16 thoughts on “Garmin Running Power :: Garbage In…Garbage Out?”

1. I´ve been running Stryd for a long while and I would say that I have similar values as you do for the different paces.

   1. maybe we weigh the same too

      1. 76+-1kg

      2. 71…that must mean you are super efficient 😉 or at least more so than me 🙁

2. Yep

   1. 🙂

3. It would be interesting to see how you get on with the runscribe providing pace over BTLE. It’s only enabled in beta firmware at the moment, but should be live soon once Tim releases the next firmware update (BTLE and ant+).
   As for the stryd vs runscribe…. If pace from runscribe is accurate (so far its ok for me, but it’s improving further as the sensor processing is refined) and power numbers consistent, I can’t see why you would buy a stryd over runscribe considering the dual sided nature, running power and all the other metrics that come with it real time via CIQ.

   1. thanks neil, TBH time is fairly tight so I ‘m just waiting until the pace development work that RS are doing now is finished then I will devote some more time to pace.

      see: https://the5krunner.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/STRYD-RunScribe-RunPow-Watch-Characteristics-v1-09.png

      yep RS vs STRYD in theory is a close call as that link shows and, for the reasons you say, the dual-sided capture is just going to appeal to triathletes whereas the dual-sided gait stuff will appeal to runners.
      RS will be playing catch up to stryd with the surrounding infrastructure but (you sound like me) all some people want is a sensor that integrates into whatever they have so the stryd ecosystem might not be too attractive in that respect.

      switch: i think this market will move to the stick with what you first use. technologies wont allow switching if you want your old data (that’s obvious already).

      accuracy: i can’t see at the moment how we are going to tell this. stryd seems a good proxy to effort to me right now.

      1. “all some people want is a sensor that integrates into whatever they have”

         Exactly this… I am a sporttracks.mobi user, and really hope they will start pulling runscribe data in now that it’s in the FIT file. Analysing the data in the RS dashboard is limited as you don’t have the GPS, HR etc, and Garmin Connect is very poor. Sporttracks pull in stryd data, but it’ll need runscribe to sell a reasonable number of units to make the dev worthwhile to ST.
         If the data appeared in ST, I’d likely never visit the RS again (or GC for that matter).

      2. you sound similar to me.
         i’d go for sportracks 3.1 tho 😉 I get my RS data in there, albiet initially in the non-standard CIQ fields.

4. Very good summary. Thanks also for providing the raw data

5. Such a new STRYD just focussed on accurate pace would, for sure, also attract quite a few runners who have almost zero interest in power but about 98% interest in accurate pace
   OH YES!!!!

6. You need to find a Greyhound Track with a speed controlled mechanical rabbit to Compare the different brand power measurements.
   I have been running with 2 watches Garmin 920XT and Suunto Ambit3 using a STRYD Power foot pod. I am also wearing 2 different chest HRM’s ( Garmin and Suunto for HR ). My two watches show very similar Average Power (within 5 Watts around 2.5 percent.) and Average Heart Rates ( also within 4 bpm’s around 3 percent. Over the year, I have run about 250 times. From 2 to 10 mile runs. Using an Excel Spread Sheet, I have been entering the data into a Performance Management Chart that shows among other Metrics my Average Power, Average Heart Rate, Average Pace, to chart my Critical Training Load ( CTL ) over 42 consecutive days, Acute Training Load ( ATL ) over last 7 consecutive days to determine my Training Stress Balance ( TSB ). I then made a graph of 3 Metrics, Avg Power, Avg Pace, and Avg HR. The graph was using my Average running Pace for the 230 runs eliminating any HRM or Power Sensor failure runs due to low Battery voltage. It showed me that as my Pace went down, my Power when up as well as my HR which should be the case. But with 230 points, the resulting graph showed 3 good very presentable resulting lines. I was also, from the graph, able to determine at what pace I need to become more efficient where the Power line starts to increase non linearly. For me it is around 8:30 min per mile. I am going to have to do more speed work / intervals. This will allow me to improve and move the linear Power line more to the right as I lower my Average pace times into the 8:00 pace times.
   I have been training using Jim Vance’s great book.
   This may be TMI, but my results show that the STRYD and HR using the Garmin 920XT and Suunto Ambit3 provide very good accurate numbers for me which allows me to train better using STRYD.
   My power Metrics are very reproducible. With the Garmin Power App, this may not be the case since the Garmin does not track the other 2 methods you have been using. Nuf said.
   Can you give me your thoughts on anything I have written here?
   Thanks in advance

   1. sounds like you have a lot of data points there.
      ctl/atl/tsb – the method i use (different to yours) only starts to have the maths kick in with about 40 days of history. you should be able to use thoe to moderate your training and track that you are progressively loading your body
      not sure of your RACE goal: at your speed and with a goal of ‘increasing efficiency’ you should be loading at low intensities (aerobic stuff) and may also doing hill reps at high intensities (hills will naturally make you more efficient, probably)
      garmin vs stryd – it’s a moot point for you. you’re unlikely to change the source of power.

      1. My race goal is a sub 24 min 5K. Since I am 72.5, I will not get much faster. Where I live, there are very few hills other than the Savannah River Bridge ( 170 ft elevation at 4-5% incline ) to train on.
         But you are right. Only intervals ( 3-5 Min ) and hill repeats will help me.
         My point from my previous message is … I am now dancing with the one I brought to the dance. I have
         been using STRYD foot pod for over a year now and very happy with it. The money was well spent.
         And the STRYD team has been very helpful.
         How do you keep a constant Power pace when running up a long hill ? My graphs show high power only at the start and end of my runs. It never seems to be constant over several minutes. Do you keep looking at your watch every few seconds or what ? I have no problem keeping the Power constant on the flats.
         Thanks in advance

         Peter

      2. hi
         at your age you are about 60% age graded 5k time. that shows you are likely under-trained aerobically. so there are big gains there for you for LSD work. as you know you must maintain muscle mass as best you can, so hi protein diet is important as would be weight training. hill reps will be good. i would say all of theose woul dbe your easier wins before you start with km reps and then the km reps are better than the tempo runs and threshold runs that you might throw in from time to time.
         yes going up a hill: you can’t look at your watch all the time but if you are not sure, especialyl at the start of the hill then a few quick glances can make sure you adjust your effort to the grade sooner rather than later. IF you can keep power on the flat you can keep pace on the flat 😉
         yes i agree a divorce and subscription to tinder is not as good an option as staying with the one you have 😉

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