DSW vs Garmin Coach training plan

A Garmin Coach plan will start as a beginner plan, even if you just finished a PB the day before. It is using your average running speed, your running volume in miles and then your time goal to be customized. Most plans if not all also start with a benchmark run. This is (probably) used to evaluate the level of confidence in you reaching your time goal. For example, Jeff's plan use a "magic mile" workout to evaluate your fitness during the plans. As you saw, Garmin Coach plans have an upper limit for the target pace (around 7mn/mile if I remember correctly).

DSW workouts use your Garmin training metrics (VO2 Max, training load, focus, readiness, recovery, etc.) to select a workout and assign a target (HR or pace). Therefore yesterday's PB will be taken into account when you add your event and set up your race plan.

If you are a beginner or intermediate looking at less than average paces, I would recommend using GarminCoach. Videos and tips can be helpful.

If you are trained runner looking at middle of the pack paces and higher, DSW will be good enough to train you and avoid over training, but you have to make sure your training metrics are correct. In particular, make sure your threshold pace and your Max HR are correct.

If you are an advanced runner and looking for a training edge, you would probably prefer a customized training plan from a coach for your level and age, on a platform like Training Peaks, Runna or Coach Parry, for exemple. But this is not free, by far...

I have been using a Garmin Coach Plan for Cycling and done 9 workouts.

One thing I like a lot is the Workout Schedule is stable for 7 to 10 days. You can easily see the plan in the App or the Coach widget.

The future DSW workouts seem to change every day. I.e. if I look out a few days and see some intervals I like, then by the time that day arrives the workout changes even though I did everything planned.

4423135 said:

The future DSW workouts seem to change every day.

Yes they are recalculated every day and will change depending your training metrics. This is the key benefit: if you go too hard, or not hard enough, they will change. If you decide to do another workout, or skip a workout, etc. they will adapt.

This is convenient if you are an older athlete prioritizing recovery and strength workout like you should. Although you might still see a suggestion, you might be better off not doing it.

Thanks for the answers!

Etupes25 said:

A Garmin Coach plan will start as a beginner plan, even if you just finished a PB the day before. It is using your average running speed, your running volume in miles and then your time goal to be customized.

Hm so you suggesting to revert back to DSW in this case?

Etupes25 said:

Therefore yesterday's PB will be taken into account when you add your event and set up your race plan.

Thats the thing, I didn't deliberately setup a training plan earlier this year, I only added the event to the calendar and was positively surprised when on my next run DSW said that we start the Base Phase ...

Let me rephrase my question/concern here: the event is in in ~7 weeks and I'm afraid by my (accidental) switch from DSW to Garmin (Run) Coach that my training is nullified and I start fromt he beginning as you mentioned :-/

(Looking back I should have started with Run Coach from the very beginning I assume?)

Maybe I misunderstood. I thought you started a Garmin Coach training plan (with a coach like Jeff, Amy or Greg).

if you did, just leave the training plan and go back to the DSW.

if you have deleted any Jeff/Amy/Greg plan, and I you have a primary event as a race, the DSW will now target that event.

Garmin has renamed the previous Garmin Coach Plans and the DSW Race Plans, but they are still there.

Yes I believe I setup a Race Event training plan and not one of the coaches.

Etupes25 said:

if you did, just leave the training plan and go back to the DSW.

Since I didn't, but did race event instead, should I still stay on Coach plan or DSW? (Sry for being so pendantic about that, really dont want to mess up my training schedule last minute :( )

Etupes25 said:

if you have deleted any Jeff/Amy/Greg plan

Not that I'm aware off..

Etupes25 said:

you have a primary event as a race, the DSW will now target that event.

Yes this was my "training plan"/schedule before I switched to the coach mode.

So to summarize, better to revert back to DSW?

Yes. If you started a new training plan, but not a Garmin Coach (a la Jeff etc) the main drawback is that the periodiization will be reset (base, build phases etc).

You are better off following the DSW at this point.

Can you exit the Coach plan and keep your event in the calendar as a primary race?

Etupes25 said:

You are better off following the DSW at this point.

Can you exit the Coach plan and keep your event in the calendar as a primary race?

So I just quit the coach plan and it asked me to keep the event and train for it or to remove it from the calendar. I choose to keep it. Then I resynced my watch (multiple times) and I see the plan is gone. But when I go to Run and want to start it, the watch prompted me with "Base phase" and the suggested workout appear to be the same as with the previous active plan (today 30min base, tomorrow long run).. I have the feeling this doesn't sound right.. should I wait until tomorrow if DSW reappears?

In any case I will do the long run for sure tomorrow.

I think it was the right choice to keep the event. Deleting it would bring back non-race specific DSW. Adding it back later would start a base phase for sure.

i was hoping that deleting the plan would not restart from the base but it seems there is no way to avoid starting essentially a new plan.

The silver lining is that the DSW will still reflect your latest training metrics and fitness, even if the periodization is reset.

I believe I mixed up the "Base" with the "Build" phase. Checking the training plan for DSW says I'm in Build phase.

Also now I can retrace the way I ended up on the Garmin Coach: there is a menu item in the watch saying "View in Garmin Connect App" which then leads to the Garmin Coach on the phone and ofc there is no plan yet, hence I created it back then... doing it now (but dont finish it) also prompts me with a screen of daily running routine with some avg weekly distance and pace prepopulated - is it taken from DSW?

So does it mean, the coach is also in Build phase? But then why it reduced the base run from 40mins to 30mins or is it only my perception and it was like this the entire time (Idk how to check and ofc cannot remember).. the last runs I did was 3x 40mins base last week..

So the recommendation is still then to follow DSW and not do the coach plan right?

(And thanks for the answers, really appreciate the help)