Key findings
- Garmin watches offer useful training insights and free training plans for a range of goals.
- Garmin Coach is adaptable and helpful for runners and cyclists of all levels.
- You can search for races when creating a Garmin Coach training plan.
Garmin watches are incredibly useful training tools thanks to the wealth of data they collect. All of this information can give you insight into your current training status, help you better understand your sleep, and more. Beyond the basics, though, Garmin also offers free training plans that sync directly to your wrist. These plans are a great way to help you work toward specific goals without paying a trainer or spending countless hours searching online for the right plan.
Garmin Coach is the company’s training platform designed specifically for runners and cyclists. It’s designed for athletes of all levels, so whether you’re new to running or cycling or a seasoned pro, you can use this helpful tool. Once you’ve set it up in Garmin Connect, you can get workout recommendations based on your specific goals delivered straight to your wrist. Garmin Coach is an adaptive plan that automatically adjusts suggested workouts based on your training performance and the data collected by the watch.
Although many of Garmin’s watches are compatible, not all of the company’s models work with Garmin Coach. Fortunately, the latest generations of Forerunner, epix, fēnix, Instinct, Venu and vívoactive watches, among others, work. Garmin provides a useful list of compatible devices on its website, so check it out before proceeding with the steps below.
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How to add a Garmin Coach training plan for a specific event
Prepare for a race with Garmin
If you’re looking to enter a race or event and need help, Garmin Coach is a great resource. You can even search for races during the process if you don’t currently have one selected.
- Sign up at Garmin Connect.
- Choose More in the lower right corner.
- Choose Training & Planning.
- Choose Garmin Coach Plans.
- Choose Find a plan.
- Choose Train for an event.
- Accept the Terms and Conditions.
- Choose whether you want to train for Running or Ride a bike. If you choose cycling, you must also select the type of cycling (All, road cycling, mountain biking or gravel cycling).
- Follow the instructions to enter the required information about your current training and your goals for the event.
- Choose Garmin bike trainer if you are training for a cycling race or Garmin Run Coach to host events. Other plans are listed, but the other options are not adaptive.
- Choose Set up plan.
- Follow the prompts to enter the days you can train and set the desired day for your long run or ride.
- Choose Find a race.
- Search and select a race.
- Choose Add to plan.
- Choose Create a plan.
- Choose Have it.
How to create a Garmin Coach training plan to reach a milestone
Garmin helps you reach a milestone in running or cycling
Not everyone wants to compete in organized events and would rather set their own milestones. If that’s the case for you, luckily you can use Garmin Coach without an event. Most of the steps are the same as above, with a few small differences towards the end of the setup process.
- Follow steps 1 through 12 in the event training plan above.
- Give your plan a name and tap Next.
- Choose whether or not you want to add location details for your milestone. Tap Next.
- Set a date for your destination and tap Next.
- Confirm the details of your plan. If everything is correct, select Create a plan.
How to set up Garmin Coach to improve your fitness
You don’t need a specific goal
If you simply want to improve your fitness and don’t have a specific milestone goal or event in mind, you’re still in luck. It’s very easy to create a Garmin Coach plan with the simple goal of improving your fitness.
- Sign up at Garmin Connect.
- Choose More in the lower right corner.
- Choose Training & Planning.
- Choose Garmin Coach Plans.
- Choose Find a plan.
- Choose Improve fitness.
- Accept the Terms and Conditions.
- Choose Garmin Run Coach or Garmin bike trainer.
- Select the days you can train and tap Next.
- Choose when you want to make your long trips and tap Next.
- Choose when you want to complete your training plan and tap Next.
- Review the information and tap Create a plan.
- Knock Have it.
