Description
If you are taking part in a Couch to 5k training plan, either as a new runner, or as a training companion, then this data field could be just what you need.
During a workout session it provides a count-down timer showing the time left for the current phase of the workout. As you transition between walk/run stages it shows a prompt indicating that it is time to Walk or Jog. There are also vibration prompts 10 seconds before a transition and optionally each 1 minute during the countdown to keep you motivated.
When each of the workout days has been completed, progress will be recorded on the watch and you will be presented with the next workout the next time the data field is used. This can be overridden using the Garmin Connect Mobile app on a mobile phone or Garmin Express app on a PC.
Before your workout commences the display shows the week and day of the current activity and also each Walk/Jog duration.
This is simply a new data field, so your activities will still be recorded and tracked while you train. I recommend creating a new activity for your Couch to 5k training runs by copying your existing Run activity, then adding the Couch to 5k data field to this new activity. This way any other runs will not auto advance the Couch to 5k field to the next day.
The workouts in this program are intended to be used 3 times per week. Each begins with a 5 minute warmup walk and ends with 5 minutes walking to cool down. The training parts consist of a mix of jogging and walking as follows.
Week 1 (each day): jog 60 seconds, walk 90 seconds, repeat for a total of 8 jogs
Week 2 (each day): jog 90 seconds, walk 2 minutes, repeat for a total of 6 jogs
Week 3 (each day): jog 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, jog 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes, jog 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, jog 3 minutes
Week 4 (each day): jog 3 minutes, walk 90 seconds, jog 5 minutes, walk 2½ minutes, jog 3 minutes, walk 90 seconds jog 5 minutes
Week 5 (day 1): jog 5 minutes, walk 3 minutes, jog 5 minutes, walk 3 minutes, jog 5 minutes
Week 5 (day 2): jog 8 minutes, walk 5 minutes, jog 8 minutes
Week 5 (day 3): jog 20 minutes
Week 6 (day 1): jog 5 minutes, walk 3 minutes, jog 8 minutes, walk 3 minutes, jog 5 minutes
Week 6 (day 2): jog 10 minutes, walk 3 minutes, jog 10 minutes
Week 6 (day 3): jog 25 minutes
Week 7 (each day): jog 25 minutes
Week 8 (each day): jog 28 minutes
Week 9 (each day): jog 30 minutes
Please note, I am not a Garmin employee, but a keen runner who wrote this data field to support me whilst taking other runners through a couch to 5k running program. I have provided it here so others may use it whether working through their own running program or helping others. I welcome all feedback and will attempt to help with any issues whenever I can, but please realise that this is not my day job, so I may not have time to respond to all queries. Please refer to the instructions to your device wherever possible if you are having trouble locating this data field or making it work as described.
What is new
Version 1.0.1 has been updated to support new devices
Version 1.0.2 has been updated to support new devices
Version 1.0.3 has been updated to support new devices
Version 1.0.4 has been updated to reinstate support for D2 air and using the Garmin SDK version 3.2.5
Version 1.0.5 has been updated to support new devices and also make the 1 minute motivational alert optional (defaults to off)
Version 1.0.6 has been updated to support new devices
Version 1.0.7 has been updated to support new devices (replaces 1.0.6 where some devices failed to be included)
Version 1.0.8 has been updated to try to overcome issues with some devices. Nothing in the Couch to 5k app is device specific, so this must be caused by a Garmin SDK issue. 1.0.8 is built using the latest Garmin SDK.
Version 1.0.9 removes the surplus walk at the end of weeks 1 to 3 activities before the final cool down walk
Version 1.0.10 has been updated to support new devices
