Cutting-Edge Runner Training Plans Now Compatible with Garmin 301,205,305,405
21 April 2008
By Matt Fitzgerald, author, coach and runner
The Cutting-Edge Runner Training Plans that I designed for Training Peaks in 2005 were the first training plans compatible with a speed and distance device. Specifically, they were compatible with the Garmin Forerunner 301. The nature of this compatibility is that you can download these plans directly onto the device, which stores all of the prescribed workouts and guides you through each of them day by day. (Of course, like all Training Peaks plans, the Cutting-Edge Runner plans also go straight into your Training Calendar and you can even have the next day’s workout automatically sent to your email or Outlook account.)
Workouts are prescribed by time and pace. Pace targets are determined by the Pace Zone Index (PZI), a tool I created with Training Peaks CEO Donavon Guyot that enables you to easily find the appropriate pace zone to target for each type of workout based on your most recent race or time trial performance. The PZI is a modified version of Jack Daniels’ popular VDOT system that works better with speed and distance devices because you target more forgiving pace ranges (e.g. 7:10-7:00 per mile) instead of exact pace levels (e.g. 7:05 per mile).
There are 40 different Cutting-Edge Runner Training Plans—10 for each of the following four race distances: 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon. The Level 0 plan in each category is for beginners. The Level 1 plans are slightly more challenging, and so forth. The Level 9 plans are for experienced and highly competitive runners. With so many options to choose from, there’s a perfect Cutting-Edge Runner Training Plan for every runner.
However, about 18 months ago the Forerunner 301 began to be superseded by newer and better models of the Forerunner—50, 205, 305, and 405—that were not compatible with my training plans. It wasn’t long before athletes and coaches like you were clamoring for compatibility between the existing plans and the new devices. Now, at last, you can use the Cutting-Edge Runner Training Plans with any Garmin speed and distance device. Here’s how:
Once you have selected the appropriate level training plan from my training plans page, you’ll follow a few quick steps to make the purchase and then load the plan into your personal TrainingPeaks.com Workout Calendar. You can choose to start the plan or end the plan on any date. Once loaded, you’ll receive an email containing a .tcx file, which is a file that is compatible with Garmin Training Center, the software that comes with your Forerunner. Simply import the .tcx file into Training Center, and then sync it to your device. From now on, I’ll be right there on your wrist, guiding you with confidence to achieve your goal time at your next event. For full details on how to load the plan into your Garmin, check out our help page.
5 Responses to “Cutting-Edge Runner Training Plans Now Compatible with Garmin 301,205,305,405”
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:33 am
Great, will my old (Garmin 301) 1/2 marathon plan from Matt, which I purchased before this upgrade work with my 305?
April 27th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Looking forward to using one of these plans. Almost replaced my recently broken 301 with another because these plans couldn’t work with a 305. Glad that has changed.
Not to confuse the issue, but are these plans similiar to the ones in Brain Training? They appear somewhat similiar, but not completely.
Peter
April 28th, 2008 at 9:31 am
The Cutting-Edge plans are similar to those in Brain Training for Runners, but certainly not identical. For example, the Cutting-Edge plans use basically the same periodization principles, but workouts whereas Cutting-Edge workouts use physiology-based pace targets, Brain Training uses performance-based targets.
May 19th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Will you be supporting the Garmin “Colorado” ?
It may _already_ work, as it saves the heart rate, cadence & speed data in its version of .gpx file.
According to Jake Jacobson at Garmin, the Colorado also supports the Garmin foot pod(!).
Since Garmin doesn’t appear very interested in supporting the Colorado in their Training Center SW, I’d become a subscriber to Training Peaks if you did support it.
Thanks.
Henry Baker
Santa Barbara, CA
May 19th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Well.. I’m not familiar with the Colorado series, as we mainly work with their “fitness” devices. But, if it saves a GPX, then we are compatible. Also, if you can get a TCX (garmin’s own data format) then you can upload that too.