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Garmin connect default zones mess

6532845

Garmin sets default heart rate zones in such a way that you can't even understand why they are set like this ...

For example if my LTHR is 180 I would expect the top of my Z4 to be 100% of LTHR when set to % LTHR. No, it's configured to 90%. Why? I am questioning my understanding of zones.

Then power zones ...  I configured Stryd to be used for power, but no, app will use HRM PRO+ or my FR965 for that, why? It's less accurate. But ok, I have Stryd application for that.
Can I just disable power zones in Garmin? Today I was shocked when Garmin told me my training readiness is '1' down from ~60. I thought, do I over-train? Well Garmin app thinks that I was running 50m in Z5 (power) even if my HR zones were set correctly ... Double check for this case would make sense ? Again default power zones settings are not something I understand, but hey I can re-configure them.

How can I now reset my training readiness which is the metric that I need the most? I will see if it will fix itself due to good HRV value.

I think such little things should get polished ...

  • 0 in reply to flocsy🤠

    yes in a sense ... I configured my power settings as TP is low Z4. But since my new TP doesn't match that I looked at power zones again and noticed that the naming is the same as Stryd named them. This only means TP should be aligned to Stryd CP (should matche on the charts).

    I was used for Z4 to be threshold and when I first saw that Z4 is 100% to 115% of TP I thought -> that can't be right ... Then I saw my TP was detected at Z3->Z4  I told myself -> ok Garmin detects something different, not CP ... Now TP is closer to the CP and I am second guessing myself.

    But this new TP was detected during a Z2 run where I held this new TP power for a few seconds only (short uphill, meters) ...

    It's confusing because you first think: Z1 (Power) == Z1 (HR), Z2 (Power) == Z2 (HR) ...

  • 0

    I will adjust my understanding of power zones to this:

    CP (Stryd) - power that you can hold for about 40 - 50 min
    TP (Garmin) - power that you can hold for about 50 - 60min

    Garmin HR and Power zones can't be matched together: Z1 (HR) != Z1 (power)

    Z1 power includes most likely Z1 and Z2 by HR
    Z2 power = Z3 (moderate)
    Z3 power = Z4 (threshold) - matches Stryd definition
    Z4 power = Z5 (vo2max)
    Z5 power = Z6 (anaerobic)

    This now makes sense since my new TP is a bit bellow CP (Stryd) when aligned and checked on the graph. This means I was confusing Z4 power zone with threshold HR zone from the start.

  • 0 in reply to 6532845

    I don't use power, but I'm trying to answer based on logic: if there was such a static mapping, then why would there be both HR zones and power zones?

  • 0 in reply to flocsy🤠

    because power is immediate and HR lags ... but if for example you hold threshold power it should match your LTHR until you are too tired ... so HR my drift upwards...

    For example for intervals, power is much better ... you start with the correct power and don't chase HR ... I often started my intervals too hard to see that vo2max HR range only to slow down a minute later ... by power you should run intervals more evenly ... Running by RPE is even better if you are dialed in.

    My understanding is that at the end of the run HR zones will show you your metabolic cost, power zones your raw output (I may be wrong). If you are tired or sick your HR zones can change drastically ... Too much adrenaline before and during the race -> higher HR for the same power or RPE.

    So no real zone comparison can be made ... zones can only be matched in perfect conditions .... but one could still confuse Z1 power with Z1 HR and would go for a run at Z1 power, doing normal easy run instead of recovery ... or even worse gray zone instead of an easy run....

    In my case I just want to properly configure power zones ... I try to go with a RPE system and cap with HR when needed. For me when rested HR and power matches quite nicely, except durring the race whre my HR is 5-10 bpm higher due to adrenaline ...

  • 0 in reply to 6532845

    because power is immediate and HR lags ... but if for example you hold threshold power it should match your LTHR until you are too tired ... so HR my drift upwards...

    For example for intervals, power is much better ... you start with the correct power and don't chase HR ... I often started my intervals too hard to see that vo2max HR range only to slow down a minute later ... by power you should run intervals more evenly ... Running by RPE is even better if you are dialed in.

    My understanding is that at the end of the run HR zones will show you your metabolic cost, power zones your raw output (I may be wrong). If you are tired or sick your HR zones can change drastically ... Too much adrenaline before and during the race -> higher HR for the same power or RPE.

    So no real zone comparison can be made ... zones can only be matched in perfect conditions .... but one could still confuse Z1 power with Z1 HR and would go for a run at Z1 power, doing normal easy run instead of recovery ... or even worse gray zone instead of an easy run....

    In my case I just want to properly configure power zones ... I try to go with a RPE system and cap with HR when needed. For me when rested HR and power matches quite nicely, except durring the race whre my HR is 5-10 bpm higher due to adrenaline ...

    And Garmin also colors both zone systems as it is 1:1 mapping...

    Z1 HR, Z1 PWR = gray
    Z2 HR, Z2 PWR = blue

    So at first glance one would think that Z2 power zone is needed to run on an easy day ... And would push runner into the gray zone (Z3 by HR) ...

    * all above makes sense only if I understand power zones correctly myself ...

  • 0 in reply to 6532845

    How do you measure power and how HR?

  • 0 in reply to flocsy🤠

    HR: Garmin HRM PRO+ 
    Power: Stryd, HRM PRO+, Forerunner 965 ...

  • 0 in reply to 6532845

    I bought my HR chest strap (Polar H10) exactly because of the lag I had with the built in optical sensor in interval training. And I don't see any lag since. 

  • 0 in reply to flocsy🤠

    I wasn't talking about sensor lag but rather metabolic lag. If you are standing still with HR 60 and start running at threshold pace/power, HR will lag the effort a bit ... but it will catch up at the end. The same is after the run, you stop running and you need to wait for HR to drop.