Name: Live/Lap GAP - Grade-Adjusted Pace
Rating: 4 (2 reviews)
Author: fpher

Live grade-adjusted pace — climb & descent

Grade-Adjusted Pace (GAP), live on your wrist.

See your real effort on every climb and descent, translated into a flat-equivalent pace — just like Strava's GAP, but live during your run.

Three values in one field:
• LIVE GAP  — your instantaneous grade-adjusted pace, right now
• LAP GAP   — average grade-adjusted pace for the current lap
• GRADE     — current incline (%), so you always know the terrain

Why this field?
Recent Garmin watches include a built-in "Grade Adjusted Pace", but it only shows the average over the whole activity — there is no live value and no per-lap value. This field gives you both, plus the live grade, so you can pace climbs and descents in the moment instead of finding out afterwards.

How it works:
GAP is based on the validated Minetti (2002) running energy-cost model and is computed from your speed and the slope (barometric altitude where available), with smoothing to stay stable on rough terrain. It closely matches Strava's GAP curve. This includes the Minetti Downhill-model.

GAP is based on the peer-reviewed Minetti (2002) running energy-cost model — the scientific basis behind modern grade-adjusted pace — computed from your speed and the slope (barometric altitude where available), with smoothing to stay stable on rough terrain. Prefer a gentler, more trail-realistic curve on descents? Switch the Downhill model to Tempered.

Post-run data:
The field records GAP to your activity, so it shows up in Garmin Connect as a chart (live GAP), a per-lap value, and an activity-summary value.

Settings (in the Garmin Connect app):
• Units — Automatic (watch), Kilometers, or Miles.
• Large value — choose Live GAP or Lap GAP as the primary value.
• Downhill model — Minetti (scientific standard) or Tempered (milder downhill credit, closer to real trail running).
• Grade window (metres)  — Distance used to measure the slope. Default 30. Higher = smoother grade; lower = reacts quicker to short, steep sections. Most runners can leave this at 30.
• Grade smoothing — Tune responsiveness. How much the slope reading is calmed down. Range 0.05–1.0, default 0.2. Lower = steadier; higher = reacts faster but jumpier.
• Pace (GAP) smoothing — How much the shown GAP pace is calmed down. Range 0.05–1.0, default 0.3. Lower = steadier number; higher = updates more quickly.

The layout adapts to any data-screen size, from a single full-screen field down to a small 1-of-8 field.

Made for trail and hill runners who want to run by effort, not just pace.

Note: GAP is an estimate. Barometric altitude can drift; on watches without a barometer the grade is rougher. Use it as a guide, not an exact measure.