Hi, Is there a way to set a preference to how your sessions are measured? e.g. I use to be sent a session that would say L2 heart zone, for example. After completing a 5k TT my sessions are now coming through in power ranges. Is there an advantage to this? - I would prefer the heart rate zones as this is what i know..
1 Like
@FlaayZ I unchecked the box in your Profile settings that says ‘my device supports power’. Let’s see if that makes any difference for you. There’s also an option in your connection settings to prefer HR only. Currently you have smartcoach setting on which prescribes HR for low intensity sessions and pace/power for high intensity.
1 Like
I am also having the same issue. It used to be that long runs or zone 2 would be prescribed as HR and for anything else pace. The system worked well for me and I have a good gage on both. I don’t really understand power and at this point in my training do not want to get my head around it! No matter what I do I cant seem to get the workouts across as not power even deleting them from Garmin and resyncing with selected “perscribe as pace”. The last week of so I have been going out and just memorising what it said on the app and trying to match that! I feel like there could be a bug if its possible to fix 
Same, HR is a better metric for me for L2 running. Suddenly it’s power?
Maybe it’s a better metric for Zone 2, but I for sure am better able to stay in the right range with HR vs power.
My few runs with the recent power are me too low.. too high… and sometimes in range. For sure harder to be in tune with power, at least for me.
I really like the running by power, but load has discrepancy
This is the second time doing by power and I as at the top end of the power and distance, pace was off what it was expecting.
Thanks all — really appreciate the thoughtful feedback here.
Just to clarify how Smart Coach is currently designed to function for running sessions:
For sessions in Zone 2 or lower → Athletica always prescribes by heart rate. HR is generally the most stable and appropriate internal load measure for low-intensity aerobic work.
For sessions above Zone 2 → Athletica uses external load (pace or power) if:
- You’ve indicated in your profile that your device supports run power, and
- You have a valid run power threshold.
In that case, Smart Coach will prescribe using power.
If no power threshold is available but you have a threshold pace, we’ll default to pace.
If neither is available or you’ve set a preference for HR, we’ll default to heart rate.
If those are set correctly but you’re not getting it appropriately, please report in with screenshots and we’ll see if this is a bug.
2 Likes
All of my easy runs in the past few weeks are suddenly power based… this one tomorrow I’m going to guess will be power… it is a Zone 1-2 run.
I’d be fine with runs above Z2 being pace/power… but the easy stuff for sure HR is much better for me.
Hey @Prof
Thanks for the confirmation on how the wizard works.
Just a note - I am in a test week this week and have a MAF test. Although the text definition of this is Heart Rate based, the wizard has prescribed this in power.
Is there a way to ‘force’ just this workout to use Heart Rate? I assume i shouldnt be running this test using power ?
Hi @Prof
My runs are all being prescribed by pace (after disabling power in settings) for all types of run. I’ve experienced similar with cycling, all power even L2 steady rides are by power.
It can take multiple attempts of re syncing the workout to Garmin with HR selected, rather than let coach decide, to get the workout uploaded with HR. I also had an issue yesterday that my race pace bike session was updated in the app and slightly different from the version on my Garmin Edge. It took multiple syncs, deleting all workouts, resyncing until the updated workout was on my device. I don’t know if this would be an Athletica issue or Garmin cache problem contributing as well?
Hello @Prof,
I have the same “problem”. it seems that both my run and bike aero workouts are now power based. The same goes for my SE runs.
How can I fix that ?
thanks
F
@Prof just confirming the workout I did above (this morning) was a Zone2/L2 run and it went with power vs. heart rate.
I’d disable power in my Garmin Connect but my worry it will impact bike workouts, which I 100% want to be power based. I also want my faster runs to be pace/maybe power based.
I digress my Zone 2 runs with “let coach decide” currently are still/as of late… power based?
1 Like
Hi everyone who is following this thread, just wanted to touch base and say: we’ve seen this. Please hang tight as we investigate. Thank you for providing screenshots!
I’ll get back to you as soon as I can, but in the meanwhile, please choose the “power/pace” option on your settings for now, so your watch shows your runs as pace instead of power.
MJ
Hi all,
We’ve made another adjustment. As my prior message but now also the option to resync future sessions. Please try and let us know how it goes.
