How to Set Up Running Intervals On Your Garmin Watch

Running intervals let you add walk breaks into your runs, which can help you on your journey to increase endurance and up your distances. With a Garmin fitness watch, you can do this without constantly glancing at your watch by setting up running intervals. The watch then will then tell you exactly when to run and when to enjoy a walk break. Here’s how you can set up a custom interval workout on your Garmin watch so you can focus on what matters most: your run.

About Interval Training

Breaking your workout into smaller pieces is a popular tactic, as the manyapps for interval training workoutsdemonstrate. It’s a helpful way to maintain focus and avoid getting overly fatigued during a demanding workout.

The same logic applies to running, as well. TheGalloway run-walk-run methodis one popular guideline, and there are many more training programs that schedule a walk break into your run. By taking breaks, you can reduce overall fatigue and potentially avoid overuse injuries.

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Manually tracking interval runs on a Garmin watch means keeping a close eye on the time and hitting theBackbutton to record every transition, which can get annoying. Here’s how to automate the process.

Setting Up Run Intervals on Your Garmin Watch

Garmin Forerunner

Current Forerunner watches have an option for interval training, with some slight differences between the models. As a helpfulYouTube video from TRIAX Performanceshows, navigating to your watch’s interval screen takes a few moments. Here’s how to set up intervals on some of the most common models.

Follow these steps for the Forerunner 945 / 945 LTE, Forerunner 255 / 255S / 255 Music / 255 S Music, and Forerunner 955:

Garmin watch resting on a shoe

Here’s how to create an interval workout on the Forerunner 245 / 245 Music and Forerunner 745:

fēnix 7S, 7, 7X

To create your own interval sets for these models, follow these steps:

You can see the steps in action in thisYouTube video by SportsTechGuides.

Garmin watch on wrist

vívoactive

The vívoactive watches have one of the most straightforward approaches to run/walk intervals.

A helpfulYouTube video from Avoiding Choresdemonstrates these steps.

Garmin Training Screen

The rugged outdoor watch can also handle running intervals. Here’s how to set them up:

YouTuber Avoiding Choresshows how to perform these steps. Because there are so many models of Garmin watches, yours may operate a little differently. Double-check your instruction manual if you have questions about setting up interval runs.

Garmin Intervals Screen

To run with intervals on most Forerunner watches, navigate to theRunscreen, hold theUpbutton, and navigate toTraining>Intervals>Do Workout. (An additional step to select betweenOpen RepeatsorStructured Repeatsmay be necessary as well.)

Select your desired interval training, then hit theStartbutton to get going. Simply follow the prompts to run or walk.

On fēnix watches, navigate toRun>Menu>Training>Intervals>Do Workout.

For Instinct watches, selectGPS>Run>Menu. Next, tapTraining>Intervals>Do Workout. Finally, hit theGPSbutton again to get going.

Setting Up Intervals From the Garmin App

There’s also the option to set up intervals from yourGarmin Connect app.

Send the workout to your watch using theSmartphonebutton in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. The next time you’re ready to work out, navigate to this new run on your watch on theMy Workoutsscreen.

Add Interval Runs to Your Garmin Watch in No Time

When you’re ready for an interval run, let your watch do the hard part. By automating run and walk breaks for your Garmin watch, you’ll get in an effective workout without wasting time staring at your watch. It’s one of the simplest ways to make your workout a little easier and more efficient.

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