Garmin Coach Half Marathon – Week 13

Week 13 of my half marathon training with Garmin Coach is a short one. In the end I only did two runs this week, I was very busy, tired and a bit disorganized. I could’ve gotten in an extra run if I had planned this a little better, but I didn’t. Still 7 weeks to go till my first half marathon!

Training 44 – Tired run

I skipped this week’s tired run as I’m still only doing three runs a week.

Training 45 – Speed repeats

Another one of Amy’s speed repeats and it’s the same one as it’s been for the past weeks. Ten sets of 30 seconds fast (6:57 – 7:16 min/km) and 30 seconds recovery. Since all of the workouts in a week have been repeating itself for the past weeks, it appears there is a bug in the Garmin Coach plans. Through the Garmin Coach Runners Community on Facebook I’ve been seeing many other users reporting the same issue. It has been reported to Garmin and they seem to be investigating the problem.

I wanted to compare last week’s speed repeats with this week’s so I put all the interval times below. The fast interval’s were definitely more consistent and even though this meant that I had to walk part of two recovery’s, I think it was a better workout. I’m pretty sure the third interval didn’t register correctly as I was definitely not running my recovery faster as the fast part of the interval. Overall, I’m happy with my progress.

This week
1. 6:10 min/km – recovery: 8:11 min/km
2. 5:49 min/km – recovery: 8:42 min/km
3. 7:15 min/km – recovery: 7:07 min/km (?)
4. 5:31 min/km – recovery: 8:12 min/km
5. 5:24 min/km – recovery: 8:34 min/km
6. 5:23 min/km – recovery: 9:45 min/km
7. 5:28 min/km – recovery: 13:22 min/km
8. 5:29 min/km – recovery: 8:20 min/km
9. 5:30 min/km – recovery: 8:41 min/km
10.5:29 min/km – recovery: 9:39 min/km

Last week
1. 7:14 min/km – recovery: 8:32 min/km
2. 6:11 min/km – recovery: 7:48 min/km
3. 6:22 min/km – recovery: 9:19 min/km
4. 6:31 min/km – recovery: 8:04 min/km
5. 6:16 min/km – recovery: 9:05 min/km
6. 5:47 min/km – recovery: 9:47 min/km
7. 6:09 min/km – recovery: 8:33 min/km
8. 5:49 min/km – recovery: 8:38 min/km
9. 6:07 min/km – recovery: 8:04 min/km
10. 4:39 min/km – recovery: 9:19 min/km

Training 46 – Easy run

I didn’t want to run today. I felt tired, stressed and sooo ready for my upcoming vacation. I went anyway and I was treated to some magical views again. The sunrise, combined with the fog in the open fields (like last week!) made me glad I got out and went for my run. Even thought the temperatures have been rising in my area and there is another heat wave coming up, the mornings are still comfortable at 12°C. Perfect running conditions for me. I ran 40 minutes at 8:18 min/km.

Training 47 – Run

I had to skip this week’s long run due to a lack of time. Not advisable, but with a bachelor party on Saturday and a flight to Croatia on Sunday for a week vacation, there wasn’t much room for a long run. I could’ve (should’ve?) fit one in during the week, but I was feeling stressed and tired and didn’t even think of this option until it was too late. I figured I’d reschedule it to Monday, but I am now writing this from a camping in Croatia with lots of hills and way too warm temperatures. There will be no long run this week. I probably shouldn’t have skipped my tired run earlier this week though.

Summary

With zero change in my training plan from last week and two skipped runs one of which my long run, I’m calling bullshit on this confidence level increase since last week. I’ll be adding some short runs in the Croatian hills and heat this coming week and my next long run will be back home, hopefully on Monday. I still have a few weeks for my preparation and if Garmin doesn’t fix the problem with the Coach plans, I’ll be manually adjusting my training for the coming weeks.

Read how I did last week on the Garmin Coach half marathon plan or start from the beginning at week 1 of my half marathon training.

8 Responses

Sandra August 27, 2019 at 20:34

Enjoy your week off – you will feel so refreshed when you get back, and you will enjoy an extra boost- maybe the Garmin Coach also needs to rest their batteries!

- MyRunnersLifeAuthor August 28, 2019 at 19:32
  
  Haha, I think Garmin Coach does! The legs are not getting much rest so far. Lots of walking and managed one short run so far. But, it feels good to ‘relax’ this way!
  
Erik Nilsson August 30, 2019 at 09:28

Maybe your VO2max estimate increase after the speed repeats (it tends to adjust upwards with intervall training). That would increase the confidence level. 😉

- MyRunnersLifeAuthor August 30, 2019 at 13:01
  
  Interesting thought, but I’m not convinced the confidence level is linked to the VO2Max. My VO2Max has gone down after some runs while the confidence level is only increasing as I progress. I’m open for discussion though 🙂
  
M August 30, 2019 at 12:53

Hi, thanks for your reviews! I’m also doing Amy’s half marathon program and I wonder if you have had any rest weeks during the program? I’m now on week 9 and I think it’s just too much for anyone to not have a week without four (or any) training sessions. Feels a bit unprofessional, but how do you think? I have paused the program a couple of times to get a real rest, but I’m not sure if every Garmin-user recognizes his/her tiredness on time.

- MyRunnersLifeAuthor August 30, 2019 at 13:04
  
  Hi M! From what I gathered from the Facebook community I think Coach Greg does have lower mileage weeks in his plan. I really can’t speak from experience as I’ve messed around with the plan so much all logic is out the window. I agree there should be some rest periods in the plan especially for the longer plans.
  
Lenny September 4, 2019 at 15:51

Hi. You seem to know a lot about Garmin coach. Hopefully you can help me with a question. I don’t understand my stride/interval workout. It goes like this:
1. Warm up (15 min)
2. Other, push lap button.
3. Run 30 sek, 45 sek rear. spm 150-200. X10 times.
4. Cool Down.

I don’t understand step 2, other – push lap button. What should I do before I push the lap button? It must be something, other wise it would just jump straight to step 3?

Would really appreciate some help!

- MyRunnersLifeAuthor September 4, 2019 at 16:06
  
  Hi Lenny! The only thing you need to do between the warm-up and your first interval is get ready to go. Make sure there are no traffic lights or other slowing factors in your way and then go. That’s it!

My Runner's Life