Name: Race Cheat Sheet - Pace Bands on Watch
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: BingGe

This data field helps long distance runners to remember their planned mile-by-mile (or km-by-km) paces, location of water stations, and turns during the race. It does what a pace bands does, but is more than that.

The software was tested only on Garmin forerunner 235. To have best look-and-feel, please configure the data screen to 3 fields, and make this data field the center one on your watch.

When you are not in race, the screen will show the distance and the average pace you will be running as you configured.  Please check the unit(mile or km), distance and pace before your race to make sure they are correctly configured. 

After you start the timer during your race, the left hand side displays the elapsed distance (in mile or km as you configured). Right hand side displays the target pace, water stations, and estimated finish time in turn for an interval as you configured (default is every 3 seconds).

You can configure two sets of goal paces (A and B), and you can press “Lap” button twice in 3 seconds on your watch to switch between them.

The red highlights on left or right side indicates the direction of next turn as you configured.

*** Algorithm for calculation estimated finish time ***
The estimated finish time is calculate by subtracting or adding the time from/to your target finish time based how much you have advanced/missed to the moment, and assuming you will keep your target pace in later run.

*** Notes for configuration ***
You can use Garmin Express software on your PC/Mac or smartphone to install and configure this data field. To configure on computer, plug your watch into your computer, click “Manage Apps” button after the watch is connected, you will find a “…” button next to “Race Cheat Sheet” app. Click the button, a dialog will pop up with following configurable fields:
- Mile/Kilometer
- Planned pace, you can go to findmymarathon.com and find the pace strategy best fit you and input the pace mile by mile (or km by km) in the format of: 7:30,7:32,7:40, …, 7:40. Paces should be separated by comma (no need for the end comma) and has to be in format of m:ss.
- Water stations: this don’t have to be water stations, it can be anything which you want to remind yourself on those mileages. The format of the configuration should be in form of: 3.1,-5.5,7.8, where the number is the mileage, and the sign indicates which color you want it be displayed. The software will display the location in two colors based on the sign.
- Turns: 3.5,-6.7,9.5, in miles, positive number for left turn and negative number for right turn.