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Adding the weight of a running pack

KaiserPingo
over 4 years ago

In my endurance running, races and training, I run with a vest or a backpack.

The weight can be quite high and vary from day to day and even during a course.

It totally ruins all statistics from the watch.

The only way to try and remedy the problem is to alter bodyweight, but when I run with 15kg on one leg of the race and then 5kg on the next leg and 7kg on the third leg, then its impossible to do anything.

Being a multisports-/trail-/endurance watch, I find it very strange that it is not implemented.

This applys to all FR watches.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago
    KaiserPingo said:
    totally ruins all statistics from the watch.

    What stats are ruined and what exactly isn't implemented? 

  • 0 over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

    Its not implemented, that you carry a pack.

    Your heart rate is affected, your stride is affected and the effect on muscles, joints and ligaments.

    VO2max will be way off, after a series of runs with a pack.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to KaiserPingo

    How would this be implemented? You and I can both be 30 year old, 5'11, 175lb males both carrying 50lb packs.  Due to different fitness levels we'll have different HR averages and our strides can be different. That race will affect or muscles differently.  What could Garmin implement that would correctly show stats for the two of us in this situation?  The increased load regardless of weight will make you work harder and raise your HR.  Calories burned will be reflected.  I agree VO2Max would be affected, but that's the whole point of the "Other" app. You can configure it exactly as your "Run" app with no affect on VO2Max. 

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    While the link between pace, bodyweight and oxygen consumption has been widely studied and incorporated into the VO2Max estimation algorithm, I don't think the science of how pack weight affects oxygen consumption is nearly as rigorous. And if the science hasn't been done, any "pack weight VO2Max estimation" feature is likely to be highly inaccurate, and the statistics from it would be "all ruined" as well. 

    My suggestion would be to use the Trail Run activity (with VO2Max estimation turned OFF) for your pack runs. And activate VO2Max estimation for your non-pack runs. After all, your ACTUAL fitness doesn't change between wearing a pack and not wearing a pack. The increased Training Load/Training Effect from carrying a pack will be picked up through a higher heart rate, but using the more accurate baseline VO2Max from your non-pack runs.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    Agree with Mcalista, I have done bit of training with weighted backpacks to make my easy pace runs with friends a bit harder and/or tropical trail runs with large amount of water and supplies.  I just use 'Trail Run' to prevent vo2max calculation.  

    To add another angle - if you are concerned about calorie burn perhaps, could log in a weight for that day of 5 to 15kg heavier to account for the weight of pack. (before activity starts) That should affect your calorie burn values.  It would be nice if like Strava where you can setup your Bike to be a certain weight and type which then calculates your Power during ride, if Garmin allowed for a 'Gear' of 'Backpack 12kg' that you can add to activity.  I have a other gear setup for Backpack just to keep track of pack or not pack runs.   But sure would be great if it auto added the weight to ME on that activity.