Back-lap button doesn't stop anymore GPS on Ultra-Run mode ?

I use this feature on longer runs to track areas where I walk, eat and drink. So if distance is not accumulating there, this feature is not usable any more (I would then try to find a workaround).

Maybe Garmin can just add a third option:
- Pause/Resume: Time stopped + GPS stopped
- Ultra Mode Pause 1: Time going on + GPS stopped -> Good on aid stations
- Ultra Mode Pause 2: Time going on + GPS going on -> Good if you forget to resume

What is the interest if the gps continues on the rest mode? it distorts the distance especially if we make refreshments in buildings.
Finally as much to use Trail with pause/play on the ultra?

Garmin, please consider making an option for us to be able to pause GPS function within the Ultra run activity. Many races have indoor checkpoints that interfere with satellites and GPS data - on my last ultra I gained around 0.3 miles whilst sitting inside for 20minutes on two indoor aid stations. On some events that run for more than 1-2 days I've had even more discrepancy - on very long distance events where I need to sleep for an hour or more and the GPS has kept adding distance whilst I've been stationary in a tent sleeping.

Ultra runners need to be able to pause the GPS within the ultra run activity so that we can keep track on the total elapsed time better. The "pause" and "resume later" will not give us the full elapsed time duration for the event. Being stationary at aid stations and checkpoints is causing the distance to increase which also then has a knock on effect for any distance to next course points/overall distance remaining data.

Are there any plans to resolve this issue please or am I missing anything that already resolves it?

davebb10 said:

The "pause" and "resume later" will not give us the full elapsed time duration for the event. 

Yes it will, but you should be using the Elapsed Time field to see this.

davebb10 said:

Garmin, please consider making an option for us to be able to pause GPS function within the Ultra run activity.

I haven't tried it in a real race, but I think there's a relatively simple workaround. GPS can be turned off and on manually mid-activity. Just hold the "up" button to access run settings. It's not as hassle-free as automatic would be, but honestly, when you plan a relatively long stop at an aid station, pressing several buttons to turn off GPS is not that big of a problem.

Brilliant - I had the "Timer" data field - didn't know we could add "Elapsed Tiime" so that is a workaround thanks very much for the info @mcalister!

Still, when you're fatigued and sleep deprived on extremely long ultras (e.g. >100milers over >2-3 days) it would be great if there was a simplified way to just hit one button - i.e. "Lap" to start the "rest timer only" and then have that also disable GPS for aid/sleep stations - it'd be good to have an elapsed time field on that rest timer data screen as well so you can keep track of both times whilst in aid stations... pause/resume later means you don't get to see any of that data at a glance until you resume the activity.

Another feature to include with the rest timer would be the ability to quickly set an alarm for how long you want to stay in the aid station - e.g. if you want to allow yourself 10mins/1hr sleep etc.

see response to @mcalister's post above - I didn't realise earlier but the pause/resume later function is a viable workaround if we change the timer field to "elapsed time". The only draw back is that you then can't see a timer both for rest time and elapsed time during your paused time in the aid station - which I think is missing the point a bit for ultra events.

I also still feel for the "ultra run" sport mode that things could be simplified to just the one press of a lap button to enter the rest timer and pause the GPS function... when you're extremely tired and sleep deprived you don't want to have to think too much other than eat drink and sleep - especially in +200 milers over more than a few days. If a simple way to add alarms/sleep/rest duration timers/reminders could be added to this process that might be extremely useful too.

davebb10 said:

the pause/resume later function is a viable workaround if we change the timer field to "elapsed time".

Yeah, I've analysed this method briefly. I'm not telling it's better or worse than my concept, but for me it isn't a viable workaround.

davebb10 said:

The only draw back is that you then can't see a timer both for rest time and elapsed time during your paused time in the aid station

Oh, there are much more drawbacks to this method than the above...

Yeah - this workaround makes the ultra run sport mode's rest timer pointless and we might as well just use the trail run sport mode with the pause/resume later function as far as I can tell.