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Feature Request : Auto Lap by Time

Woodster

I think it would be a very useful training tool to have auto laps by time. 

 

I have a FR 955 but this could be implemented for all Garmins.  I also have a Polar Pacer Pro which has automatic laps, which are separate from manual laps using the lap button, where I check my 5 minute average heart rate.  I find this much better for managing a constant effort and also time is 100% accurate vs. distance which can vary a lot, especially in poor signal areas.

  • 0

    I made a Connect IQ data field (Lap+) which sort of fits the bill, but the catch is that it's not updated for FR955 (yet). I'll describe what it does and some of the limitations, and maybe you can let me know if you'd be interested in seeing it on FR955.

    - it has the ability to track auto "splits" by distance or time, which are completely separate from Garmin laps (auto or manual). You'll get a pseudo alert [*] when a split is triggered, and you can also display the metrics of your choice based on splits (e.g. last split average heart rate)

    [*] the pseudo alert consists of a buzz/beep, and a full-screen notification which is only visible if you are currently on the data page which contains the Lap+ data field. The app is old enough that when I developed it, Connect IQ data fields couldn't trigger real alerts/notifications

    - it optionally displays a list of laps or splits in a 2nd screen, during the activity (useful for interval workouts, for example).

    This is kind of similar to the interval list that you see in the Track Run profile, except that the column data is fully customizable and you're able to "scroll" through multiple pages of laps/splits.

    - it *does not* record split data to the activity file, so you won't see any of it in Connect. What I do to get around this is to use runalyze.com, which is a free site that syncs with Connect - it allows you to temporarily chop up any activity into the nonuniform laps of your choice (either by time or distance)

    https://apps.garmin.com/apps/77c83bb1-925e-4323-a2ab-e97269c3cdb9?tid=0 

    Woodster said:
    I also have a Polar Pacer Pro which has automatic laps, which are separate from manual laps

    Yeah, I had exactly this feature in mind when I created the "splits" feature for this data field.

    I've seen a handful of ex-Polar users mentioning this over the years (DCR also mentioned it years ago).

    I kinda doubt that Garmin will ever implement a 2nd type of lap which is independent of the existing auto/manual laps. The closest thing they have is intervals, but Garmin intervals are implemented via categorization and grouping of individual laps (which means that you can't have a lap that overlaps 2 intervals or vice versa.).

  • 0 in reply to flowstate

    Off topic, but I just want to say that I've been using Lap+ since it came out. It was a disappointment coming to the 955 and finding that Lap+ couldn't work on it. I just couldn't find any alternatives that gave the features I wanted from Lap+. Then I found out half a year ago that I could sideload it onto the 955 using backups from my previous watches. Happy man again, haha. It would sure be great if you continued to update Lap+.

  • 0 in reply to reflecx

    Thanks for the kind words! Yeah, some of my CIQ apps (including Lap+) are fairly unique, but are also fairly niche. 

    Would you mind sharing which features you use in Lap+ that you can't find elsewhere? I'd also like to hear any criticisms or complaints.

    I'll start. (I actually use a sideloaded copy of Lap+ on my own FR955 haha.)

    Pros:

    - Lap list during activity is very useful (for me anyway)

    - Unique system of selecting metrics by combining 3 keywords still allows you to choose certain metrics that no other app provides (including the native data fields), such as "last lap max hr"

    Neutral:

    - 6 data fields per page is no longer the groundbreaking feature that it was in 2017

    Cons:

    - UI is kinda dated / unattractive

    - App doesn't take advantage of certain useful CIQ features, like native alerts/notifications, touch interaction and on-device settings

    - Switching between pages is clunky

    - cadence/HR background colouring doesn't look good in dark mode

    - no support for newer devices starting with the FR955 generation 

    - no support for power from Stryd 

    Personally I only really use Lap+ for the lap list now. For activity metrics, my main page is 8 native fields.

    With a little bit of work, I could port Lap+ to at least FR955 (and similar watches), but truly modernizing the app to address some of the points above would be a lot of work.

  • 0 in reply to flowstate

     your Lap+ app looks great - think people would love an updated version.  I've got a couple of apps for GAP-pacing and Intervals datafields ( search for Woodster ), the colour one uses a novel way of formatting the screens if you want to have a look - it's still in the early stages but for me does what I want when I'm switching between run and rest phases.  Thinking about making it trigger based on workout steps as it doesn't see the lap events when you've got a workout running yet.  Might even write a standalone app but will be a lot of work to set up clean-looking layouts manually. 

  • 0 in reply to Woodster

    Thanks for the feedback! I'll def put it on my wishlist.

    Woodster said:
    Might even write a standalone app but will be a lot of work to set up clean-looking layouts manually. 

    Tbh I'm not sure if this is worth the effort. In my experience, device apps as replacements for built-in activities don't do very well, except in very limited cases.

    Years ago, when I had an old Forerunner with no support for navigation, I used this great device app called dwMap, which recorded a run activity while providing navigation. It was really nice, but tbh it could never replace the built-in running profile as:

    - it was missing a lot of features compared to the built-in running profile 

    - the UI/UX was very sluggish (not the dev's fault, it was a very low-powered watch)

    I liked the app a lot, but as soon as I got a watch with built-in nav, I left it behind forever.

    Just look at the number of downloads for Dozen Run (popular CIQ data field) compared to device apps from the same dev which replace built-in activities.

    I mean, no device app could ever replicate all the built-in Run profile features, even if the dev had infinite time. CIQ simply doesn't allow it.

  • 0 in reply to flowstate

    I think the main feature in Lap+ that I need is that it has a lap list PLUS 6 data fields in one app. This is important for me as 955 only allows 2 custom data fields per activity. The other is what you have already mentioned - the metrics that no other app provides. 

  • 0 in reply to reflecx

    Hi, I've always used Lap+ on my two 945s and it was perfect!!! It also has the Max Heart Rate feature for each lap, which Garmin has always refused to implement. Now I run with a 965 on the left and a 955 on the right and I'd really like to go back to using Lap+!!