Garmin Training Plan a joke? Pro Athlete?

Users have the option to select target type pace/vs HR for training suggestions for most of the workouts recommended by the watch. Check the manual for further details. In addition, an HR strap would improve accuracy.

rbmx said:

Pretty sad that Garmin uses only HR to detect this, should have used Tempo/Speed

They do use pace/power for higher HR, but your point remains valid. With short intervals, HR will lag and the interval might be not registered as a "higher HR" interval, maybe, and the training effect will be lower.

I do also get tempo or base training effect for sprints workout.

FWIW, I saw big improvement in the suggested workout targets after I performed actual maximal effort on the trainer. Targets for all super-threshold workout suddenly got well aligned with Dr Coggan's iLevels targets. The downside is that the workouts are really challenging now :-)

I inferred that the watch is still maintaining the equivalent of a virtual/hidden power curve in addition to the HR vs Pace/Power regression the VO2 max documentation mentions. Without these maximal efforts, I guess the watch gives you an average power curve and fills out the blanks. The steepness of your power curve is critical for VO2 Max, Extensive/Intensive Anaerobic and Max Power workout targets.

With the new targets, my sprints are still evaluated as tempo, but threshold and VO2 Max workouts are correctly labeled. It has been a while since I saw anaerobic workouts. I don't know why. Training focus is balanced, FTP and VO2 max are coming back to pre-injury levels. So I am satisfied.

That said, I also use WKO5 to design my own workouts in Garmin Connect to provide variety and more flexibility. For example, the suggested workout 3 days ago was a threshold with 2x19mn at 255W 106% of FTP, and today it is again the same 2x19mn at 108%. Despite great training readiness metrics, I don't feel like a repeat so I am going to do something else.

This year, I will try to forego my TrainingPeaks premium subscription, and use only the Garmin Coach or Race preparation training plans. That should help amortize the Epix2 faster :-)

If you want to do intervals you need to buy external HR sensor on your chest.
HR from the wrist is not acurate for intervals.

Second thing, if you are pro, you should look for coach, Garmin devices are to help you in trennings, never replace pro coach.

Treshold at 255W??
Are you sure you have corect power zones?
I’m not a pro, my typical run now is with pace 6:30/km and my assesed power for easy is 244-299W, and for short interval above 450 Wats.
I do my runs with HRM-Pro sensor.

There's no use comparing your running power output unless you have rather similar bodies. 

Fair point.
I’m 194cm tall and 96kg weight.

This is not the case. All settings are OK, but Garmin is using HR instead of Tempo/Speed and this is wrong. A short Sprint at   2:30min/km or 21-23km/t (for me) is ofcourse a Sprint Workout, but i will get Base Workout because HR will not get very high..

This is not the case... I am ofcoruse using a strap and after Pro athlete for many years i am now programming my own workouts.. The watch is "just for FUN"...

Are you talking about Cycling workouts now? My cycling workouts spot on because Garmin is using Power + HR and i will always get Anaerobic and Sprint when its done, but i am talking about Running (Tempo).. When Garmin says Tempo should be ex.3:20min/km @8x1min and Anaerobic workout and i excecute the workout 100%, but get Base Workout because HR will only Reach Zone 3 something is wrong with the calculation. 

Are you guys using Garmin Standard Heart rate zones (50-60-70-80-90-100%)?

I am using Lab/Fysio HR Zones (62-72-82-87-92-100%) so maybe to get the Garmin algorithm and Training status right its best to use AGrmin HR Zones?

For me it doesn't really matter as i also use Trainingpeaks and WKO5, but for FUN its nice to look at the Garmin Training status, Readiness ++++ etc...

Thx

OK, I think we should do step back and do some analysis to have clear view.
1. How are your HR zones set on the watch? How they wer set?
2. What was average HR and maximum HR for this activity, in which HR zone they were?
2. How training efect looks for such activity? I’m not talking about overall result but numbers for aerobic and anaerobic training effect.

For now I can say that watch classify your activity as base because average HR for whole activity was in second or third HR Zone.

I think you need to understand some basis Garmin use to do all these calculations, otherwise you always will get results opposite to your expectations.

Couple days ago I did suggested anaerobic training and my results were (7xOne Minute sprints with 3 minute cooldowns):
MAXHR - 155 bpm
AverageHR - 133 bpm
Primary benefit - BASE
Aerobic Trainin Effect - 3.3
Anaerobic Training Effect - 2.8

My measured HRMax is 176 bpm and LTHR is 153 bpm.
My HR zones are set to LTHR