User Guide

based on your current state of fitness. This projection also
presumes you have completed the proper training for the
race.
HRV stress test: The HRV (heart rate variability) stress test
requires a Garmin chest heart rate monitor. The device
records your heart rate variability while standing still for 3
minutes. It provides your overall stress level. The scale is 1 to
100, and a lower score indicates a lower stress level.
Performance condition: Your performance condition is a real-
time assessment after 6 to 20 minutes of activity. It can be
added as a data field so you can view your performance
condition during the rest of your activity. It compares your
real-time condition to your average fitness level.
Functional threshold power (FTP): The device uses your user
profile information from the initial setup to estimate your FTP.
For a more accurate rating, you can conduct a guided test.
Lactate threshold: Lactate threshold requires a chest heart rate
monitor. Lactate threshold is the point where your muscles
start to rapidly fatigue. Your device measures your lactate
threshold level using heart rate data and pace.
Turning Off Performance Notifications
Performance notifications are turned on by default. Some
performance notifications are alerts that appear upon completion
of your activity. Some performance notifications appear during
an activity or when you achieve a new performance
measurement, such as a new VO2 max. estimate.
1
Hold MENU.
2
Select Settings > Physiological Metrics > Performance
Notifications.
3
Select an option.
Automatically Detecting Performance Measurements
The Auto Detection feature is turned on by default. The device
can automatically detect your maximum heart rate, lactate
threshold, and functional threshold power (FTP) during an
activity.
NOTE: The device detects a maximum heart rate only when
your heart rate is higher than the value set in your user profile.
1
Hold MENU.
2
Select Settings > Physiological Metrics > Auto Detection.
3
Select an option.
Training Status
Training status shows you how your training affects your fitness
level and performance. Your training status is based on changes
to your training load and VO2 max. over an extended time
period. You can use your training status to help plan future
training and continue improving your fitness level.
Peaking: Peaking means that you are in ideal race condition.
Your recently reduced training load is allowing your body to
recover and fully compensate for earlier training. You should
plan ahead, since this peak state can only be maintained for
a short time.
Productive: Your current training load is moving your fitness
level and performance in the right direction. You should plan
recovery periods into your training to maintain your fitness
level.
Maintaining: Your current training load is enough to maintain
your fitness level. To see improvement, try adding more
variety to your workouts or increasing your training volume.
Recovery: Your lighter training load is allowing your body to
recover, which is essential during extended periods of hard
training. You can return to a higher training load when you
feel ready.
Unproductive: Your training load is at a good level, but your
fitness is decreasing. Your body may be struggling to
recover, so you should pay attention to your overall health
including stress, nutrition, and rest.
Detraining: Detraining occurs when you are training much less
than usual for a week or more, and it is affecting your fitness
level. You can try increasing your training load to see
improvement.
Overreaching: Your training load is very high and
counterproductive. Your body needs a rest. You should give
yourself time to recover by adding lighter training to your
schedule.
No Status: The device needs one or two weeks of training
history, including activities with VO2 max. results from
running or cycling, to determine your training status.
Tips for Getting Your Training Status
To get the most out of the training status feature, you can try
these tips.
• Run outdoors with heart rate at least two times per week, or
ride with heart rate and power at least two times per week.
After using the device for one week, your training status
should be available.
• Record all of your fitness activities on this device, allowing it
to learn about your performance.
About VO2 Max. Estimates
VO2 max. is the maximum volume of oxygen (in milliliters) you
can consume per minute per kilogram of body weight at your
maximum performance. In simple terms, VO2 max. is an
indication of athletic performance and should increase as your
level of fitness improves. The fēnix 5X device requires wrist-
based heart rate or a compatible chest heart rate monitor to
display your VO2 max. estimate.
Your VO2 max. estimate appears as a number and position on
the color gauge.
Purple Superior
Blue Excellent
Green Good
Orange Fair
Red Poor
VO2 max. data and analysis is provided with permission from
The Cooper Institute
®
. For more information, see the appendix
(VO2 Max. Standard Ratings, page 33), and go to
www.CooperInstitute.org.
Getting Your VO2 Max. Estimate for Running
This feature requires wrist-based heart rate or a compatible
chest heart rate monitor. If you are using a chest heart rate
monitor, you must put it on and pair it with your device (Pairing
ANT+ Sensors, page 26). If your fēnix 5X device was
packaged with a heart rate monitor, the devices are already
paired.
For the most accurate estimate, complete the user profile setup
(Setting Up Your User Profile, page 11), and set your
maximum heart rate (Setting Your Heart Rate Zones, page 11).
The estimate may seem inaccurate at first. The device requires
a few runs to learn about your running performance.
1
Run for at least 10 minutes outdoors.
8 Heart Rate Features