13 weeks ago I started my Garmin Coach 5K plan together with Coach Greg and my Garmin Vivoactive 3. It has been a journey. This article will focus on what I learned and gained from this training plan to help you figure out if it’s something for you.
I’ve already written a lot about Garmin Coach, so check it out:
- What is Garmin Coach? Introduction to Garmin Coach.
- Garmin Coach Tips on setting up the Garmin Coach plan
- A guide to help you decide which Garmin Coach to choose
- Garmin Coach plans 5k, 10k and half marathon in detail
- Weekly updates on my 5K plan (finished)
- The end result of my Garmin Coach 5K plan
- Weekly updates on my half marathon plan (October 2019)
- Garmin Coach FAQ
Accountability
This has been the biggest plus for me regarding this training plan and it’s something that most training plans don’t have: accountability. Every time I performed a workout well the Garmin Coach confidence level increased. Whenever I didn’t do well or skipped a workout, Garmin Coach was ruthless and the confidence level dropped. This gave me just that little extra motivation to get out of bed and go for my run. I couldn’t disappoint Coach Greg, could I?
Comfort
Or laziness. The training plan provides a no research solution to running with a training plan. The Garmin Connect app will show you which workouts to do and when. You are even able to reschedule workouts based on your personal schedule (or mood). Having a plan and not needing to think about this myself was really helpful in getting myself out of bed every morning.
Adaptability
This training plan adapts it’s workouts based on your input beforehand and your output during the training. You will only be able to see the planned workouts for one week up front and your future workouts might change if your efforts are below your virtual coach’s expectations.
Sometimes life just happens, you get busy, sick or simply aren’t able to go for your regular run as consistently as you’d like. When that happens Garmin Coach advises you through it’s confidence level if the goal you set is still achievable or if you should consider rescheduling your goal race and/or time. You can make these changes during your training plan without losing your progress and it will affect the calculated confidence level.
Hi, I’m almost half way through a 13 week coach Greg half marathon plan with an ambitious (for Me) 1:38. 13 weeks was the minimum it would allow when setting up the plan.
I’ve never dared to miss a session as I don’t want the negative consequences from coach Greg so this has helped me focus training better than ever before.
7 weeks before I can see the final result so all my trust is resting with coach Greg.
Love the way the app adds the training session to the watch and is genuinely keeping me motivated.
I know how you feel! Don’t want to disappoint the coach!
I was surprised by this review. I thought the 5K training plan (coach Amy) would be great for me, as I am returning to running after more than a year off due to surgery and I am sub-optimal shape. I was pretty honest in my set up, with a goal of run/walk and just to “finish” a 5K. My training plan wasn’t the least bit adaptive, it just kept adding intensity each week, even when I struggled through and never really completed the full running intervals from the previous week. This just comes off as a training plan that I could pull off the web or a book that just increases time and distance, no matter how you are performing. I am going to try the Galloway half-marathon, since he actually embraces the run/walk method and I would rather do slow distance than shorter and faster. Maybe that will work out better.
Not being a runner I thought I would try the Coach Amy plan to eventually run 5k. On my second outing I was expected to run 3 miles ( I have my phone set to miles rather than km). I thought I was building up to this distance rather than running it immediately. This evening I’m supposed to be doing a ‘tempo run’, only my 4th outing. This consists of .5 mile warm up, 1 mile in 8 minutes and .5 mile cool down. Not too difficult, but never in a million years will I be able to run a mile in 8 minutes as a beginner, and an old bird at that!! Not sure it’s for me.
Hi Jackie! It sounds like you’ve selected a time goal in your setup. If you do that, the algorithm will assume you can already run the distance and are looking to improve your time on that distance. Remove your time goal if possible or start the plan again and it should build up a lot slower.