Data source for FirstBeat metrics

Thanks Markus, however the information in your link is pretty much clear to me.

What I'm looking for specifically is a confirmation from Garmin and/or FirstBeat on which data goes into the FirstBeat algorithms when a foot pod is connected.

I agree with you Markus that thelogical answer would be foot pod data, but as we know; First Beat metrics are not updated when GPS is disabled, even when a foot pod is connected. At least that's true for Treadmill running which might be a limitation within the 'Treadmill' app, so I still need to confirm by running outside using the 'Run' app with GPS disabled.

The absolute best option would be if Garmin could implement a setting in the Treadmill app which gives us the option to enable/disable FB metrics.

Thank you very much for testing and confirming that SotirisAnagnostopoulos !
Next time I'm on a treadmill I will test the other scenario (not sure how soon I will be able to do that though) - using Run app with FootPod and GPS enabled. If that gives FirstBeat metrics we know it uses FootPod pace since GPS pace will be zero, if I don't get the metrics we know it uses GPS pace.

Unless Garmin-Heath would chime in and just give us the answer? (I guess that would be too easy though... :p )

EDIT:

BTW when I run with the Run app, GPS on and footpod connected, I always get the Performance Condition message and VO2MAX metrics.

Oh, just realized after posting that I might have misunderstood what you were saying there. Is this on the treadmill as well? In that case you have already tested the other scenario I was talking about and we know the answer. If so, I wish Garmin will reconsider their GPS requirement and implement the manual setting so that we are able to get FB metrics through the winter without the need to do the silly workaround of having to use GPS indoors.

I did a treadmill run yesterday using the regular Run app with GPS, Stryd and HRM-Run. Distance and pace was spot on as expected, however I got no FB metrics.
Not having FB metrics for treadmill running is not the end of the world - although it's frustrating given that I will most likely spend most of the winter indoors - what's more "worrying" in this context is that the result from my little test probably means that GPS pace/distance is probably overriding Stryd data also when running outside.
So much for spending money on improving the inputs...

Bumping this.

Garmin-Heath is it possible to get a good explanation?

It's rather annoying not having Training Status and all the other fancy metrics through the whole winter if the only explanation is that Garmin doesn't allow me to have it because you keep clinging to the idea that GPS is the only useful source for pace. That logic adds up in the same way as saying that OHR is preferred over a chest strap.

As a semi-competitive runner, closer to 50 years old than 40, and many years of damage from pounding the roads, I do most of my hard sessions on the treadmill (with a Garmin footpod - which proves pretty accurate), and do most of my easy/long/recovery runs outside on the road with GPS enabled. As such, the FirstBeat data is pretty useless in my case (and for anyone who trains in a similar manner). What use is a Vo2max reading, recovery indicator, or performance metric, if they only represent a small piece of training and performance? During general training, my Vo2max hovers around 58-60 ml/kg/min, but then as soon as I run a race outdoors, it can jump by up to 12 points.

While I recognize that there is a significant dependency on the accuracy of the data captured by the footpod and other data-points (HR sensor), it makes more sense that the user be permitted to include this data in the FirstBeat algorithms. Perhaps Garmin could detect anomalous workouts (e.g. rise or drop of 10% n Vo2Max) and ask the user to confirm the accuracy of their workouts, before including in overall FirstBeat calculations? At the end of the day, a workout is just a workout - a means to an end. However, it just seems a little redundant if this functionality cannot be used at all, if you divert down some pretty popular paths, like running on the treadmill.

Couldn't have said it better myself @garycondon

Does anyone know how these type of features work on i.e. Polar or Suunto watches?

Coming to think of it, there actually is a difference between indoor cycling with a power meter and indoor running with a foot pod:
The foot pod doesn't know if you have chosen a slope % on the threadmill which gives you the same running effort at the same pace, as outdoor running would.

I don't understand this... A Stryd pod also does not know if you're going uphill, level or downhill, but it is still able to generate the proper power numbers for a given pace. It does not need or use GPS for that. Why would we have to tell anything the incline setting on the treadmill?

I don't understand this... A Stryd pod also does not know if you're going uphill, level or downhill, but it is still able to generate the proper power numbers for a given pace. It does not need or use GPS for that. Why would we have to tell anything the incline setting on the treadmill?

A Stryd do know if it is going uphill, level or downhill. It has an ambient pressure sensor which is used for this purpose, and it is a vital part of the power calculation.

For a treadmill, the pressure sensor can't be used because you are running at unchanged altitude, even though you may be working against gravity if the belt is sloped.

Ah okay, I didn't realize Stryd has the altimeter. Does that mean a Stryd will generate incorrect power data when running on a treadmill set to an incline?

UPDATE: It does not...

https://support.stryd.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001658293-Why-does-my-power-not-go-up-if-I-increase-the-treadmill-incline-