Looks like the new fw 4.7 now added support to use footpod when outdoor with GPS. That's a great new addition. Garmin, please keep the new additional features coming. Maybe bring back Virtual partner, add a new data page :-)
The 235 has the built in accelerometer... Why can't pace be derived from that instead when GPS is poor?
It can, and it is I believe if you don't have a footpod.
For me, I find it less desirable though as when I have to end up on a treadmill my pace goes to heck every time I pick up my water bottle or towel or scratch an itch.
Hard to hit a specific pace as GPS has me all over the place (maybe 1 second sample will help?). I need to setup a range instead as the watch is always beeping and buzzing me.
Yep, instant-pace with GPS sucks. That's why I prefer having a footpod even when running outdoors. I don't swap shoes around so it's not an issue to mvoe a footpod.
Just an FYI - I turned this feature on and had some weird results. About 1.5 miles into my run I noticed that distance wasn't being recorded. I paused the activity, fiddled with the footpod settings again and this seemed to do the trick. If you look at my activity profile, the GPS track is there, but again, it didn't count it...weird.
What I like about the footpod is that the pace track is so much more smooth.
Makes sense. Do you use 1 sec sample? What about GPS+GLONASS?
I use GPS+GLONASS although it probably doesn't make a difference with 99% of the runs I do.
I use 1 second recording, but changing from smart to 1 second probably won't help much because the watch is still sampling GPS data every second when using smart recording it's just that it only writes it to the FIT file at something like 3-7 seconds instead of every second which won't affect your instant pace.
I like the Hanson workouts (I have the 5x1k on the schedule for this evening) and while I've used the those the last couple of cycles I haven't done the full plan yet. I've got until Monday to figure out if I will this time or not. I'd be working in the same pace ranges as you or maybe a little faster as I think I should be good to go for <3:40 this fall.
Nice to see that feature back (it's in the Footpod settings for those who haven't found it yet) and I see a manual calibration can be done on top of auto-calibration. I'll leave the setting as it is and give it a try. Getting a smooth pace will be an improvement over the "all over the place" GPS version. Although I suspect that previously there was some kind of mix...as I found out one day when I put the pod in my pocket as my laces were hitting it and making a racket.
as I found out one day when I put the pod in my pocket as my laces were hitting it and making a racket.
I loop the top plastic part of my laces back through the side laces at the top as it annoys me too... doesn't bother my foot and the sound is way better. Don't hear it at all with music in my ears. ;)
Thanks for the tip ! For some reason the noise has been less annoying lately, not at all in fact, possibly because I've moved the footpod to the very front of my shoes...
Anyway I gave the footpod a try yesterday and I noticed a few things :
- auto-calibration was at 106.80 and way off
- played around with the factor and 103 was ok at Easy pace, around 5'/km but not at LT pace (~4'05") so I set it at 102.5
- my preferred data screen, RunnerwindowFR updates the pace instantly and shows the actual numbers
- on my "lap screen" I replaced HR by "Instant Pace" and noticed that it showed the closest 0 or 5 pace, not great
- like on the FR610 the recorded pace is the GPS pace so it's still all over the place...except on GC so I suppose it's better than nothing.
Overall, well dunno, since I always run with my footpod I suppose it's a + ;-)
I've not had any issues with instant speed via the GPS but have been using my footpad with my 235 from day one for cadence as i run a fair bit with a Thule trailer and my kids so i might give it a go anyway.
