How accurate can sports watches and running apps calculate current pace?

I'd say it's pretty accurate most of the time. My Garmin Forerunnner 230 only shows it in multiples of 5. So I would say within 5 seconds per mile. It's not fast to tell you your pace when you are rapidly accelerating or decelerating but once you get going at a constant speed, it's very accurate.

L

I used a Nike+ GPS watch for a while and never found the instantaneous pace feature to be good enough "for serious training". I would say it was +/- 15 seconds/mile of true pace. Accuracy would depend in part on the environment, but it wasn't all that good even on long straight route with a clear sky view. I'd add that if one is running on hilly terrain or with/against a significant wind, then knowing one's pace with perfect accuracy isn't all that helpful.

I used a heart rate monitor extensively and consider that a much more useful training tool.

Citizen Runner wrote:

I used a Nike+ GPS watch for a while and never found the instantaneous pace feature to be good enough "for serious training". I would say it was +/- 15 seconds/mile of true pace. Accuracy would depend in part on the environment, but it wasn't all that good even on long straight route with a clear sky view. I'd add that if one is running on hilly terrain or with/against a significant wind, then knowing one's pace with perfect accuracy isn't all that helpful.

I used a heart rate monitor extensively and consider that a much more useful training tool.

Heart rate can be affected by a lot of factors as well.

luv2run wrote:

Citizen Runner wrote:

. . . I used a heart rate monitor extensively and consider that a much more useful training tool.

Heart rate can be affected by a lot of factors as well.

It can, but the variations generally have identifiable causes related to running physiology rather than radio wave propagation.

I have the Garmin 935 (had the 305, the 310, the 910, and the 920 before it).

I've never had any faith in "instant pace" - it's just too unstable. I rely on lap pace if I need to check pace while running. That value will also be unstable for the first 60-90 seconds of any lap, but then settles down.

Needless to say, I don't rely on my Garmin for pacing short repeats. Only mile repeats or longer, generally. I really only use my Garmin for pacing when I'm doing marathon pace workouts. For anything else, I'm on the track and pacing by feel anyway.

stopwatch wrote:

How accurate are sports watches and apps when calculating live running pace? Within 1 second per mile? 10? 30? Completely useless for serious training?

What brand are you using? Recommendations?

I have been using them for nearly 2 decades and they have gotten more accurate over time. Currently, I use a Gamin 310XT and its accurate enough for my (pace, distance, gps) purposes and probably most runners. Btw, I don't expect or need perfection.

I use a Garmin and a footpod and I find it very useful for instantaneous pace.

They are accurate enough a few seconds off is not going to make a difference is it?

stopwatch wrote:

How accurate are sports watches and apps when calculating live running pace? Within 1 second per mile? 10? 30? Completely useless for serious training?

What brand are you using? Recommendations?

My Garmin 230 is practically useless on a 400m track so I take manual splits and adjust the distances in my log. It is about ~9-10% long per 400m. (Usually measures 430-440m) Anyone else have this issue? I've tested it over several months on three different tracks. Two urban with trees and one on a hill with nothing obstructive nearby.

There are two data recording settings on the Garmin 230: "SMART" (which for any device is usually the inferior option; marketing/hype) and an "every second" option. Setting to every second and GPS + GLONASS seems to yield better readings for general runs where I'm not turning constantly.

I would like a more accurate watch for track use but don't care enough to pay more than I did for the Garmin 230.

Sunnto Ambit Peak....Super accurate

You can save yourself the money because nothing will be accurate on the track GPS wise.

I feel like my garmin is way off. It seem like I'm running much faster and with greater effort than what the pace indicates on my garmin. It's either the garmin is way off or i'm delusional. I'm afraid #2 is the correct answer.