I first used Garmin Coach three years ago; since then I have used it for EVERY half marathon, 10k, and 5k I’ve trained for! Garmin Coach doesn’t offer a full marathon training program, so I used an online coach who wrote me a one-time marathon training schedule for the Walt Disney World Marathon. Since I wanted to save some money, I did not pay for continued coaching, just the marathon program and one-time consult. To be honest, I prefer Garmin Coach to the one-and-done program since I feel more connected to my training. After three years of running using the free training program on my compatible Garmin watch, I can honestly say what I love about Garmin Coach (and some things I don’t).
The above Garmin watches are what I used during my training with Garmin Coach.
Disclosure: The above links are affiliate links and I will get a commission if you purchase. I linked these watches because I LOVE them and have been using them for years!
Keep reading for my pros and cons, plus don’t forget to read my full review of the Garmin Coach Half Marathon Training Program, Garmin Coach 10k Training Program, and the 5k Program!
Pros
Simple Format on Garmin Connect
I love my Garmin Venu watch, and I love Garmin Connect. Garmin Connect is an app that connects to your watch and uploads your data. Seeing my steps, heart rate, and even sleep is SO interesting to me. What’s great about Garmin Coach is it can be set up on the app, and easily tracked there as well. The layout is very intuitive and easy to check up on!
Easy to Follow
The workouts are well laid out and super simple to follow. Though I always suggest reading your workout right before you start your run to avoid any surprises (such as a speed workout at the end of a long run). Most people won’t have any issues following the workouts as written.
Always With You
Having the workouts on your watch makes training SO convenient. No need to carry a piece of paper around with written instructions, just look at your wrist! This might seem minor, but I have gotten STRESSED out trying to dig through emails to find my next workout! Not with Garmin Coach! I love that it is all in one place on the app, and then uploaded to your watch!
Stats!
Have I mentioned I am stats NERD?! I love having all the stats from my run, plus my workout goal paces listed right in the Garmin connect app. The integration between Garmin Connect and Garmin Coach makes everything seamless and FUN for those stat nerds!
Extra Advice
The extra articles that Garmin Coach provides can be really helpful for new runners and experienced runners alike. The videos are a nice addition to keep you motivated during your training. I even like the “confidence” meter at the top of the Garmin Coach page lets me know how I am doing in my training. On one of my recent half marathons, I DID NOT feel prepared to reach my goal, though the “confidence meter” said it was very confident in me. And would you believe that I went and CRUSHED my goal? Maybe Garmin Coach knows me better than I know myself!
Can Be Modified and Adapts
Life happens and sometimes you miss a workout, or you need to adjust your long run date. I love that you can easily make changes in Garmin Coach and your program will adapt. If you miss a few workouts, your training program will change to help keep you on schedule. Also, depending on how difficult you say your workouts are, Garmin Coach will also adapt using that information. It truly is amazing how “personalized” the program can be without a live in-person coach!
You Get a Good Workout
If you apply yourself and follow the workouts (to the best of your ability) you can get a great workout! It can be HARD to motivate yourself without any outside help. but Garmin Coach gives the extra push to help you achieve your goals!
It’s FREE
With a compatible Garmin watch (I’ve used the Garmin Venu and Garmin 345 Music) you have this feature FREE! It’s such a great addition and I LOVE that it’s free for all to use!
Cons
Must Be Within the Time Block
Each coach has a set amount of training time they want you to commit to. The shortest commitment is around 12 weeks for the half marathon training program. This is definitely a good recommendation, and I do not believe you should cut your training short, but… sometimes you are already fit and want to run something a little sooner. Or maybe you want to train for a long time and start way before the time they recommend. Unfortunately, you cannot adjust the schedules out of the time range in Garmin Coach. Currently, I am training for a half marathon and my race date in Garmin Coach is several weeks after my actual race. I plan on tapering and using the knowledge I already have to prepare for the race. It’s just something to think about when signing up for Garmin Coach, make sure you plan your dates correctly!
Buttons! And “Difficulty” Selection
This is a very simple pet peeve of mine, and I’ve made the mistake more times than I’d like to admit… know which button is your “lap” button! There are some workouts in Garmin Coach that have you hit “lap” to start the workout or move on to the next part of a workout. If you hit the wrong button you can mess your whole workout up. It’s something silly but just try and remember.
Also, the “difficulty” question that pops up at the end of a workout REALLY matters for your training schedule. Sometimes this can be hard to gauge exactly how “difficult” something is. I’ve noticed that if I say moderate for the “kinda hard” runs and easy for the “mostly easy” runs I am ok and my program doesn’t change dramatically. And make sure if you have a touch screen watch that you hit the correct selection! I’ve made THAT mistake as well!
Not A Lot of Personalized Training
Compared to an in-person coach who can change your training schedule every week, or suggest race plans depending on your training, Garmin Coach isn’t THAT personalized. I used to train with a coach before I moved and I LOVED the suggestions and connection with my coach. With Garmin Coach there’s only so much they can do, it’s still an app. on your phone plus a watch. So while there is some personalization in the workouts, it’s never going to be the same as a real live coach.
Must Be a Self Starter
As I said before, this is just an app. on your phone. If you need other people to get you out the door, or more support to encourage you, Garmin Coach can only give you a blueprint, you must put the work in yourself. For me, I don’t need a lot of encouragement to run, I’m very self-motivated. But for some folks, Garmin Coach just might not be enough to keep you going.
Not For Super Speedy Folks
This isn’t something that I have an issue with, but if you are a super-fast runner the program might not train to the speeds you need.
Do the Pros Outweigh the Cons?
With all that being said, Garmin Coach really is an amazing tool for runners! It provides semi-personalized training, for free, that you can take with you anywhere. Plus, you can really get results! If you put in the time and effort to follow your training, you can definitely achieve some amazing things! For a more in-depth look at the Garmin Coach programs don’t forget to read my Half Marathon, 10k, and 5k training program reviews! Happy training friends!
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My husband is a triathlete and coach and he really trusts his Garmin watch. There are a lot of Garmin watches to choose from depending on your needs, overall he’s pretty happy with this brand.