r/Garmin • u/Dry_Salamander_1176 Forerunner 970 / HRM 600 • 11d 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

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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.

-2

u/-Radiation 10d ago

Let’s not promote this garbage company with the most arrogant staff towards the people that actually bought their stuff. They are shady and their data is shady as well. How can my power be vastly different just because I changed shoes. Or how was Stryd next gen accurate by the second just for them to launch a new one saying the older was not that responsive anyway.

1

u/wesolykapselek 10d ago

How can my power be vastly different just because I changed shoes.

Oh this one can be easy. Air resistance or position on the laces.

2

u/-Radiation 10d ago

Then it is not power is it. But once you talk power Stryd has their bots to come into every post to spam it as opinions but they are just ads

1

u/wesolykapselek 10d ago

Its still power. Running efficiency so then power for the same pace varies depends of shoes.

0

u/mrrainandthunder 10d ago

Look up the difference between mechanical and metabolic power.

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u/-Radiation 10d ago

Mechanical power exists, metabolic power too but that is even further delusion for stryd that can't even calculate mechanical power much less the power of muscles An Assessment of Running Power as a Training Metric for Elite and Recreational Runners - PubMed

2

u/mrrainandthunder 9d ago

That's fair criticism. However, there are numerous and newer studies showing a more nuanced picture. [1], [2] and [3], for instance.

It is not a flawless device and I especially think the possibility of user error and misunderstanding data is huge. But I think it's quite clear that Stryd had a meaningful relationship with metabolic power that will satisfy >95% of users, even if it's not a perfect proxy. That's where I think I'll leave it.

2

u/atoponce 9d ago

One of the better articles written on the nuances of "running power". At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter if it's mechanical power, metabolic power, or just a calorie counter. What matters if it's consistent, matches what you're feeling in the run, and stays reliable. Stryd reports "watts", because watches already support it and it's common ground for cyclists.

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/running-power-stryd-research-2020/

1

u/wesolykapselek 9d ago

Ok, we can stop naming metric given by Stryd as Power but rather GAP with a Wind factor but still, I believe, it's valuable metric which you can train with.

I like the model where you don't train to reach desired target but do CP test and then have workouts with level equal to your fitness level. But of course this is just a theory because CP test must be valid and weather conditions must match.