Since Garmin added the ability to auto transfer a structured swim workout from Training Peaks to Garmin Connect / watch (I have a Forerunner 945), I haven't been able to accurately record my swim workouts using the lap button (back button) the same way I did in the past.
I used to press the lap button each time I finished an interval and then again when I started the next interval. When there was no rest bt intervals, I just pressed the lap button twice quickly. When I do that now with a structured workout, Garmin moves through the intervals too quickly. I don't have 'rest' built into any of the workouts I've tried so far.
For example, if a workout calls for:
- 500 yards at pace X
- 100 yards at pace Y
- 1 minute at RPE 5
- 200 yards at pace Z
when specifically should I push the lap (back) button on the watch?
a) both when I finish an interval and when I start the next? (ex. after 500 and before 100)
b) once when I finish an interval and NOT when I start the next? (ex. after 500 only)
c) not at all? just allow the watch to keep cycling (ex. as I move through the 500 to the 100 to the 1 minute)? if so, does that require adding a 'rest' interval between each active interval even if I'm not actually resting at the wall?
Also, do I need to treat a distance-based interval differently than a time-based interval? For example, when I finish a 1 minute time interval and I'm switching back to a 200 yard distance interval, do I need to
a) push the lap button once to finish the time interval (and the distance interval will start again when I start moving)
b) push the lap button twice to finish the time interval and start the distance interval
c) not press the lap button at all and just keep swimming? I tried something similar to the sample workout above and thought the time interval might be automatic, but after 1:30 my watch was still counting time instead of stopping at 1:00 and switching to distance.
I searched for information on the Garmin site and emailed support. Garmin sent me two links, neither of which directly answered the question.
- Using Swim and Rest Intervals (It appears this was written before structured workouts could be downloaded.)
- Using Pool Swim Workouts. (I've don't use the rest function and have never seen a "count you in" display. Is part of the solution to include a 'rest' between each interval to prompt the watch to stop and then jump to the next interval when I start moving?)
OR...is the structured swim workout option still too buggy to work properly?