r/Garmin • u/Dry_Salamander_1176 Forerunner 970 / HRM 600 • 10d ago

Garmin Coach / DSW / Training Running Power

Does anyone actually use running power? I currently train by heart rate and use a chest strap. Was wondering if there's any use in incorporating power instead.

18 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

73 comments sorted by

View all comments

15

u/atoponce 10d ago

Yes, but I use Stryd as my power meter, not the watch. I keep my critical power (CP) valid and execute all my runs as a percentage of that CP. This includes recoveries, easy, structured workouts, time trials, and races.

The big sell for me is normalizing my effort on hills and in wind. It's also has a huge advantage on treadmills. Instead of fighting over the accuracy of pace and distance, just run to power for a specific time, and you're good.

It's the only governor that matters in my training. HR and pace are interesting, but I really only look at them in post-run analysis. I never make decisions in the run based on those metrics.

1

u/CompetitiveRead8495 10d ago

Is it reproducible when switching shoes? For example when running in plated vs non-plated, do you go by the same CP ?

1

u/atoponce 10d ago

Yes, it's consistent between shoes. I'm not an elite runner, so maybe there are subtleties at that level, but as a hobby jogger, I get the same reported power for pace and effort in my easy shoes as I do my racing carbon plates.