Viewing Your Heart Rate Variability And Stress Level; Performance Condition; Viewing Your Performance Condition; Lactate Threshold - Garmin DESCENT MK1 Owner's Manual

Viewing Your Heart Rate Variability and Stress Level

This feature requires a Garmin chest heart rate monitor. Before you can view your heart rate variability (HRV)
stress level, you must put on a heart rate monitor and pair it with your device (Pairing Your Wireless Sensors,
page 83). If your Descent Mk1 device was packaged with a heart rate monitor, the devices are already paired.
TIP: Garmin recommends that you measure your stress level at approximately the same time and under the
same conditions every day.
1 If necessary, select > Add > HRV Stress to add the stress app to the apps list.
2 Select Yes to add the app to your list of favorites.
3 From the watch face, select > HRV Stress > .
4 Stand still, and rest for 3 minutes.

Performance Condition

As you complete your activity, such as running or cycling, the performance condition feature analyzes your
pace, heart rate, and heart rate variability to make a real-time assessment of your ability to perform compared
to your average fitness level. It is approximately your real-time percentage deviation from your baseline VO2
max. estimate.
Performance condition values range from -20 to +20. After the first 6 to 20 minutes of your activity, the device
displays your performance condition score. For example, a score of +5 means that you are rested, fresh, and
capable of a good run or ride. You can add performance condition as a data field to one of your training
screens to monitor your ability throughout the activity. Performance condition can also be an indicator of
fatigue level, especially at the end of a long training run or ride.
NOTE: The device requires a few runs or rides with a heart rate monitor to get an accurate VO2 max. estimate
and learn about your running or riding ability (About VO2 Max. Estimates, page 44).

Viewing Your Performance Condition

This feature requires wrist-based heart rate or a compatible chest heart rate monitor.
1 Add Perform. Cond. to a data screen (Customizing the Data Screens, page 69).
2 Go for a run or ride.
After 6 to 20 minutes, your performance condition appears.
3 Scroll to the data screen to view your performance condition throughout the run or ride.

Lactate Threshold

Lactate threshold is the exercise intensity at which lactate (lactic acid) starts to accumulate in the
bloodstream. In running, it is the estimated level of effort or pace. When a runner exceeds the threshold, fatigue
starts to increase at an accelerating rate. For experienced runners, the threshold occurs at approximately 90%
of their maximum heart rate and between 10k and half-marathon race pace. For average runners, the lactate
threshold often occurs well below 90% of maximum heart rate. Knowing your lactate threshold can help you
determine how hard to train or when to push yourself during a race.
If you already know your lactate threshold heart rate value, you can enter it in your user profile settings (Setting
Your Heart Rate Zones, page 51).
48 Heart Rate Features