Buzz
As I type this, my Garmin watch is telling me that it will take 21 hours for me to fully recover from the workout I did earlier today. Even though the session wasn't particularly intense, I've grown accustomed to Garmin's tendency to provide longer recovery time estimates. Still, I won't let this figure keep me from going for an easy morning run. The recovery time isn't exactly what you might expect.
What exactly is the recovery time feature, and where can it be found?
Garmin's sport watches typically calculate a recovery time after each workout. This number appears in the workout summary immediately after you finish, and it can also be found in the Training Status overview (if you have that) or the Training Readiness tile in the Garmin Connect app (if you have it). On my Forerunner 265S, I can even add it as a complication to my main watch face.
Garmin defines recovery time as an estimation of how long it will take for you to fully recover and be prepared for your next workout of the same intensity. It's important to note the term fully recover. No athlete is truly fully recovered at the beginning of every workout; often, you carry some fatigue from previous sessions. This number serves as an estimate for how long you'll continue to feel the impact of your previous workout.
The recovery time feature can be found in most Garmin models like Enduro, Epix, Fenix, Forerunner, Instinct, Venu, and Vivoactive watches, among others. Garmin has a complete list here.
Do you need to wait until the recovery time reaches zero before working out again?
No! This is perhaps the most common misunderstanding about the feature, and it also explains why recovery times can be lengthy—up to four days. The idea isn't to force you to stay inactive until the timer reaches zero. Instead, it suggests that, until the timer expires, you may still experience some level of fatigue compared to usual.
You can read Garmin’s explanation here. They explain: “When the timer hits zero, it indicates that you are ready to gain the maximum benefit from your next intense fitness-improving workout (i.e., training effect: 3.0+).”
If I need 38 hours to recover from a tough workout, it simply means I won't be in top condition the next day. If I was planning my toughest workout for the following day, I might want to consider postponing it to give my body more time to recover. However, if my plan is to go for a light recovery run, there’s no reason to adjust my plans.
Is it okay to disregard Garmin's recovery time suggestion?
There’s a valid point to be made for ignoring any metric a watch provides, especially now and then. You don’t have to let Garmin’s recovery time control your schedule. If you're feeling capable and want to work out, feel free to disregard the recovery numbers.
That said, I do find the recovery time helpful as a quick check. If the recovery time is long, it serves as a reminder that I did push myself and need to balance my training with both intense and easy days. Any well-rounded training program will take this into account—whether or not the watch tracks it.
Why does my recovery time fluctuate so frequently?
Garmin continually adjusts its estimate of when you'll be fully recovered. If you work out again before the timer resets, the recovery time will increase since you’ve added more work for your body to bounce back from.
On the other hand, if you had a restful night’s sleep, you might notice that the recovery time decreases more than expected overnight. Don’t read too much into this number—it’s merely an estimate. However, it’s a positive sign if you're recovering quickly from intense workouts.
