The fenix 5 only lets you view these, though, not respond to them. You can receive a localized weather forecast, a list of calendar appointments, and notifications, such as calls and texts. I was impressed with the wealth of information right on my wrist. After a week of not running, I received an ominous 'detraining' message.Īfter a run, I could cycle through screens on the watch, which showed me splits, an elevation plot, a map of where I ran, how much time I spent in each heart rate zone and other details. The fenix 5 also said I was overreaching, which, in some respects, you want to do in a race.Ī Training Status screen shows how productive your exercises have been and gives you a general sense if your fitness level is improving, holding steady or decreasing. After running a half marathon, I received a score of 5 (the highest you can get) for aerobic and 3.7 for anaerobic activity. The fenix 5 also gives you a VO2 max score (a measure of your overall fitness level), the intensity of your training over the past week and a race predictor, which lists how fast the watch thinks you'll complete a 5K, 10K, half marathon and full marathon.įor each run that you do, you get a training effect, which gives you a score for both aerobic and anaerobic activity. The watch, which uses GPS as well as GLONASS, measured the race distance - a 13.1-mile USATF (USA Track and Field)-certified course - as 13.16 miles, which is exceptionally accurate. The fenix 5's optical heart rate monitor proved accurate, but it did not respond to changes as quickly as a chest strap would. I used the fenix 5 while I was training for a half marathon, as well as during the race itself. I tested the watch on two of my favorite outdoor activities: running and skiing. This was a feature my mother would not let me test.Ī breadcrumb feature makes it easy to find your way back where you started if you're in unfamiliar territory. The fenix 5 will even track you if you jump out of an airplane.

It's tough to find an activity the fenix 5 can't track in addition to monitoring running, the watch can record your metrics when you're hiking, climbing, mountain biking, golfing, skiing (downhill and cross-country), snowboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, swimming and rowing.

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