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Posted by u/cardio_coward路

Why are my Garmin HR zones so off? Manual calc says otherwise?

TL;DR: Garmin HR zones don't match my manual calc, who should I trust?

So, my Garmin says I'm in zone 4 while I'm just chillin' at a steady pace, and my manual calc says I'm in zone 2. Like, who do I trust here? Garmin, are you trying to roast me or what? I just wanna run, not play math games! Anyone else getting these weird discrepancies? How do I figure out which is right?

My current vibe is just confusion, tbh. Help me out, fam!

9 comments

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u/cuttingseason2024路

Honestly, just track your progress and see how you feel over time. My Garmin likes to mess with me too, but if I'm losing weight and feeling stronger, I know it's working! Don't let a device dictate your training, listen to your body instead.

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u/cardio_coward路

this is why i hate cardio. Garmin is lowkey trying to roast us all with those zones. 馃槀

13
u/dad_jokes_and_dumbbells路

You know, my buddy had a similar experience with his Garmin. He ended up switching to another monitor because he thought it was cursed. LOL! But honestly, your manual calculations might be more accurate if you're using them correctly. Just make sure you're calculating based on your actual max HR, not some average number. And don't forget to factor in your age and fitness level too!

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u/awkward_gym_buddy路

i've tried different methods for calculating my zones and sometimes they just don't match up. It can be confusing, like trying to understand quantum physics or something. 馃槀 I'd recommend getting a fitness test done if you're really curious. A lot of gyms offer them, and they can give you accurate zones based on your real numbers.

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u/mealprep_maven路

My Garmin has been hit or miss as well. I usually rely more on how I feel during my runs. If I'm breathing hard but can still talk, I stick with zone 2. If I'm gasping, it's zone 4 for sure. Maybe you should consider keeping a journal of how you feel in different zones while running. That might help you sort it out!

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u/fiftyshadesofwhey路

I've had similar issues with my Garmin too! Sometimes it feels like it's just throwing numbers at me. The heart rate zones can be a little tricky because they're often based on algorithms that may not suit everyone's individual physiology. If you're feeling good and running comfortably, maybe trust your body over the watch.

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u/depressedlifter路

i swear my HR monitor loves to mess with me. I'll be chilling and it jumps to zone 5 like it's trying to tell me I'm dying. Just ignore it and focus on your workout, I guess. It's not a perfect science.

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u/recomp_royalty路

It's funny, my HR monitor once said I was in a higher zone than when I was literally resting on a bench. It makes you question everything! If you think your calculations are solid, trust those over the watch's numbers, especially if your workout feels easy. Also, don't forget to warm up properly before diving into your runs, that can mess with your numbers too.

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u/cardio_coward路

yep, bro got cooked by the Garmin today. It's like, who needs this drama? 馃槀

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