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How do you create a power-based run workout in Garmin

6446252
6 months ago

The main reason I bought my current Garmin watch was to allow me to run using power-based workouts (using a Stryd pod, the best for the purpose). Now the option to set power targets in explicably missing both on Garmin Connect Web and Garmin Connect Mobile.

This makes no sense at all, unless Garmin's strategy is to make 100% sure my next sports watch will not be a Garmin.

Why has Garmin crippled the functionality for no good reason? Is there a workaround that is not obvious via the workout creation interface? If not, when are you going to fix this glaring deficiency?

  • 0 6 months ago in reply to 6446252

    I’m not trying to obfuscate reality, I’m trying to figure out why you’re experiencing the issues you’ve described, just out of my own curiosity. Note that I never said 245 Music doesn’t work with Stryd. I said 245 Music doesn’t support native (built-in) running power.

    I just told you what I know, along with some educated guesses:

    - 245 doesn’t support native running power (source: Garmin spec sheets and support articles)

    - 245 doesn’t support Garmin running power via Connect IQ (source: Garmin, again). I happen to know one of the reasons for this (and the previous point) is that 245 doesn’t have a baro

    - 255/955 (and higher) do support native running power

    - Native running power (and the associated native workout features, on the watch) don’t support 3rd party accessories (although 3rd party data fields can follow native workouts). Source: lots of discussion and my own experience (like I said, I own a Stryd, and power from Stryd does not show up in the native Power data field under any circumstances.). Like I said, I cannot explain how you got audio alerts for power in the past.

    - Everything I said above is a plausible explanation for why running power-based workouts are not available to you in Garmin Connect

    - As I said above, you can further validate what I said by checking your 245 to see if it has a native power data field in running activities. I noticed you failed to actually address that. If there is a native power data field in running activities, then clearly I am wrong (or there is still some sort of weird bug). But even if there was, it still wouldn’t work with stryd. If there is no native power data field, then I’m curious how you would explain that?

    I can tell you that 955 definitely has a native running power data field.

    - As far as I know, Stryd workouts should still work with 245 provided you create workouts in the Stryd app (and not in Garmin Connect), and follow them using the Stryd Zones data field. At least I’m hoping they would.

    I’ve literally created a couple of Connect IQ data field apps which work with Stryd — one of my apps is mentioned in Stryd support articles, and the other app scored me a free running pod from Stryd. So I’m not totally clueless.

    What you choose to do with all the above information (and educated guesses) is up to you. I can’t fully explain what you’ve experienced, but then again that’s not my job. Best of luck.

  • 0 6 months ago in reply to FlowState

    Thanks for that.  It's worth emphasising that I (and users in general) are fundamentally interested in functionality, not the technical details of how it is achieved. So what is relevant is whether I can create and use power-based workouts.  There is definitely no reason why Garmin could not include a power target option in their workout creation tool -  we know Garmin workouts with this feature created on other platforms work. From the point of view of users this would be a plus.  Indeed Garmin advertise that the Forerunner 245 is compatible with their own budget footpod https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/forerunner245/EN-US/GUID-5B7E3136-E4DC-47ED-89EB-60794DCF1408.html
    I am not 100% sure if a FR 245 user is able to create a power-based workout that uses the Garmin footpod - it would be a surprising failing if it was not possible! - but , but if they are, there is no reason that the same interface could not be used for using with the Stryd pod, since we know this can work.

  • 0 6 months ago in reply to 6446252

    Since I already participated in this discussion a little, I'll add my two cents. I'm all for Garmin adding all the possible functionality to all possible hardware, but in this case I'm don't feel I can fully agree with your complaint. As has been already said, Forerunner 245 Music is missing essential hardware for calculating Garmin's native running power. Without a barometric altimeter the watch cannot know if you are running up/downhill, which is essential to know for running power. Even having a Garmin's own Running Dynamics Pod or a HR strap providing running dynamics wouldn't change anything, without altimeter you cannot estimate running power. And that's why 245 doesn't support running power and you cannot create workouts with running power targets (even with Garmin's own accessories).

    Now, Stryd to my knowledge has it's own internal altimeter, so it can calculate running power based on its own measurements. And that's why you can see Stryd power on your watch using Stryd's data fields and create workouts in Stryd app.

    However, since Stryd is Garmin competitor in this field (they both sell running accessories needed for running power), it's hard to see why Garmin would spend money and effort to allow incorporating Stryd into Garmin's workouts. From Garmin's viewpoint, they would much rather have you buy a better watch supporting running power (Forerunner 255 for example) and their own HRM Pro+ or Running Dynamics Pod.

    Yes, from a consumer viewpoint this is not ideal, but what can you do. For exactly the same reason you don't have Google Pay or Apple Pay in Garmin watches (Google and Apple have no incentive to help their competitor in getting those payment options).

  • 0 6 months ago in reply to 6446252
    6446252 said:
    It's worth emphasising that I (and users in general) are fundamentally interested in functionality, not the technical details of how it is achieved.

    I agree with that. I'm not saying that you should care about technical details, I've already given you the answer from another angle. (See below)

    6446252 said:
    So what is relevant is whether I can create and use power-based workouts. 

    I already tried to explain that 245 doesn't support native Garmin power. That is either a technical and/or a marketing decision, depending on your POV. You don't have to care about the technical details (although it may help), just look at spec sheet for 245 and note the absence of power. Same with the absence of a native power field in the running activity.

    It's perfectly logical that Garmin wouldn't support creating power-based workouts for a watch that doesn't support native Garmin power. If they did before, it's a bug/oversight. If you somehow got audio alerts for power in the past, I can't explain that (unless it was another bug/oversight.)

    Bitti said:
    it's hard to see why Garmin would spend money and effort to allow incorporating Stryd into Garmin's workouts

    I agree with everything Bitti said here. Yes, Stryd has incentive to allow their product to play nice with Garmin but not the other way around. Again, look at the fact that even Garmin watches which have native power will not accept Stryd as a power source (for native power features.) They want you to buy a Garmin accessory.