Last weekend, I strapped two Garmin running watches to my wrists and raced a 10K—the top-of-the-line Forerunner 970 on one arm, and the budget-friendly Forerunner 165 Music on the other. Whether you're toeing the line at your first 5K or chasing a marathon PR, one thing I learned is that even the most powerful running watch in the world won't help you on race day if you haven't set it up properly beforehand. Here's the checklist I wish I'd had before race day.
Garmin Forerunner 970 $649.99 at Amazon $749.99 Save $100.00 Shop Now Shop Now $649.99 at Amazon $749.99 Save $100.00How to train with a Garmin watch before a race
Training Plans to browse free plans for distances from 5K to marathons. Once you select a plan and sync it to your watch, daily workouts will push directly to your wrist.
Before race week, take a look at your HRV Status and Training Readiness score. In theory, these metrics tell you whether your body has actually absorbed your training, or whether you've been digging yourself into a hole. HRV Status is available on the Forerunner 255 and above. Training Readiness is available on the Forerunner 265 and above, including the 955 and 970. The Forerunner 165 gives you a simpler "Body Battery" reading, which is still useful, albeit less granular.
Courses, or look for the "Events" section. Add your race by entering the distance, date, and location. This does more than just mark the calendar—on supported watches, it activates a Race Calendar widget and begins surfacing a race-day countdown.
If your race doesn't show up in the Garmin calendar, but it does have a published GPX or course file, you can download it and load it onto your watch via Garmin Connect. On race day, this gives you turn-by-turn navigation, elevation previews, and the ability to see exactly where you are on course (with compatible watches).
Garmin Forerunner 265 Running Smartwatch (Black/Grey) $348.99 at Walmart $449.99 Save $101.00 Get Deal Get Deal $348.99 at Walmart $449.99 Save $101.00Charge your watch fully. Obvious, but easy to forget after a week of tapering distractions. Plug it in the night before so you start race morning at 100%.
Activities & Apps > Running > Data Screens. Edit your screens so you're not fumbling through menus mid-race. An extra tip here: For racing, less is more. A cluttered screen with eight data fields is harder to read at race pace than two or three big numbers.
Configure auto lap. By default, Garmin watches auto-lap every mile or kilometer. For a race, decide whether you want to lap by distance, by the race's official kilometer markers, or manually. If you want to manually control your laps, which is useful for shorter races like 5Ks, turn off Auto Lap and use the lap button yourself. In the 970 exclusively, you can toggle on the "Timing Gate" option, and your watch will automatically trigger laps as you pass the predefined official course marker, in addition to showing the actual distance run.
Set up Garmin's race day features. On higher-end models, make sure you toggle on any race-specific tools available on your watch. This might include Garmin's PacePro feature, which gives you a customized pacing plan for your race. Enter your goal time, and it will account for elevation changes and suggest a smart pacing strategy mile by mile.
How to set your Garmin watch on the morning of your race
Get a GPS lock early. Open your activity before getting into your corral. Wait for the GPS signal indicator to go solid. Don't start running until you have a clean lock, or your first splits will be inaccurate.
Enable music (if using it). If you're racing with music, queue up your playlist before you get to the start corral. On any watch with "Music" in its name, you can store and play music directly from the watch without your phone.
Glance, don't stare. It's easy to become a data zombie mid-race. Train yourself to glance at your watch for one or two numbers—current pace and heart rate, for example—and then get your eyes back on the road. The watch should be a tool, not a distraction.
What to do on your Garmin watch after a race
Save and sync immediately. When you cross the finish line, let the watch record for a few extra seconds before stopping your activity. (Damn you, Strava tax!) Then sync to Garmin Connect over Bluetooth while your phone is nearby. Your race data, including splits, heart rate graph, and elevation, will all be waiting for you in the app.
Whether you're wearing a $199 Forerunner 55 or the $750 Forerunner 970, working through this checklist before race day will make you a smarter, more prepared racer. The fancier watch gives you more tools—but only if you actually know how to use them.
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