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Can someone explain Performance Condition in layman's term?

wfmcbrayer
over 3 years ago

During my training runs, I've noticed that my PC will start out +2, +3, +4, then steadily drop to a similar negative number as I tire. This I can understand. Yes, I get tired. However, this past Saturday, I ran a marathon. My PC *started* at -4 (in the first 2/3 of a mile), and declined to -11 by mile 15, staying at -11 for the remainder.

I've been wearing my 645 Music 24/7 since I got it in November, and have used it during every run. I haven't really paid attention to the PC, but it seems to have been consistent in the manner I described above. This last run seems to be starkly different. I felt I ran well during those first 15mi, I didn't really overly stressed/exerted. I'm not using a chest heart rate monitor, simply the wrist monitor in the watch.

Am I interpreting it incorrectly? Is it the watch monitor (ie I need the chest strap)? Is there an explanation for the -4 to -11 race "performance"?

Thanks,
Bill

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    Performance condition tells you how your performance in the current run goes against your average fitness level. If PC is negative, then the watch tells you that it was expecting you to be faster at your current heart rate. Assuming that heart rate measurement is correct, this usually means that you have a weaker day, or perhaps the ambient temperature is higher than normal, or the surface is non-optimal, or many other reasons. Of course, all of this falls apart when your heart rate measurement is inaccurate, which is often the case with optical hr sensors.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    Maybe this day you were nervous for the race and you Heartbeat was highly. Then the Garmin read this pace with X Heartbeat and the algoritm says that your forces are low.

  • 0 over 3 years ago

    the solution i got using garmin performance condition and vo2max is that it is comparing power or speed against hr(faster speed means more power exerted). it assumes that for you to get a positive performance condition, at certain hr, you should be running or pedaling harder than what it expect you to do. so if you run slow at a certain hr at a certain point in your race, it thinks you are tired and gives you negative value when in truth you are preserving energy for a later race. in other words, garmin whether in cycling or in running, if you are not doing intervals, it will think your training that day is garbage, excuse my language, and decredit it. 

    i think all in all garmin believes some portion of anaerobic activity is a must in a training to increase vo2max.

    but what do you know i think garmin is correct on that actually. and that race day was actually bad for your vo2max.