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Intensity Minutes from Imported Heart Rate Data

cybirr

Dear Garmin Connect Product Team,

I would like to propose a narrowly scoped change to the way Intensity Minutes are calculated in Garmin Connect, based on a reproducible inconsistency in current behavior.

Background

Intensity Minutes are defined as a metric derived from heart rate intensity relative to user-specific thresholds. They do not depend on GPS, pace, power, or activity modality — only valid heart rate data over time.

Garmin Connect already imports and displays heart rate time-series data from third-party activities (such as Zwift) through supported integrations.

Observed Behavior

Currently:

  • Activities imported from Zwift include visible heart rate data

  • These activities do not generate Intensity Minutes

However, when the same ride is dual-recorded using a Garmin device:

  • Intensity Minutes are credited as expected

  • Those credited minutes persist even if the Garmin-recorded activity is later deleted

  • The remaining Zwift activity now reflects Intensity Minutes it could not generate independently

This behavior strongly suggests that Intensity Minutes calculation is gated by data source attribution, rather than by the presence or validity of heart rate data.

Problem Statement

From a user perspective, this creates a disconnect between:

  • The documented physiological basis of Intensity Minutes (heart rate)

  • Their actual computation, which appears to depend on whether the heart rate originated from a Garmin device rather than whether it meets physiological criteria

This leads to confusion, duplicate recording workflows, and uncertainty about whether Garmin Connect can be relied upon as the authoritative record of training load and health metrics.

Proposed Change

Allow Intensity Minutes to be calculated from imported activities that include valid heart rate time-series data, regardless of source, provided that:

  • The data meets existing quality thresholds

  • User heart rate zones and thresholds are available

  • The integration is explicitly authorized by the user

This change would not require exposing additional data externally, nor altering partner agreements. It simply aligns metric computation with the metric’s stated physiological basis.

Benefits

  • Restores internal consistency to the Intensity Minutes metric

  • Reduces the need for dual recording

  • Improves trust in Garmin Connect as a unified health and training log

  • Lowers support friction caused by “missing” Intensity Minutes

  • Better supports modern indoor training workflows

Closing

This proposal is intentionally narrow and metric-specific. It does not seek broader data openness, only consistency between how Intensity Minutes are defined and how they are calculated.

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully,
Michael

Top Replies

  • +2 suggested
    cybirr said:
    I would like to propose a narrowly scoped change to the way Intensity Minutes are calculated in Garmin Connect,

    Intensity minutes are not calculated in Garmin Connect. It is the device that…

All Replies

  • 0
    cybirr said:
    I would like to propose a narrowly scoped change to the way Intensity Minutes are calculated in Garmin Connect,

    Intensity minutes are not calculated in Garmin Connect. It is the device that calculates them. Therefore imported activities won't show any Intensity Minutes unless you wear your Garmin device.

    If your Garmin watch has troubles to detect the increased HR in the low power mode (which some users experience), then the fix is easy - either record the activity on the device (the best option), or just start HR broadcasting on it (it enables the full power mode of the HR sensor), or use one of the advanced Garmin's HRMs calculating IMs (that requires that you do not wear the Primary Wearable Device simultaneously, though).

    TBH, when using Zwift, the best solution is keeping Zwift and Connect completely isolated. Simply connect your smart trainer to your Garmin device, and record the activity with it. Keep Zwift disconnected from Garmin Connect. If you record the activity with your Garmin device, Connect does not need anything from Zwift for calculating the performance and fitness metrics.

  • 0

    Michael I second the request.  I use a Garmin HR strap which connects to my laptop in Zwift and records HR accurately.  However my garmin watch (Forerunner 965) is not good at capturing HR accurately, despite re-positioning, cleaning the window,varying snugness to wrist etc.   It routinely measures much lower- watch shows 90 when strap derived data is at 120+.

    So my garmin intensity numbers are artificially low.  I like Michaels' solution as it offers opportunity for the user to leverage accurate data.

  • 0 in reply to cliveheke
    cliveheke said:
    I use a Garmin HR strap which connects to my laptop in Zwift and records HR accurately.  However my garmin watch (Forerunner 965) is not good at capturing HR accurately

    Why don't you connect the HRM strap to the watch, and record the activity with it? That's what it is designed for.

  • 0 in reply to trux

    The activity is on Zwift or Rouvy, hence my HR strap is connected to my laptop so the workout data, progress, time, power, HR etc is on the screen.  I suppose I could connect the strap to the watch and the laptop simultaneously, but the watch would have no role other than capturing intensity.

    The watch was not designed as a replacement to the training applications like Zwift.

  • 0 in reply to cliveheke

    If you have a recent Garmin HR strap it is probably possible to connect the strap both to your watch and to the laptop at the same time.

  • 0 in reply to cliveheke
    cliveheke said:
    The watch was not designed as a replacement to the training applications like Zwift.

    The best way to handle Zwift rides, is keeping Zwift and Garmin activities completely separated. You can use Zwift to control your trainer, and the watch (connected to the HRM and to the trainer sensors) to record the activity. In this way Garmin Connect gets all data it needs to calculate all relevant metrics. The only thing that will be missing is the virtual map, which is useless.

    And as  wrote, if you own a recent Garmin HRM such as for example HRM 600, you can simultaneously pair it not only with the watch, but also with the Connect app. If done, it then transfers Intensity Minutes to it (but only if you simultaneously do not wear the watch)

  • 0 in reply to trux

    thank you   and   for your advice and tips, you articulate paths to get accurate intensity data, I see these as work arounds that overcome the deficiency of watch based HR data.    I still believe the original request from  has merit as it allows user to 'correct' data when the watch HR was off for some reason, which is an occasional issue for me.