MAY 2024 Monthly Running Challenge

daria0919 · May 2

I have some curious questions about the Garmin watches and all the statistics. I used to only wear my watch for runs over these past few months, but since my race April 20th I decided to wear my watch 24/7.

It often says my body battery is quite low.

It often says my pulse ox is low, sometimes even in the 80s.

It says my VO2 max is low.

For those of you using Garmin watches, I’m curious…. Do you feel the stats you get are accurate?

I had been using a Fitbit daily before these last couple of weeks and the Fitbit seemed to think that for my age and weight I was in pretty good shape. The Garmin info now makes me wonder…..

Scott6255 · May 2

@daria0919 I'm not convinced the Garmin watches are precisely accurate, but they are good for relative measurements. Meaning, if I were to put your watch on and go for a run, it may give widely different values for the metrics compared to my watch. But since you are the only one wearing it, it should be consistent for you. And if you start seeing trends (up or down) for the metrics you are interested in, then it should be a sign of improving or worsening.

Another hot day, so another 5 TM miles. Maybe get out in the morning.

ContraryMaryMary · May 2

@daria0919, Garmin relies on algorithms so can be wildly inaccurate at predictions. To get an accurate heart rate, your watch has to be pretty tight (too tight for me to wear comfortably all day), and even then, it still can be inaccurate, but as @scott6255 says, as long as it’s consistent, it’s effective for tracking (and that could be consistently high or low). As for V02 max, this is definitely inaccurate, the only way to get your V02 max is to do a proper test. For my own peace of mind, I switch most of Garmin’s metrics off.

Talking of Garmin, add me to the list of people who hate the update. The one thing I want big and detailed at the top - the run I just did - isn’t an option. It also tells me I have no data from the past week, when quite clearly I do! Grrr.

My husband had a work do last night so left his car at the office, which meant I had to run him in this morning, which meant I got to run from Takapuna Beach to Milford Beach, which is a lovely wee 10k loop. And pretty flat too - well certainly compared to my local. And the sun was shining (it’s been raining a lot in the past few days and is again now) so I had a very pleasant hour out.

A couple of pics of Milford Beach, including a yachty one just for @7lenny7

quilteryoyo · May 3

[Welcome @katrose1985 . Your little boy is cute. Sounds like you have a great plan to get back into running. You really don't want to do too much too soon.

@tarun_yadavA

regarding the romantic weekend. My trip is to MI for a cousin's wedding. I'm driving myself, my mom, and two aunts. It should be interesting. The wedding is on a Friday. We are going to spend the weekend and site see.

Great race report @TheMrWobbly . Sorry to hear that the start and pre-race didn't go as planned, but sounds like you did great during the race, keeping yourself together and just keeping moving forward. Did someone run with a REAL refrigerator on their back? I just can't imagine. Congratulations on finishing it with a run. Love the selfie of your son with you in the background. Glad they were so supportive!

@martaindale I hope you get back to normal soon and are able to smell and taste again!

@7lenny7 I'm not good with any change to technology, so I'm not a fan of the Garmin Connect Home page either. I now have to search for the things that I really want to see. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but I did like the old format better.

Very pretty place for a run @ContraryMaryMary !

Nice running everyone. I've been really busy the last couple of days, so just now catching up. I'll try to post my activities for the month so far after I get home from work tomorrow.

kgirlhart · May 3

May Goal: 115 Miles

5/1: 6.03 miles
5/2: 4.11 miles

10.14/115 miles completed for May

More storms came through last night. I got to bed late, then was awakened by really loud thunderstorms around 12:30. Luckily there was no hail, but our power went off at 2:05 and didn't come back on until 5:28. So I was not very rested this morning and I just had time for 4 miles. It was a pretty good run though and I saw lots of puddles, but no real damage.

chris_in_cal · May 3

Got in my 1Mile (at 18"59). A two day streak. I felt more comfortable.

TheMrWobbly · May 3

@daria0919 I'm with @Scott6255 and @ContraryMaryMary on the garmin front. I wear mine 23.9/7 (don't ask me why I take a waterproof watch off in a hot tub!). All the numbers are a guide and the trend is key.

This morning my body battery is 37/100 and my HRV is unbalanced according to garmin. I feel fine and it didn't stop my cycle commute though I will downgrade my planned half this weekend to something shorter if the stats haven't improved.

We all bought a garmin to give us this data so give it some credence, just don't take it as absolute gospel.

tarun_yadavA · May 3

Morning all.
Got in 5.25M (at 10"06).

@chris_in_cal way to go! Keep going! Streaks are addictive! Start small... You got this! 💪🏽

@quilteryoyo oooh nice! Enjoy your weekend road trip to Michigan - and the wedding!

@ContraryMaryMary oh wow! Real close! How comes you were here? Student? Just qualified teacher? (Lots of kiwi teachers here that teach younger kids!)

emptydog · May 3

Good morning.
At the lake again this morning. It was tougher going today maybe because this is my 4th day in a row. I have fallen out of shape quite a bit. The temperature was cooler, but there was no wind and it was quite pleasant.

5/1 - 3.13 Miles. Lakefront Park. 50F, Very foggy.
5/2 - 3.01 Miles. Lakefront Park. 61F, Clear.
5/3 - 3.07 Miles. Lakefront Park. 47F, Sunny.

Teresa502 · May 3

May 1 – 5.10 miles
May 3 – 5.07 miles
10.17 miles/80 miles goal

It was a nice 57F for this morning’s run. I love that everything is back green and the leaves are back on the trees!

Don't be too jealous of my down hill. I had to come back up it at the end of my run.

