Garmin Strength Coach added to recent Forerunners, Venus and Vivoactives. Feature to More Devices
Garmin is broadening the availability of its Coach Strength Training Plans, first written about here in August 2024, adding support for the Venu 3/3S, Vivoactive 5, and several recent Forerunner models, including the Forerunner 965, 955, 265, and 255. Previously exclusive to the Fenix 8, Fenix E, and Enduro 3 at launch, this feature is now being introduced to a wider range of devices.
Beta Updates: Garmin Coach Strength Training
The feature is currently 50% rolled out through beta firmware updates on the following devices:
- Forerunner 965, 955, 265, and 255: Beta version 21.018 (FR165 does not get the update)
- Vivoactive 5: Beta version 12.10
- Venu 3 and Venu 3s: Beta version 12.10
Devices Yet to Receive Updates
The ‘budget’ AMOLED Forerunner 165 is absent from this rollout, which has not been included in the current beta updates. The Fenix 7 and Epix series have not yet received this feature in their beta releases. However, based on Garmin’s approach to maintaining feature consistency across compatible models, these devices will likely see similar updates shortly, at least for the PRO models.
Strength Coach: A Recap
Garmin introduced the Coach Strength Training feature with the Fenix 8, Fenix E, and Enduro 3. These guided strength training plans allow users to follow personalized workouts directly from their watch.
Thoughts
It will be interesting to see how far back this feature is backported. FR165 already misses the update, so no devices other than those listed here may get the update. I guess the F7 and Epix Pro watches will get Strength Coach, but no others. If so, that would be a shame as this is a nice and useful feature covering an area that most of us should devote more time to.
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Any infos about the FR 945 LTE? Is mostly feature equivalent with the 955 as long as it’s not amoled related.
nope. 🙁
Do you think we will get to a point where you can have a running specific plan and a strength specific (supporting) plan? As Runna is doing it with their hybrid programs, if you will.
Surely, it must be the end-state for this?
I think we will get there.
It is hard to produce dynamic multi sport plans and to also incorporate strength plans dynamically. Well, i guess it’s easy enough to ‘do it’ but to do it properly is the hard bit. I imagine Garmin will want to produce a far more complex model behind the scenes than i suspect runna uses – I don’t know any details of how runna algorithms work, I was involved in a dynamic training app a few years ago so do understand some of the many complex issues,
https://www.runna.com/
Amazing news. I am glad they distribute new features for older high priced watches. I would not have purchased another, if they really gated this away from me.