What's up with training status and baseline?

Situation: I have several external sensors (Stryd for pace and distance, and a few different heart rate monitors I have tested (Scosche, Mio, HRM-strap from Garmin and obviously the built in sensor for the wrist). Every training session has different status based on what sensors I wear. This would be obvious, had the sensors not been calibrated and tested against each other. They have. I never use the wrist based monitor. Does not work for me.

When I use Stryd and Scosche, I almost always tells me, the I perform -1 or -2 below baseline.
When I use Stryd and HRM-strap, I almost always perform perfectly on baseline.
When I use GPS and HRM-strap, I almost always perform +3 or +4 on baseline.
During a race a few days ago I used no external sensors and forgot to turn of the internal wrist based sensor. I performed +5 on baseline, even though the hearth rate was completely off. Almost 20 BPM higher. It was almost at my max, yet I was running and having a conversation with a friend.

So what is up with this? When I perform good, I can say, I have -3 on the day. The next day I have a poorer performance, and I have a +3.

What to make of this. Is it even useful?

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 6 years ago

    Here is a page that explains the different metrics calculated using HR, including the performance condition. Maybe this will help: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/performance-data/running/

    Since pace, HR, and HRV factor into the calculation it's possible that different sensors would cause the differences you are seeing, even if they have been calibrated against each other. This could especially be the case when you are using the Scosche vs the chest strap since optical measurements of HRV aren't as reliable as direct measurement from a chest strap.

  • I had the same thoughts. Surely different sensors could visse digferent results. But what if the sensors record the same data (Scosche has same reading as chest strap) 

    I Think the stort question would be this: If we assume that the sensors are correct, what could be a reason for the difference in oerformance data? Would a Fenix 5 with chest strap and GPS have same performance data as a Fenix 5 with Stryd and Scosche, if the readings (HR and Pace) where exactly the same?