I’ve been wearing some of the best Garmin watches for over half a decade now, and while they offer plenty for everyday use, I especially appreciate how they support training for a race. If I hadn’t started wearing a Garmin five years ago, I likely wouldn’t have returned to running as an adult and entered my first race in years.
Years ago, a friend lent me their Forerunner to help structure my training for a 10K. At first, I was intimidated as I am not the most tech-savvy person you will meet, and it took a lot of trial and error to figure out how to use it. From there, I graduated to the Garmin Fenix 7S, which is still on my wrist today. I don’t use all of its features and functions, as there are simply too many, but the ones I do rely on have helped me through races, from 5Ks to marathons, and taught me how to train smarter.
If you are new to Garmin, new to running, or have signed up for a race, or simply want to conquer a running goal, this article shares the features that have empowered me and boosted my performance. Hopefully, these actionable tips can help you get the most out of your watch as well.
Set up reminders so you don't forget the important stuff
One of the best little hacks I discovered last year is Garmin’s customised alerts. I am not the best at remembering to take on fuel during long runs. I will bring gels with me, but then completely forget when I last had one. Now I set up alerts for every 30 minutes that flash and vibrate on my watch during an activity.
You could do the same for water breaks, or even as a race-day prompt for when you think your family will be cheering you on. It is a small feature that has made a big difference in keeping my energy steady during training and races.
If you want to find instructions on how to set up alerts on your Garmin, hop over to my article on how Garmin's energy gel reminders have changed the way I fuel for long runs.
Sync with your favourite apps to cut down on admin
Garmin lets you create your own workouts directly on the watch, which is useful if your coach sends you a session or you spot a workout online you want to try. But if you are following a structured training plan from one of the best running apps like Coopah or Runna, you can sync those runs straight to your watch. That way, your plan is ready to follow step by step, fuss-free, without having to manually enter every detail.
You can also connect Garmin to Strava so every run uploads automatically. Even if you are not chasing a PB, the kudos and comments from friends can be a real boost.
Structure your own workouts for better pacing
One reason I really like Garmin’s custom workout feature is on race day. I can build a pace plan that breaks the distance into smaller segments with mini goals, making it feel more achievable and keeping me motivated through to the end. It’s also useful for recreating a workout you’ve found online or designing runs to focus on specific goals, such as hill training or negative splits.
Here’s what happened when I asked ChatGPT to build me a race strategy for a half-marathon and built it into my watch.
Keep tabs on rest and recovery
I don’t think the rest and recovery features are necessarily what people are paying hundreds of pounds for when they buy a Garmin, but I am really grateful for the sleep and recovery stats my watch provides, especially when training for a race.
Based on your training load and sleep quality, Garmin gives you an idea of how well your body has recovered from a workout and how ready you are for the next one. When you are deep in training, having the watch give a friendly nudge to take a rest day or switch to an easier session can make the difference between steady progress and overtraining.
I know from experience that following those recommendations has helped me avoid burnout and stay consistent, even during the toughest weeks.
Use GPS and navigation to explore and get home safely
A good GPS watch doesn’t just record your distance. It can map out routes, track your pace with precision and help you navigate unfamiliar territory.
For me personally, Garmin's Back to Start feature has been a lifesaver. While running on vacation in the French countryside, I once took a wrong turn and found myself surrounded by cows, with no one around to ask for directions. A quick glance at my watch guided me straight back to my holiday rental.
Whether you’re exploring a new city, tackling a technical trail run or keeping a close eye on your splits, Garmin is known for making some of the most reliable GPS watches on the market.
Track your cross-training sessions too
Garmin can track a wide range of activities, not just running. I log my strength training, hiking, and even yoga, and the watch factors all of this into my stats and feedback.
This means your recovery, training load, and suggested workouts reflect your full routine, not just your runs. For example, it can prevent you from overdoing a long run if it knows you did a tough strength session the day before. It also helps you spot patterns over time, like which cross-training sessions leave you feeling freshest for your key runs.
Even if you are not chasing personal bests, seeing how all your activities add up can motivate you to keep a balanced training routine and make smarter choices about rest and intensity.
It offers some useful health insights, but some could be better
Garmin watches do more than track runs. They keep tabs on your health too, from heart rate variability and stress to sleep and body battery. My Garmin once flagged an abnormality in my heart rate, which led me to go see a doctor and receive a heart condition diagnosis. That little warning completely changed how I train, and I’m glad my Garmin alerted me to something I otherwise would have ignored.
There’s also period and fertility tracking, but right now it mostly relies on what you log rather than syncing with the watch’s other features. I would love to see it feed into Training Readiness or Suggested Workouts so your watch could nudge you to push harder or back off depending on your cycle.
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