Strava, Zwift and Garmin

Link Garmin to Strava. 

Link Zwift to Strava. 

Do not link Zwift to Garmin

* When you complete a run, save the Zwift run first, so that the Zwift data goes to Strava first. Then save your Garmin run after the Zwift run has reached Strava. 

If the Zwift run timer started at the same time as your watch started then Strava should reject the Garmin run as being a duplicate of the Zwift run. 

If you were warming up for an event in the start pen and started the Garmin when you entered the pen then it will have an earlier start time than Zwift, which only starts the timer when the event starts. In this case you will get duplicates in Strava and you will have to choose which one to delete.

* If your prefer to retain the Garmin data in Strava instead of the Zwift data then simply save the Garmin activity before you save the Zwift activity. Again, you may have to duplicate activities in Strava if the start times are mismatched, but that's it. If you keep the Zwift file in preference you will get a route map and segment times included in Strava, but lose the data for your warmup. It's your choice which matters more to you. You can always warm up on track in Zwift rather than in the pen, but this will generate an extra activity in Zwift and Strava for the warmup, which might suit you better, or maybe just create more clutter. Your choice. 

Thanks - that makes sense.

which is best way to analyse data that garmin does? I’m a little overwhelmed with all the apps and widgets?  Not sure I fully understand the difference between a widget and an app. 

This is a "how long is a piece of string?" question, with no firm answer. Only you can figure out what data matters to you and how you will use it to set targets, modify training and measure success. I'm not a doctor or coach, or even competitive. I train to keep myself healthy and generally fit. I'm 99% cyclist, 1% runner, but nearly everything I do for fitness /training is indoors. I walk the dog, but that does nothing for my physical fitness, just my health (fresh air, vitamin D etc.).

The things that interest me from Garmin are my FTP, VO2max, body battery, resting heart rate, training load and recommended training. As a weight challenged 58 year old I also care about calories and try to aim for around 1,000 active calories per day. I don't care about speed, I care about power. For a runner the focus would be on pace instead, but I think most of the rest would be of similar interest to many, but not all.

As a cyclist I don't care at all about steps. They are as useful as a chocolate teapot for measuring *my* activity, since pedaling does not count as steps. Others might live and breathe their steps count, and compete with others for the top score. 

In other words, find what interests you and works for you. Not all the data available has value to everyone.

I would recommend a chest strap for accurate heart rate data. Wrist HR may work well, for some. For others it is a constant source of frustration. I find it too unreliable to put my trust in it. For background activity during the day and sleeping it is acceptable. For proper exercise I always use a strap. 

I recommend you check all your personal data stored in Garmin Connect for accuracy. Things like weight, maximum heart rate and activity class are important to get right as they influence so much calculation that goes on. 

Regarding widgets vs apps - apps are the things you use to record your activities. They remain on the watch face until you end the activity. Widgets are used to display data only temporarily. They might show things that are nothing to do with recording an activity, such as the weather or sunset time or your current pulse, altitude etc. You access apps by first pressing the start button and then selecting the app (activity) you want. Widgets are accessed by scrolling up and down from the watch face, without starting anything.

Oh, and if numbers alone are insufficient motivation then maybe try following a structured training plan, such as Couch to 5k or whatever fits your needs and abilities. Both Zwift and Garmin offer such plans, and more. 

There are already several threads on that topic with people sharing their solutions. You can search and find out. 

Sallyanne said:

which is best way to analyse data that garmin does? I’m a little overwhelmed with all the apps and widgets?  Not sure I fully understand the difference between a widget and an app. 

An app is basically a way to record a sporting activity.

A widget is basically a means of accessing additional information while the Fenix is in watch mode. This might be information about your fitness and training load, your heart rate, or non-fitness information such as weather forecasts.

You can do basic analysis of data through the widgets (especially the Performance, Training Status and Last Activity widgets, but Garmin Connect (either mobile or web) offers deeper and easier-to-visualize analysis of that data.