Name: SmartFuel: Running
Rating: 3.7 (3 reviews)
Author: Slawa

Garmin brought smart fueling to cyclists. We built it for runners.

## Short Description

Hands-free, informational fuel and hydration reminders that match what you carry, with automatic estimated logging. SmartFuel: Running is a data field that delivers adaptive gel reminders during your runs. Unlike every other fueling app, SmartFuel adjusts reminder timing based on your real-time heart rate zone and ambient temperature — so your nutrition keeps up with your effort, not a fixed schedule.

## Full Description

Long runs give you enough to think about. Remembering when to take the next gel should not be another job.

SmartFuel is a Garmin data field that keeps your fueling plan visible inside the native Run activity. Tell it what you are carrying, choose your distance, and let it handle the reminders while Garmin continues to manage your recording, course, workout, PacePro, and laps.

### Reminders that match your fuel

A small gel and a large drink-mix serving should not follow the same schedule. SmartFuel spaces reminders around the carbohydrate amount in each serving, using a steady target of 60g per hour during the active fueling window.

For example, a 22g gel is scheduled about every 22 minutes, a 25g gel every 25 minutes, and a 40g gel every 40 minutes. You can choose a built-in fuel or enter your own serving from 1–100g.

SmartFuel waits before beginning the fueling window, then uses your pace after 20 minutes to better fit the plan to the run ahead. The first reminder arrives one full serving interval after that window opens.

### Easy to follow while moving

Between alerts, one compact tile shows what matters:

- Time until your next fuel
- Carbohydrates logged by the schedule
- Progress against the active 60g/hour target
- Current heart-rate zone and temperature
- Time until your next drink when hydration is enabled

When it is time to fuel, the tile turns orange and your watch vibrates. Choose a vibration duration of 1, 2, 3, or 5 seconds, then choose whether the alert stays on screen for 5, 10, 15, or 30 seconds. When that time ends, SmartFuel logs the planned serving and carries on with the schedule.

Alerts are strictly informational and fully hands-free. There is nothing to acknowledge, dismiss, snooze, or skip while an alert is visible. The runner cannot interact with the alert; it remains on screen for the selected time and then closes automatically.

Your activity controls stay yours. SmartFuel does not use or intercept LAP, REST, START/STOP, touch, or other native controls. Pressing those controls affects the Garmin activity, not the SmartFuel alert.

### Hydration when you want it

Hydration reminders are optional and off by default. Set your preferred hourly target and SmartFuel will suggest a drink amount and adjust the timing for warm conditions and time spent in higher heart-rate zones. Hydration alerts use a blue tile, making them easy to tell apart on screen.

If fuel and hydration are due together, fuel appears first. Hydration waits, then gets its own complete alert.

### A useful finish-line summary

Stop the activity timer and the tile becomes a simple one-screen summary with elapsed time, scheduled carbs, target and variance, fuel alerts, and optional hydration totals. There is no extra page to find and no button scrolling.

### A note about logged servings
SmartFuel knows when it reminded you, but your watch cannot know whether you actually ate or drank. Logged carb and fluid totals are planning estimates, not measured or confirmed intake.

Because alerts cannot be confirmed or dismissed, automatic logging means only that the scheduled reminder was shown. It does not mean the runner consumed the serving.

### Quick setup

1. Add SmartFuel to a data screen in Garmin's Run activity.
2. Choose your planned distance and the fuel you are carrying.
3. Set your vibration duration and alert auto-log delay.
4. Turn on temperature or hydration options if you want them.
5. Start running.