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Cold Acclimation

G.

Hi,

Do I understand correctly that garmin doens't have Cold Acclimation, only heat ? 

What about running at negative celsius tempature or snow.

  • 0

    No, Garmin doesn't have cold acclimation. But then it's also worth noting that according to studies the real VO2max of people also decreases during winter in the cold regions, so for many people the VO2max would and should take a dip even if acclimation existed.

    I live in Finland and run during the winter, so I have some experience. Running in the snow is similar to running on a beach or other soft surface (if there's more than a centimeter of snow, anyway). When I run in such snow, I use the trail running activity with VO2max detection disabled, because there's no way the watch could estimate VO2max realistically when your pace depends almost entirely on the depth, hardness, and wetness of the snow. Also I've noticed that at least for me my HR will vary somewhat depending on whether I've nailed my clothing choice: If I wear too little, my HR goes up as the body tries to produce enough heat, if too much, then there's extra sweating and HR raise because of that.

    So all in all, I'd really much like Garmin to have cold acclimation on their watches, but I have a feeling that that's not coming soon because of all the variables involved.

  • 0 in reply to Bitti

    You are spot on. I live in southern Switzerland, but we get down to -10°C in the winter (thanks "global warming" Joy) and in the mid 30s in the summer, and I can totally confirm what you wrote.

  • 0 in reply to Bitti

    Yes sir. We got -15 now in Lithuania and lots of snow. It's freaking hars to run and all my stats are going downhill.. 

  • 0

    It is harder for a number of reasons when it is significantly below freezing, the more you do it it feels easier, likely there is some acclimation to the economy of running with too much clothes on, uneven/slippy surfaces, and also RPE adjustment for sure as you get used to the bitter cold air entering your lungs/throat.   Know all of these issues all too well in Minnesota often running in -15 to -30°C  .    After a long season of winter running, Definity get used to the poor footing and running with weighted clothes, but not significantly.  Along the same lines, Garmin could have a Trail Acclimation, based on how much trial running you've done on what type of  terrain!  would be neat!  (maybe use cadence irrgularity and elevation change? or high HR for slow pace as a trail difficulty score, ?  lol)

    Unlike heat training however, you will not get significantly faster/fitter running in the cold... by running in the cold or sitting outside in the cold.  Heat and altitude however are a different story.


    Highly recommend during adverse winter conditions (1kg of clothing... slippy ice or snow....) to set watch to not monitoring VO2max in the Trail Run Mode, and using that like Bitti suggests.  I do the same.