A smartwatch has become essential kit for anyone chasing their next PB, but a new generation of running tech experts are taking customisable tracking and training support to the next level.
Leading the pack is Garmin®, who has just released the Forerunner 955® as the pinnacle of the aptly named Forerunner category. The brand has long been a go-to for athletes as well as those who just run for fun, but its newest model is packed with features that mark it out from its predecessors – from smart upgrades to completely new functions.
Train smarter
When it comes to training, there are a host of health-monitoring features designed to help you elevate your performance. Take the Training Readiness metric for example – this pulls in data on sleep, recovery, heart rate variable (HRV), training load and stress, so not only do you know when you’re ready to tackle your next session but also how hard to push yourself.
What everyone's reading
These stats are all served up in a new feature called the Morning Report, a customisable snapshot that can help you decide at the start of the day what tweaks to make, whether that’s to your training schedule or overall lifestyle. The Body Battery metric goes even further, allowing you to keep an eye on your charge/drain pattern throughout the week – a reminder that a rest day is as important as a gruelling workout.
Finish faster
The Forerunner 955 goes far beyond just being a training tool, however. It also comes fitted with everything you need for race day, whether that’s a 10K, a marathon or even a triathlon, thanks to enhanced sub-categories for running, swimming and cycling.
The clever race widget (a personal assistant-come-trainer on your wrist) has had an upgrade for this model. Enter your event into the calendar and it will give you a weather forecast for the day based on location and time, as well as predicting your finish time by pulling in data based on past performances. Add your goal completion time and it even puts together a race training plan to help you achieve it, while the clever PacePro feature will help keep you on track for your personal goal with grade-adjusted guidance as you run.
Travel light
Meanwhile, impressive hardware features include a combination of buttons and touchscreen for intuitive navigation and use in any situation that’s still visible in bright sunlight, music storage of up to 2,000 songs and an always-on display so you can keep track of your stats at any time of the day. The Forerunner 955 also benefits from a super-accurate, super-speedy multiband satellite GPS and with pre-loaded maps, you’ll always know where you are on or off-road.
The Forerunner 955 Solar can also charge itself in the sun, so your watch can keep going as long as you can – up to 20 days in smartwatch mode, and up to 49 hours with solar, which is enough to see you through even the longest ultramarathon.
Add to that Garmin Pay®, so you can swing by the supermarket on your way home, and smart safety features, which allow you to add an emergency contact just in case.
Recover well
Because recovery time is just as important as run time. The Forerunner 955 Solar suggests optimum recovery times post-race, based on your recent training, sleep and stress levels. Your sleep will be converted into a daily sleep score, with a breakdown of respiration and sleep stages too, with advice on how to improve your sleep quality.
Now that’s impressive.
Learn more at garmin.com
