inaccurate and I try not to obsess over when it gives me a low score even though I don't feel bad/tired or not recovered at all. Also, I have a Garmin Instinct Solar, so one of their more budget watches and also not the latest model, it doesn't have a lot of the features you discussed but they sound so fun and super helpful!

I always like the beep with performance condition! It’s a big pick me up when it’s a good number and you feel ready to smash your session!

I have been wanting a video like this for ages! Got a HRM and was overwhelmed by the data available. My most used metric is heartrate as i have tried to get into HR zone training. Thanks for the vid!

Currently I'm paying a lot of attention to my running form/gait metrics – cadence and ground contact time/balance in particular. I'm working on increasing my running and cycling volume for an upcoming triathlon, but have historically struggled with injury a bit, so I'm doing what I can to work on my run form and keep myself injury-free. The metrics aren't everything, but they've certainly been helpful to keep an eye on and see what I can work on. In general, obviously always love looking at my distance, pace and HR after a run!

Apart from the main ones like heart rate and pace I like the race prediction times and watching them go down during my marathon training. It's such a great motivator! Have yet to test how accurate it is though 😅

Wow, what a great advert for upgrading my old 235. A great way to keep running by analyzing all the metrics and taking out the guess work. Heart rate is my primary measure to try and keep it lower in tune with some house music. Great video.

Wow. What an incredibly useful video!!! Thank you!

I like to watch the predicted times for 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon got down as I train consistently with my FR255. I found them to be really accurate when I ran my first half marathon in june. I didn't have a coach or a running club, so I relied on the Garmin Coach to train for the half marathon. It really helped to keep my motivation up, keep the ideal amount of effort and finish in an even better time than I set as a target. Great!

Thanks for the great video! I love the Training Status metrics like Acute and Chronic Load, and the Load Focus. They really help me keep on top of my training and allow me to build my fitness in a sustainable way.

Hi!! My most used metric recently has been heart rate!! It used to be pace but since finding your guys channel and learning how important it is to do slower runs to get faster and all the different types of speed training, I’ve def switched it up!!