Independent training-watch research
We test what your watch claims about you.
Garmin gives you predictions, scores and advice. We compare them with what athletes actually did, then publish the evidence and its limits.
Free calculators
Start with a number you already know.
Example: a 20:00 5K - 5Kinput
- 20:00
- 10K
- 41:42
- Half marathon
- 1:32:00
- Marathon
- 3:11:49
Running · 1 min · Free
Race pace predictor
What could I run at another distance?
- You bring
- One race time
- You get
- Finish times and paces
Example: age 40, max 180 bpm (220 − age) - Zone 5
- 162–180
- Zone 4
- 144–162
- Zone 3
- 126–144
- Zone 2
- 108–126
- Zone 1
- 90–108
Running and Cycling · 1 min · Free
Heart-rate zones
Where does easy actually end?
- You bring
- Age, or max and resting heart rate
- You get
- Five zones on three models
Example: 2,800 m in a 12-minute Cooper run 51.351.351.351.3ml/kg/min
Point estimate. The tool shows the range around it.
Running · 2 min · Free
VO2 max estimator
How large is my aerobic engine?
- You bring
- One field test
- You get
- A VO2 max range
Original research
The watch said one thing. The data said another.
Race predictor
Every athlete’s prediction faded faster than the textbook model.
The median implied exponent was 1.131, not 1.06. The largest gap appeared between the half marathon and marathon.
Read the study
Solid line: Garmin-impliedDashed line: textbook22,422 prediction-days, 85 athletes
Popular questions
Keep reading
Reader-funded, in development
What your watch isn’t telling you
The practical version of the research, assembled into one handbook.