Version 1.1.0 does not add new devices, but does add several new features:
- Ability to modify warmup / cooldown times
- Show rep number and total reps with Jog message
- Option to repeat Jog/Walk message every 5, 10 or 20 seconds
- Support for Custom workout timings
Version 1.1.1 has been updated to support new devices
Screenshots
Supported language (1)
Compatible devices (237)
Approach® S60
Approach® S60
Approach® S62
Approach® S62
Approach® S70 (42mm)
Approach® S70 (47mm)
Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel
D2™ Air
D2™ Air X10
D2™ Bravo
D2™ Bravo
D2™ Bravo Titanium
D2™ Charlie
D2™ Charlie
D2™ Delta
D2™ Delta PX
D2™ Delta PX
D2™ Delta S
D2™ Mach 1
D2™ Mach 1 Pro
D2™ Mach 2 Pro
Darth Vader™
Darth Vader™
Descent™ G1
Descent™ G1
Descent™ Mk1
Descent™ Mk1
Descent™ MK2
Descent™ MK2
Descent™ Mk2S
Descent™ Mk2S
Enduro™
Enduro™
Enduro™ 2
epix™
epix™
epix™ (Gen 2)
epix™ (Gen 2)
epix™ Pro (42mm)
epix™ Pro (47mm)
epix™ Pro (51mm)
fēnix® 3
fēnix® 3
fēnix® 3
fēnix® 3
fēnix® 3
fēnix® 3
fēnix® 3 HR
fēnix® 3 HR
fēnix® 5
fēnix® 5
fēnix® 5 Plus
fēnix® 5 Plus
fēnix® 5S
fēnix® 5S
fēnix® 5S Plus
fēnix® 5S Plus
fēnix® 5X
fēnix® 5X
fēnix® 5X Plus
fēnix® 5X Plus
fēnix® 6
fēnix® 6
fēnix® 6 Dual Power
fēnix® 6 Pro
fēnix® 6 Pro
fēnix® 6 Pro Dual Power
fēnix® 6 Pro Solar
fēnix® 6 Solar
fēnix® 6S
fēnix® 6S
fēnix® 6S Dual Power
fēnix® 6S Pro
fēnix® 6S Pro
fēnix® 6S Pro Dual Power
fēnix® 6S Pro Solar
fēnix® 6S Solar
fēnix® 6X Pro
fēnix® 6X Pro
fēnix® 7
fēnix® 7
fēnix® 7 Pro
fēnix® 7 Pro – Solar Edition (No Wi-Fi®)
fēnix® 7S
fēnix® 7S
fēnix® 7S Pro
fēnix® 7X
fēnix® 7X
fēnix® 7X Pro
fēnix® 7X Pro No Wi-Fi
fēnix® 8 AMOLED (43mm)
fēnix® 8 AMOLED (47mm/51mm)
fēnix® 8 Pro
fēnix® 8 Solar (47mm)
fēnix® 8 Solar (51mm)
fenix® 9 - 43 mm
fenix® 9 – 47 mm
fēnix® Chronos
fēnix® Chronos
fēnix® E
First Avenger
First Avenger
ForeAthlete 245
ForeAthlete 245 Music
ForeAthlete 55
ForeAthlete 645
ForeAthlete 645 Music
ForeAthlete 745
ForeAthlete 935
ForeAthlete® 230J
ForeAthlete® 235J
ForeAthlete® 630J
ForeAthlete® 735XTJ
ForeAthlete® 920XTJ
Forerunner® 165
Forerunner® 165 Music
Forerunner® 230
Forerunner® 235
Forerunner® 235
Forerunner® 235
Forerunner® 235
Forerunner® 245
Forerunner® 245
Forerunner® 245 Music
Forerunner® 245 Music
Forerunner® 255
Forerunner® 255 Music
Forerunner® 255S
Forerunner® 255S Music
Forerunner® 265
Forerunner® 265S
Forerunner® 55
Forerunner® 570 - 42mm
Forerunner® 570 - 47mm
Forerunner® 630
Forerunner® 630
Forerunner® 645
Forerunner® 645 Music
Forerunner® 735XT
Forerunner® 735XT
Forerunner® 745
Forerunner® 920XT
Forerunner® 920XT
Forerunner® 920XT
Forerunner® 935
Forerunner® 945
Forerunner® 945
Forerunner® 945 LTE
Forerunner® 955 Dual Power
Forerunner® 965
Forerunner® 970
Instinct® 2
Instinct® 2
Instinct® 2S
Instinct® 2S
Instinct® 2X
Instinct® Crossover
MARQ® (Gen 2)
MARQ® Commander (Gen 2) – Carbon Edition
MARQ™ Adventurer
MARQ™ Adventurer
MARQ™ Athlete
MARQ™ Athlete
MARQ™ Aviator
MARQ™ Aviator
MARQ™ Aviator (Gen 2)
MARQ™ Captain
MARQ™ Captain
MARQ™ Commander
MARQ™ Commander
MARQ™ Driver
MARQ™ Driver
MARQ™ Expedition
MARQ™ Expedition
MARQ™ Golfer
MARQ™ Golfer
Mercedes-Benz Venu®
Mercedes-Benz Venu®
Mercedes-Benz Venu® 2
Mercedes-Benz Venu® 2
Mercedes-Benz Venu® 2S
Mercedes-Benz Venu® 2S
Montana 700
Montana® 700
Oregon® 7 Series
Oregon® 7 Series
Oregon® 7 Series
quatix® 6
quatix® 6X
Rey™
Rey™
Rino® 7 Series
Rino® 7 Series
tactix® 7
tactix® 7 – AMOLED Edition
tactix® 8 – 47 mm, AMOLED
tactix® 8 – 51 mm, Solar
Venu®
Venu®
Venu® 2
Venu® 2
Venu® 2 Plus
Venu® 2 Plus
Venu® 2S
Venu® 2S
Venu® 3
Venu® 3S
Venu® Sq.
Venu® Sq.
Venu® Sq.
Venu® Sq.
Venu® Sq. 2
Venu® Sq. 2 Music
Venu® Sq. Music
Venu® Sq. Music
Venu® Sq. Music
Venu® Sq. Music
Venu® X1
vívoactive®
vívoactive®
vívoactive® 3
vívoactive® 3
vívoactive® 3
vívoactive® 3 Mercedes-Benz® Collection
vívoactive® 3 Mercedes-Benz® Collection
vívoactive® 3 Music
vívoactive® 3 Music
vívoactive® 3 Music
vívoactive® 4
vívoactive® 4
vívoactive® 4S
vívoactive® 4S
vívoactive® 5
vívoactive® 6
vívoactive® HR
vívoactive® HR