One pod to rule them all - with a bend towards ultra/trail runners

[I looked for a different forum for this question, and I chose F5x, since I have one, and also since my question is geared slightly towards ultra/trail runners, and we tend to have the F5x]

Hi. I've had a long line of Garmin devices. Recently F2, F3, now F5x. I used HRM straps for a long time, until I had trouble with chaffing, and gave it up for awhile. In the "time off" from straps, I grew away from needing that HR data, but still like some of the running dynamics data. Not hard core on it, but very interesting. Specifically ground contact L/R balance. So I started wearing the (blue) HRMtri strap (using 3M micropore tape to avoid the chaff). So I should be happy. Except I stop "liking" wearing the strap. so I ordered this pod from CT. It should come today. But in the past few days I've been reading alot on the stryd. And its got me very interested. More data than I believe I care for. It doesnt have the ground contact balance. but having use running by HR in the past, to running with RPE these days, perhaps running with power is next. I dont get all the data, but running with power sounds like using RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) , but the power data to back up that RPE. Sorta. Also in the back of my mind is the moderate ticked off feeling finishing a 50mile ultra and ending 46miles to 52miles at completion It would be nice to have more accurate distance. Dont really need accurate pace, I look at it, and sometime slow down if its high + RPE being high.

so there is not yet one Pod to rule them all. But if you had to put your $$ in one. Would it be the garmin pod or the stryd (big $$ diffference I know).

For you ultra/trail runners (or others): we know that pace is not that key for non-elites. Terrain, elevation, how technical the trails are, all impact cadence, speed, pace. But at the end of the day. The ultra is about energy management. Eat, Drink right, and manage energy. Dont run the uphills. Take advantage of the flats and some downhills. Some rely on HR data. Others, or maybe, just RPE. If you sense you are spending to much energy, you dial it back. Power possibly could be a quasi-scientific view to help or back that up.

What say you? Fellow runners.. Interested to hear views on Garmin Pod vs Stryd vs ??? just more expensive toys?

0 gasteropod over 8 years ago

I have to say that I love my toys, and I love my data. But do I do anything with this data? Not really. HR is pretty much the only data I really use. I look at things like the ground contact balance, and I see I favour one side more than the other, which matches what I feel as one leg does tire more than the other. But can I use this data to really make changes? Not for me no.

I currently have F5X, garmin foot pod, tempe and hrm-run. I have seen and been very interested in stryd, but so far has not stumped up the money to get even more data which I will probably find interesting, but not actually do anything with.

0 tommays56 over 8 years ago

Just finished walking another 70K/43.5 which is segmented on Strava and quite hard due the hills and sand in our area and I am old and slow but persistent

So for fun I left the F3 on GPS AND the Vivosmart on indoor with the Garmin footpod and it was 43.24 with GPS and 43.66 with the footpod

So the question is how much better is the Stryd gonna be for 200 dollars and not enough battery live

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1655430701
F3

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1655311179

Vivosmart

0 ROGUENODE over 8 years ago

Definitely more expensive toys :cool:

But, I just ordered a Stryd specifically for the distance and pace and will be comparing it to my Fenix 5x and Suunto A3P's distance and pace calculations. From the reviews, it should be better than both and much better than the 5x for those calcs. I could care less about the power metrics, but am open to learning more about it and seeing what my data shows.

If the Stryd does turn out to be more consistent and accurate, I'd like to still keep the 5x for the mapping/nav and other features and use it with Stryd. However, the battery life is an issue for longer efforts. For those, I'll try Fellrnr's suggesting to have GPS set to ultratrac since that may be fine for my navigation and mapping needs if the pace and distance come from the Stryd, I could then switch to the watch's distance and pace once the Stryd dies out.

0 2goBeyond over 8 years ago

So for the last few years (5 to be exact) i've clawed myself out of obesity and apathy. I found a structured workout program that I liked, changed my eating habits and turned my entire physical condition around in about 15 weeks. During those first few months, I tracked nothing, I didn't even own anything more than a scale. Yet right after finishing the program, I wanted to get better information as I continued to do the routine, while expanding that to other things.

