According to the screenshot, your activity had 29 minutes of moderate activity and 43 minutes of vigorous activity (as determined by your heart rate). As noted by the "x2" label, vigorous minutes are worth twice as much as moderate minutes.
TL;DR you can earn intensity minutes outside of a recorded activity.
Sorry, I didn't look closely enough at your screenshot (the part which shows the actual running activity). My bad.
My point still stands that the screenshot says the daily intensity minutes are 29 moderate and 43 vigorous.
Either your watch thinks you earned some minutes outside of an activity or it's a bug.
I will say that yesterday I did not record any activities but yet I "earned" 4 moderate minutes and 1 vigorous minute (which is kind of sad, now that I think about it.)
Today I had a run with 1 moderate and 48 vigorous minutes, but my daily moderate minutes value is 10, and my vigorous minutes value is 52.
Looking at your graph in the screenshot, looks like you had a small uptick in intensity minutes right before midnight.
Anyway, here's a better answer for your question. (I think it's safe to assume that intensity minutes can accrue outside of a recorded activity.)
Garmin watches that have the intensity minutes feature can provide credit in two different ways:
Heart Rate
Your current heart rate is compared to your average resting heart rate.
Frequency of Steps
The number of steps per minute you take is analyzed. For example, you can earn intensity minutes credit once a brisk walk or running is detected. If no heart rate sensor is present, only moderate intensity minutes will be credited.
Your age, weight, height, and resting heart rate as calculated by your Garmin watch also factor into intensity minutes credit.
...
Can I Customize My Watch to Give Me Credit Based on My Own Criteria?
Most watches with wrist-based heart rate sensors will calculate intensity minutes by comparing your current heart rate to your average resting heart rate, but some watches have an option to base intensity minutes on heart rate zones (see Changing Heart Rate Zones in Garmin Connect). When using heart rate zones, you will earn intensity minutes credit when you reach or exceed 10 consecutive minutes* of activity where your heart rate is at or above the heart rate zones that you have set for moderate or vigorous intensity.
Actually, this part of the doc actually implies that intensity minutes accrue outside of a recorded activity (by suggesting that if you don't run or walk, you should definitely record an activity if you want to earn intensity minutes.) (This implies that if you *do* run or walk, you don't necessarily have to record an activity to get intensity minutes).
What About Other Activity Types?
You can also earn intensity minutes by completing a number of different exercises in order to meet your weekly goal. However, it is suggested that anything outside of brisk walking or running such as cycling, weightlifting, or various calisthenics be recorded using the activity recording feature on the watch. This ensures the heart rate is being monitored consistently and allows you to upload your workout and view your results in Garmin Connect.
I wear my VA3 while using my Edge 130 Plus when cycling. I don't start an activity on the VA3. I rely on the Edge for that. At the end of my ride, I get my intensity minutes from the VA3.
Thx for answer. Read that article already. But it's still unclear. Aside my running activities I mostly sit throughout a day and even if I go upstairs and downstairs or just walk (trying to be active at work) I do it just for 5 minutes my HR will be maximum 110 and this isn't my moderate zone neither vigorous.
Thank you for answer. Didn't mention that spike, I actually was in a bed that time. Looked back my previous days and found that spike almost every midnight. I always go to bed around 11 pm.
If I count my intensity minutes by myself i will get 294 minutes but garmin counts 580.These difference can't be explain by time after activity or before when I make a warm up (about 5-10 minutes, HR 120-130)
