Product Manual

Vertical oscillation: Vertical oscillation is your bounce while
running. It displays the vertical motion of your torso,
measured in centimeters.
Ground contact time: Ground contact time is the amount of
time in each step that you spend on the ground while
running. It is measured in milliseconds.
NOTE: Ground contact time and balance are not available
while walking.
Ground contact time balance: Ground contact time balance
displays the left/right balance of your ground contact time
while running. It displays a percentage. For example, 53.2
with an arrow pointing left or right.
Stride length: Stride length is the length of your stride from one
footfall to the next. It is measured in meters.
Vertical ratio: Vertical ratio is the ratio of vertical oscillation to
stride length. It displays a percentage. A lower number
typically indicates better running form.
Training with Running Dynamics
Before you can view running dynamics, you must put on the
HRM-Run
™
accessory or HRM-Tri accessory and pair it with
your device (Pairing ANT+ Sensors, page 21).
If your Forerunner was packaged with the heart rate monitor, the
devices are already paired, and the Forerunner is set to display
running dynamics.
1
Select START, and select a running activity.
2
Select START.
3
Go for a run.
4
Scroll to the running dynamics screens to view your metrics.
5
If necessary, hold UP to edit how the running dynamics data
appears.
Color Gauges and Running Dynamics Data
The running dynamics screens display a color gauge for the primary metric. You can display cadence, vertical oscillation, ground
contact time, ground contact time balance, or vertical ratio as the primary metric. The color gauge shows you how your running
dynamics data compare to those of other runners. The color zones are based on percentiles.
Garmin has researched many runners of all different levels. The data values in the red or orange zones are typical for less
experienced or slower runners. The data values in the green, blue, or purple zones are typical for more experienced or faster
runners. More experienced runners tend to exhibit shorter ground contact times, lower vertical oscillation, lower vertical ratio, and
higher cadence than less experienced runners. However, taller runners typically have slightly slower cadences, longer strides, and
slightly higher vertical oscillation. Vertical ratio is your vertical oscillation divided by stride length. It is not correlated with height.
Go to www.garmin.com/runningdynamics for more information on running dynamics. For additional theories and interpretations of
running dynamics data, you can search reputable running publications and websites.
Color Zone Percentile in Zone Cadence Range Ground Contact Time Range
Purple >95 >183 spm <218 ms
Blue 70–95 174–183 spm 218–248 ms
Green 30–69 164–173 spm 249–277 ms
Orange 5–29 153–163 spm 278–308 ms
Red <5 <153 spm >308 ms
Ground Contact Time Balance Data
Ground contact time balance measures your running symmetry and appears as a percentage of your total ground contact time. For
example, 51.3% with an arrow pointing left indicates the runner is spending more time on the ground when on the left foot. If your
data screen displays both numbers, for example 48–52, 48% is the left foot and 52% is the right foot.
Color Zone Red Orange Green Orange Red
Symmetry Poor Fair Good Fair Poor
Percent of Other Runners 5% 25% 40% 25% 5%
Ground Contact Time Balance >52.2% L 50.8–52.2% L 50.7% L–50.7% R 50.8–52.2% R >52.2% R
While developing and testing running dynamics, the Garmin team found correlations between injuries and greater imbalances with
certain runners. For many runners, ground contact time balance tends to deviate further from 50–50 when running up or down hills.
Most running coaches agree that a symmetrical running form is good. Elite runners tend to have quick and balanced strides.
You can watch the color gauge or data field during your run or view the summary on your Garmin Connect account after your run.
As with the other running dynamics data, ground contact time balance is a quantitative measurement to help you learn about your
running form.
Vertical Oscillation and Vertical Ratio Data
The data ranges for vertical oscillation and vertical ratio are slightly different depending on the sensor and whether it is positioned at
the chest (HRM-Tri or HRM-Run accessories) or at the waist (Running Dynamics Pod accessory).
Heart Rate Features 11