@Daria0919 – I don’t pay a lot of attention to the Garmin stats. Although I wear it 24/7, I only use it to track my walking and running. I don’t use it when I do my weight training workouts; therefore, I don’t think it gets all the data it needs to measure my fitness level. I do find it interesting to see my pulse rate. I know some people in our group have mentioned their pulse rate trending higher when they were sick or not feeling well.

Beautiful place to run @ContraryMaryMary! Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Scott6255 · May 3

Got out this morning for a 10K. It was hot and sticky due to the overnight rain (or just May in Texas I guess).

yirara · May 3

01.05 2.1km 16min 7:49/km - tired run
03.05 4.0km 33min 8:11/km - slow

6.09km/67km - 0.4km behind target

Running is getting a bit better again, but my legs, and more annoyingly, my chest and throat muscles cramp up. Is bad for breathing to be honest. Lets see if things go better tomorrow.

ContraryMaryMary · May 3

tarun_yadavA wrote: »

@ContraryMaryMary oh wow! Real close! How comes you were here? Student? Just qualified teacher? (Lots of kiwi teachers here that teach younger kids!)

Just the usual Kiwi OE - most of us head to the UK for a couple of years in our 20s - it’s a rite of passage or something. Probably to do with the fact we’re so far from everywhere else that if we want to explore Europe we have to move there.

I worked in admin in the city, earning enough to travel around a bit. Still so much I want to see. So many things to do. Not enough time. Not enough money!

Mari33a · May 3

01/05 3.57 miles
03/5 3.57 miles
Total 7.14/50 miles
I really struggled with this & don’t know why. I was stiff and forced. I did bike yesterday evening & yoga this morning & was well hydrated. It’s bugging me

daria0919 · May 3

Nice start to May @emptydog!

Thanks @Scott6255, @ContraryMaryMary, @TheMrWobbly and @Teresa502 for your input regarding the Garmin stats. Prior to April 20th I only used the Garmin to time my long runs once a week. Then April 20th was my 10K and I continued wearing the watch since that morning’s race. The stats were based on only long runs and only a bit over a week of regular 24/7 data. Now that it’s been a few more days I see the stats settling down. I think the low readings were related to the fact that I had only used the watch for higher heart rate runs and not the rest and sleep times as well.

The good thing is the heart rate data has been accurate from what I can tell, so I think if I keep wearing the watch a bit longer the stats will be more accurate.

Got in 2.35 miles this evening. Temperature was in the low 70s with a breeze. Rain is coming, so the humidity was a 70% and rain should start around midnight.

I’ve got a 5K Sunday morning supporting “Girls on the Run.” It’ll probably be in the rain.

Nice runs all! Great start to May!

@martaindale I hope recovery is going well.

Keep at it @yirara - it will get easier.

Have a great weekend all!

quilteryoyo · May 4

Glad you didn't have any storm damage @kgirlhart . I hope all the other TX folks are okay too with all the flooding and storms.

Nice running @emptydog . You'll get back in shape in no time.

Great run @Teresa502 . Love the picture. Too bad it can't be down hill both ways.

Hot and sticky running already @Scott6255 ? I'm not ready for that yet. You did great!

That doesn't sound good @yirara . I hope you feel better soon.

Sorry it was a struggle today @mari333a . Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

@daria0919 Great running. Good luck with your 5K Sunday. I have a friend that used to be a "Girls on the Run" leader. Great charity to run for.

quilteryoyo · May 4

May 1 - Walked 1.00 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - 3h41m13s tennis (2.14 miles)
May 2 - Walked 1.00 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - Planted mom's garden - 2h28m25s
May 3 - Walked 1.00 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - Gym 31 min

3.00/50.00 mile goal

Catching up on my posting. Wednesday, I played tennis in the morning with a group of ladies that are much more into socializing than tennis, so wasn't a ton of exercise. I came home, did a mile walk, and then played a league tennis match in the evening. We lost, but since the team we played doesn't want to go to the TN State tournament, my team is going to go. It's May 17-19 in a nearby town - probably have to stay there since games can be at 8 am and who wants to get up at 4 am to exercise/play. Wait. Who am I talking to. Of course most of you would so do that....and do almost daily.

Yesterday, mom and I planted her garden. We did most of it in the morning/early afternoon and then finished in the evening with the seedlings that we didn't want to set out in the hot sun. During our break, I walked a mile.

We set out some tomatoes, cabbage, bell peppers, sweet potatoes, zucchini, 2 rows of beans and 4.5 rows of corn. She is still going to plant okra, watermelon, cucumbers, and more tomatoes. There may be something else I'm not thinking of.

Today, I went to the gym, worked at daycare in the baby room, and then came home and walked a mile on the driveway. Just didn't feel like doing more.

Not a stellar start to May as far as mileage goes, but still very active.

chris_in_cal · May 4

Got in my 1Mile (at 17"07 ). streaking at day 3

kgirlhart · May 4

May Goal: 115 Miles

5/1: 6.03 miles
5/2: 4.11 miles
5/3: 6.02 miles

16.16/115 miles completed for May

I ran 6 miles this morning. It was 68°F with 100% humidity. It was a pretty good run though. It may be rainy this weekend, so I'm not sure if I will be able to get a long run in or not.

katrose1985 · May 4

My 7 year old rode his bike alongside me this time! I was able to break into a walk at the 1 mile mark and he says “mom you can totally run 2!” So I did!!!

May miles:

Run-3/15
Walk-3/15

I just wanted to thank you all for your inspiration today!

MAY 2024 Monthly Running Challenge

Replies

Categories