Garmin Coach - It Works

On August 26th, I started the 5k Training Plan with Coach McMillan. Here i am on November 8th - and I just finished a 5K with a time of 23:29. Which is under my 25 minute goal..and also under the Garmin race predictor which has me pegged at 23:40.

If anyone is interested in starting one of these training plans, I recommend it. It really did work for me. I just ran when they told me to run..and how far they told me to run.
11 Weeks later - and I finished under my goal.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3147145899

Top Replies

TrippyZ over 6 years ago +1

I have been using TrainAsOne the past 18 months. It is an adaptive training plan between C25K and ultra and is free. It has taken me through four marathons with improved times.

All Replies

0 openbox9 over 6 years ago

Were you "new" to running? I've been running and cycling for a few years and I couldn't figure out how to account for that with Garmin's "coaching". Hopefully the coaching function will be expanded in the future.

0 JSRUNNER_ over 6 years ago

openbox9 not sure what you mean by account for it - I have been running a number of years but recently rather lapsed. I decided to do the 5K coach (also McMillan) I've found they work quite well for me with a 25 minute goal. The snag I see for a fitter runner is that 25 minutes is the minimum goal that you can set which rules out a huge number of runners. Hopefully they'll introduce a version of the %K plan for more intermediate levels.

0 openbox9 over 6 years ago

JSRUNNER_ I didn't play with it for long, but it seemed that the program was more oriented to beginners. Yes, a 5 min/km pace is very limiting. I like the idea of a good adaptive training plan but this intro from Garmin doesn't quite get there....yet.

P.S. I just initiated a new 5k coaching plan and now I remember why I cancelled it the last time. The first "benchmark run" is only a 5 minute run. That's not even enough to warm up.

0 TrippyZ over 6 years ago

I have been using TrainAsOne the past 18 months. It is an adaptive training plan between C25K and ultra and is free. It has taken me through four marathons with improved times.

0 openbox9 over 6 years ago

Thanks TrippyZ. I've been meaning to look at Train As One but I always get distracted by other squirrels. Time to put it back on my list.