Data Field: Peter's (Race) Pacer

This is the support Thread for the Data Field Peter's (Race) Pacer.

Setup Guide with pictures: http://starttorun.info/peters-race-pacer/

Download
https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/23ea0301-30c6-4c33-b4ef-63e2b5394e76

Summary
Peter's (Race) Pacer resolves 2 issues for me when I'm running a race:
  • Before the race starts I want to see the time of the day (How long till the race starts?)
  • I often pace marathons and it used to be doing mental math all the way, now this is no longer necessary as I can fully depend on the average pace/speed, because this data field allows to correct the distance at the kilometer / mile marker by simply pressing the LAP button
While the data field's primary intent is to race races, you can also use it to run laps around the track, just set the lap distance to 400 meters and press the lap button as you cross the line!...

Intro
In it's full glory this data field uses about 24kb which is too much to run on the older devices. To enable using the data field on older connect IQ devices I've stripped some functionality from these older watches in order to let them operate within the 16kb limit that Connect IQ 1.x allows. (Items marked with (*ciQ2) are only available on the high memory watches (high memory watches are FR735xt, fenix chronos & fenix5 variants))

The data field is fully functional as is, yet donations are encouraged on the watch by a small encouragement text.

Usage
Before starting the race an initial data screen is shown (* cIQ2), this screen shows you the following data
  • Time of the day
  • Current heart rate (+ zone indication)
  • Configured Settings Summary (Change these settings in Garmin Express or in the Garmin Connect Android App)
  • Battery Percentage Remaining
  • Gps Signal Strength Indication
After pressing the START button the race timer will start and a new data screen will be shown, this data screen will show you the following information:
  • top middle configurable field: current heart rate / average pace / average speed / perfect pace / perfect speed (*)
  • row 1 left configurable field: average pace / average speed / current heart rate / perfect pace / perfect speed
  • row 1 middle configurable field: speed, smooth speed (5s average), smooth speed (10s average), pace, smooth pace (5s average), smooth pace (10s average)
  • time ahead / behind
  • race timer
  • (adjusted) distance covered (see adjusting distance explanation below)
  • estimated time of arrival
After Activity in Garmin Connect (*cIQ2)
  • When you opt to record the ahead Time to the FIT track an extra graphic is shown in Garmin Connect
Perfect Pace / Perfect Speed
This field recalculates as you run and gives you the pace you need to run to arrive at the finish with 0 seconds behind / ahead (eg if you run a 10k race and want to arrive in 1 hour (avg pace=6:00min/km), currently you're at the 7k point in 41:30, which means you're 30 seconds ahead, the perfect pace will thus show the value 6:10 (min/km) as you can run the next 3k 10 seconds slower to still get in time at the finish line)

Distance Adjustment
When you press the LAP button the on screen distance is adjusted to the nearest LAP SIZE (eg 5.31k will be adjusted to 5k if the lap size is 1000 meters).
When you press the LAP button by mistake you have 30 seconds to undo the last correction (just press the LAP button again)

When you miss a mile/kilometer marker, don't worry DO NOT PRESS THE LAP button and wait for the next kilometer/mile marker and press the LAP button there.

Adjusting the distance has no influence on the recorded distance (In Garmin Connect when you come back home you will see the real recorded GPS distance, yet of course you will be able to determine based on the lap marker postions where the LAP markings really were)...

Recommendations
  • Train with the data field before you race with it so you're used to the layout!
  • Have a backup second datascreen layout, in case the field crashes you can switch to the native data screen layout
  • If you have a Connect IQ 1.x device consider the application option to enjoy all features of Peter's (Race) Pacer: https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/apps/ea97af1f-1e5d-4541-820c-9bd994080d4
Tested on real FR735XT, all other devices were tested in the simulator.
  • I found the link on your download page and just sent a donation via PayPal.
  • webvan I saw an earlier post where you mentioned using the native Finish Time screen in your Garmin as part of screens that auto-scroll. If I'm remembering correctly, do you mind if I ask how you set that up? I have an FR235 and have used the Finish Time but don't see how to add or specify it as a data screen to auto scroll through. I'm thinking it'd be nice to have that as a race back up for the pacer app (or data field) that I use. Thanks in advance.
  • webvan I think I figured out my question above, so no need to respond. If I set the Finish Time feature and turn autoscroll on then start my run, it just scrolls between Finish Time and whatever I have in the data screens. Seems to work.
  • Hi,
    I have been able to use Garmin Connect Mobile to edit the settings (e.g. distance, finish time), save them, then synch with my 935 without problems. It worked fine last week, but when I now try to save the settings, I get a pop-up message "Open Outside Garmin Connect Mobile?"
    I've updated to the latest version of Garmin and the app. I've also powered off my iPhone and my 935, but still get the same problem.
    Any suggestions?
  • You shouldnt get a pop-up to open a browser when you want to edit settings. One thing you could do is uninstall reinstall garmin connect mobile. Another thing you can do is use garmin express on your computer to edit settings.
  • Hi Peter,
    Thanks for the swift response. I uninstalled and reinstalled the Garmin Connect Mobile app, but it made no difference - I still got a pop-up asking me if I wanted to open something outside the Garmin Connect Mobile app. I did manage to successfully use your other suggestion - to plug my watch into my PC and use Garmin Express to edit the app settings, but it's obviously less convenient that using the mobile app.
    I've been able to change the settings on the Garmin Connect app without problems for many months; there are two things that have changed since I was last able to do this successfully - my 935 has updated to the latest version - 12.20 and I've also updated your app to the latest version. From what I can tell, the Garmin Connect Mobile app hasn't updated within the last couple of weeks.
    Hope that helps!
    Tony
  • I've posted a question in the bug report forum about this issue.
    You can follow progress about it here: https://forums.garmin.com/forum/developers/connect-iq/connect-iq-bug-reports/1457911-possible-update-settings-issue-on-garmin-connect-mobile-ios
    Feel free to provide additional info if I missed something in my summary.
  • Hi Peter, I'm using since some months your data field "all in one" and I'm very happy with it.
    Now I'd like to start using also your data field (not the app) "Peter's race pacer". I have tested it yesterday for an half marathon and it seemed to work perfectly. I also can see in Garmin app the ahead time graph into the analysis.

    But I think there is something that doesn't work with adjustement, or maybe I Have not understand how it works.
    I have a Forerunner 645 music with an autolap size of 1.000 meters. I also have set your data field with lap size = 1.000 meters.
    When i start to run after 1km the autolap says 1km. If I try to press lap button after 1,15 km I expected that it will correct the distance to 1 km and correct the ahead/behind time. But nothing happens, the forerunner just says me that I have completed lap n. 2 in 1 minute and 18 seconds but total distance is still 1,15 and ahead/behind time is the same.

    Which could be the issue? Please note that on forerunner 645 lap button is "back" button.

  • I don't see issues in your description, normally it should indeed correct the distance you see in the screen to 1 for your 2nd lap push. Note that the distance only corrects in Peter's (race) pacer and not on other screens. The recorded distance will still be 1.15....

    Does the distance correct correctly when you disable autolap?