GPS accuracy and pace inconsistent

I have been very happy with my Garmin watches since I first had one about 15 years ago: some forerunner i cant remember, a 910xt and sinds the last 6 years a Fenix 5.

Lately I got a new coach who wants me to focus on pace and not heart rate (he wants to see what pace does to my hr). It might be because of this, or i never noticed, but my pace seems verry inconsistent during a run. It jumps up and down 20 to 40 some seconds per km in seconds. All while my feeling is that my pace is pretty consistent. Even though i do feel it reads slower than it did. (I shows me paces that i did with great ease 4 months ago, that now seem to strain me more.

Again, it could be that all comes back to new training schedule with focus on going slower, and my mind is just playing tricks on me.

I have rebooted the fenix 5. I have it soak GPS for 30 some minutes before starting my excersise by letting it record a workout outside (which i throw out before starting my actual workout).

Because i now focus heavily on the watch and the way it records i notice that it records my routes pretty sloppy. (It is set to GPS + GALILEO and records either every second or smart, tried both).

please see images below (red is what it should have recorded)

could my fenix be getting old, or are these recordings of my routes to be expected from a Fenix 5? Would this be improved by buying a 965?

Please let me know your opinions.

kind regards

0 Data over 1 year ago

It is not because the watch is old, but where you are running, the city, is a challenging environment for GPS receivers. I have to be honest and mention that the Fenix 7 with multiband GNSS I am using currently, handles this better than a Fenix 5. However when it comes to instant pace, a much more affordable solution is a foot pod. Not the RD pod and you don't need a Stryd to start with, just a generic foot pod will give better instant pace information during your run. You have to set it to "pace:always". It is at least worth a try I think.

0 daanbr over 1 year ago in reply to Data

Thanks Data for your input.

Yesterday I dug up my old 910xt and went for a run with both 910 and Fenix 5. The pace per lap measures were nearly the sam +- 4 seconds.

So I guess I need to not stress over current pace while running and assume that lap pace will be pretty reliable.

Also must assume that my slower times must be because of new training regime from coach having me look at pace (so he can analyse my hr with training pace). Which is a new focus for me.