I bought a fitbit surge which severed me well early on. When the weather permitted, I would weave cycling in with my standard routine. What I got from that watch were the basics, (gps distance, calories burned, time). Same went for doing a workout (minus the gps). When I learned that there were other watches that could give MORE information and were (with external sensors) accurate, I moved onto them. That took the shape of a Forerunner 235.

I won't go into the issues I had with the watch, but it did give me more metrics to better myself. Zone training/training effect, with a chest strap It was around then I started to weave runs into my routine. When I was a teenager, I ran all the time, but now (nearing 40) I was not conditioned for runs at all; even with the working out. I then moved onto the a Fenix 3HR and it's many running metrics built-in and advanced running dynamics through the hrm-tri I owned. with all those numbers I was able to turn around my start-of-the-year 5k time (baby steps, it was about 30mins) to a 19:50 min 5k but the last run of the year. Vertical Oscillation/ratio, GCT, cadence, stride length, all of these numbers helped me get proper form during and after a run. Yes, knowing that I cut a few cm's off my Oscillation and Ratio after a run made me so much more efficient and frankly helped me to not injure myself anymore (I did in the beggining big time). By years end, I was pushing 3-5 5k's a week (interweaving them in with my other workouts) and all of them were within the 20min mark. This year I come with a Fenix 5x and a Stryd and a goal.

This year I want to push further, weave a 10k in every week. Push out those 5k's and do 10k's in it's place, my goal for the end of the warm weather (I live in the midwest, we don't have long and I hate running in the winter) is to make it through a half-marathon (not an actual contest, just in the distance). The additional metrics from stryd (and the new powercenter stuff they just released) are guidelines for me; a way to further refine my form, become even more efficient and safe.

The downside to all of these things is once you do get it right...the numbers stop really mattering because you're doing the best you can do each time. By then, you're baseline strong and the numbers become nothing more than a baseline guide and not something to push you further. It's not a waste, but at that point, in my opinion, they aren't as important as they used to.

I guess then it just comes down to how much you actually need these metrics to obtain your goals. For me, it has made all the difference (at least with running, current training effect numbers seem really wonky at the time of this writing). If you get something from them, then there's your answer. If you can do well without them, well that's fine too.

0 xthine over 8 years ago

Recently looked at these these types of gadgets.
I'm very new to trail running so main focus for me is just having a good efficient running form.
Compared the Stryd, Garmin Pod and something called Lumo run.
I ended up choosing the Lumo run (should be here tomorrow) since it looked like that might be the best device that can help me with my form. Hopefully made the right choice.

0 jetguat over 8 years ago

anyone know of a discount code

Not sure all the places stryd is sold yet, but has anyone come across a discount code, or way to get it less than full retail ($199)

0 2goBeyond over 8 years ago

https://the5krunner.com/2016/12/01/review-stryd-footpod-running-power-meter/

Most major bloggers give some discount or another, this one is a personal favorite of mine (and also where I got my discount). Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the code.

0 vanlinde over 8 years ago

I have a Stryd for about 2 months now. It's measures extreme precise the distance: 21.07km on nu last HM! I get about 15 hours of running out of one battery charge.

0 ROGUENODE over 8 years ago

Good to hear that vanlinde! I know experiences vary, but I'd love to find mine (tried it for the first time yesterday) will get that kind of battery life and accuracy. I hoping Stryd+5x, with distance and pace from Stryd and mapping/gps from Garmin, will be a wining combo.

0 jetguat over 8 years ago

No a huge downside. but a possibility

I have a Stryd for about 2 months now. It's measures extreme precise the distance: 21.07km on nu last HM! I get about 15 hours of running out of one battery charge.

with a 15 hour life, the would work for a 50k or 50miles. Maybe faster 100k people, but not me. and most certainly no long enough for a 100miler. so on the long ultras, it would seem, leave the stryd at home.