Strange calculation of Intensity Minutes for running activities

Hi,

earlier I haven't looked so much at the intensity minutes so I don't know if this is a new issue or not. But, the Intensity Minutes is strangely calculated when having the device configured to "based on Automatic" (Not based on HR Zones). I will change to "HR Zones" and test if that changes things for me but I wanted to start this thread anyways. Maybe others have the same issue. Fenix 6X Pro Solar Titanium version 18.80 beta.

For example:

- Did a slow 6.19 km run recently. Mostly in zone 2 but also a little in zone 1 and 3. Average HR was 134 with HRM Pro strap.

- Intensity Minutes for the activity was calculated to 0 min Moderate, 33 min Vigorous (x2) and 66 min in Total.

Shouldn't that run have been calculated to 33 min Moderate, 0 min Vigorous (x2) and 33 min in Total?

Some screenshots:

0 crutlefish over 3 years ago

Moderate intensity is walking and zone 1 exercise. Most activities, running included, will be deemed vigorous, and earn twice the number of minutes/points. Moderate is day-to-day intensity, vigorous is exercise. The doubling of points is there to motivate you to exercise.

0 AndersB over 3 years ago in reply to crutlefish

The help text in Connect says this:

0 AndersB over 3 years ago in reply to AndersB

When changing from "Automatic" to "HR Zones" I noticed that Zone 3 was default for Moderate and Zone 4 was default for Vigorous.

0 Szunyog007 over 3 years ago in reply to AndersB

If you change from Automatic to HR Zones and then click to Moderate or Vigorous intensity you can change it to any HR Zone from 1 -5.

I left it automatic.

0 AndersB over 3 years ago in reply to Szunyog007

Yes, I changed that so I have Zone 1 for Moderate and Zone 4 for Vigorous. Will see how the Intensity Minutes show up next time I run. Will probably test it out tomorrow. The original post is about the calculation when having it to "Automatic". That seems based on comparing resting HR with the activity HR so maybe that's the reason that I had mostly Vigorous points. I have a low resting HR.

0 TobiasLj over 3 years ago

To earn intensity minutes you need to spend 10 consecutive minutes in the zone required, this is regardless of automatic or zone-based calculation.

So for a run you can not look at the total time in a zone, you need to look at the HR over the entire activity and add the total time you were in the required zone for 10 minutes or more without entering a lower zone.

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=pNU9nnDzzGAHmEavp9rpY8

0 AndersB over 3 years ago in reply to TobiasLj

I think that information is wrong for my Fenix 6X Pro Solar.

This is from yesterdays ~9 minutes warm-up

And this is from yesterdays ~4 minutes cool-down/recovery

0 AndersB over 3 years ago

Did a new running test (fartlek/speed play) on my usual 6.19 km course. Now with Intensity Minutes based on "HR Zones". I have configured the Moderate to Zone 1 and Vigorous to Zone 4. Now it looks better but its not 100% comparable to the time in HR Zones.

0 AndersB over 3 years ago in reply to AndersB

eezytiger, here is the thread.

0 eezytiger over 3 years ago in reply to AndersB

Thanks. Reading now.

I think basically that intensity minutes is aimed at people who set their fitness and training targets based on number of steps rather than TSS or FTP or VO2max or pace. I suspect crutlefish has the right idea, about motivation for people to exercise a bit more if they don't otherwise have a training aim/focus. IMHO it is a redundant measurement for people who are already driven to exercise and use different and more meaningful measures of success.

I shall leave my calculations set to automatic because, at the end of the day/week, I really don't care what this figure is.