Use of a Garmin watch on the Ironman Run

Paul Hough

OK folks, please school this IM veteran on how you run the marathon with a Garmin if you aren't using a 910 or 920.  I've done 8 IMs so far - all using just my Ironman Timex watch.  I start it when the race starts and stop it when I cross the line - simple.   I know most of you use GPS on the run and have wondered if you think it helps...i.e., does it do any good to know you are behind your goal pace when there is nothing in the world that is going to change that fact?  And if it does help, are you leaving the watch in your T2 bag and putting it on there?  If so, how do you keep track of your total elapsed time or do you wear 2 watches?   I've always taken note of my time leaving T2 and I can spot check pace between mile markers if need be.  Another reason I haven't used one in the past is that my old Garmin running watch took too long to attain satellite lock.  My new 620 is instant so I'm debating on whether to use it at IM Louisville in a few weeks.  Please tell me how you do it!

Coach Rich

I ran with a 910 + Mio hr wrist strap. Had them in my go-bag and put them on, powered them up while I was running. The difference between the run split on the Garmin and my actual run split was about 1:30-2:00 or so. I ran primarily by HR and then watched pace and RPE at that HR target. I didn't have any form of total race time at all and I don't think it would have been useful, for me anyway: I swam my swim and had no idea of my swim split. I was pretty fast in T1, just kept moving. I knew my bike split from the 510 and I was 100% focused on running the best run I could. My per mile average run pace is almost exactly in line with my goal run pace.

I had no idea what my final time was/would be until I crossed the lined. I'm pretty sure I could not have done 2' faster to beat my '02 time, at least not on the run. I could have gone 2' faster on the bike, I had some messy admin time.

MattAaronson

In every race I've done I have my Garmin watch in my T2 bag in a Ziploc with my race belt and number. I hit the unlock button as I start running towards the T2 exit and usually have satellites before I cross the exit timing mat (at which point I press start). In a half-iron I show lap pace and HR and cadence on the screen. For the full ironman I just set the display for HR and cadence since I knew I'd be unable to fine-tune my pace. I did have another screen with total time and lap pace that I flipped to a few times but very rarely. Mostly my plan was to target 180 cadence and 150 HR. As it turned out in the race I was ok on HR but my cadence was garbage and I couldn't do any better, so it wasn't too helpful other than remind me the run was not going according to plan.

Bruce Thompson

@ Paul...I wear a Garmin 920XT and I only really use it for the run. If it is a wetsuit swim, I'll wear it during the swim underneath my wetsuit so it doesn't get kicked off.  For the bike, I only use the bike feature as back up to my Garmin 500 on the bike (Garmin 500 has failed in the past, hence back up using the 920).  I already have it set to run mode, and simple hit the start button as I cross the mat leaving T2.  I have the following fields on display 1 - HR, current pace, avg pace, overall time.  On display 2, I have distance, max HR, avg pace again.  I really only pay attention to HR and current pace.  For a non-wetsuit swim, I have the watch in my bike bag and put it on in T1.  I don't worry about my overall time during the race.  The swim will be what it is, I have time on my bike computer, but I really need that watch on the run.

Tom Glynn

I use a 910 and pick it up in T2. I find data very helpful as I tend to zone out and don't notice subtle changes in my running. Cadence is a big one for me. When it drops below 90, my form is getting sloppy. Also, with HR, I can tell pretty quickly if it's dropping and I need to pick up the pace. I watch pace, but it can be rather demoralizing if you're fading

Al Truscott

I wear a Fenix during bike and run. On the bike, it is a back-up PM head unit. On the run my metrics are, in order: RPE, cadence, HR, (pace). Meaning, I don't really use the pace data to drive my performance. The Fenix provides cadence all by itself, but the newish Garmin HR strap also senses cadence.

I would think with your decades of running + 8 IMs, that you have RPE locked in and you should just continue to use that. If you want to wear a Garmin to have after-the-fact data to peruse, go for it. Helpful especially if your results are not what you wanted; looking at HR and pace over time can provide some food for thought after the race.

For me, its very very tempting during an IM run, to slack off on cadence. Having the number in my face is a good whip early and late in the run. The HR is a good whip during the 6-8 miles as well. After that, HR is simply data; it's the RPE and cadence which are my prime drivers.

ezellrh

I use my 910 to track the swim, back up my 500, and then display HR and current pace on the run. The pace is only a 'hey, this is what you are doing' data point because my IM run is whatever it is, regardless of what I've done in training or any 'predictor' says it could be. The major reason I use it is for post race analysis.  Also, total time is what it is, I don't try to track it (or do the triathlete math for XX:XX:XX finishing time) during the day.  Way too hard for my feeble mind (even with a master's in statistics).

Paul Hough

Thanks to all for the inputs. I kind of like Coach Rich's method of executing each segment without regard to total elapsed time. I may try that for Louisville and just use my Edge 500 on the bike and Garmin 620 on the run. I've never used cadence or HR so I'll probably skip on that. At least that way I can see how bad I suck. I want to get away from fall IMs since the summer training here is too hard - especially on the run - but there aren't many early season choices anymore.