Swimming in Open Water

You can record swim data including distance, pace, and stroke rate. You can add data screens to the default open water swimming activity (Customizing the Data Screens).

1. Select START > Open Water.
2. Go outside and wait while the device locates satellites.
3. Select START to start the activity timer.
4. Start swimming.
5. Select UP or DOWN to view additional data pages (optional).
6. After you finish the activity, select STOP > Save.

Going for a Pool Swim

1. Select START > Pool Swim.
2. Select your pool size, or enter a custom size.
3. Select START.

   The device records swim data only while the activity timer is running.

4. Start your activity.

   The device automatically records swim intervals and lengths.

5. Select UP or DOWN to view additional data pages (optional).
6. When resting, select to pause the activity timer.
7. Select to restart the activity timer.
8. After you finish the activity, select STOP > Save.

Heart Rate While Swimming

NOTICE

The device is intended for surface swimming. Scuba diving with the device may damage the product and will void the warranty.

The device has wrist-based heart rate enabled for swim activities. The device is also compatible with the HRM-Tri, HRM-Swim and HRM-Pro accessories. If both wrist-based heart rate and chest heart rate data are available, your device uses the chest heart rate data.

Distance Recording

The Forerunner device measures and records distance by completed pool lengths. The pool size must be correct to display accurate distance (Setting the Pool Size).

TIP: For accurate results, swim the entire length, and use one stroke type for the entire length. Pause the timer when resting.

TIP: To help the device count your lengths, use a strong push off the wall and glide before your first stroke.

TIP: When doing drills, you must either pause the timer or use the drill logging feature (Training with the Drill Log).

Setting the Pool Size

1. From the watch face, select START > Pool Swim.
2. Hold .
3. Select Pool Swim Settings > Pool Size.
4. Select your pool size, or enter a custom size.

Swim Terminology

Length: One trip down the pool.

Interval: One or more consecutive lengths. A new interval starts after a rest.

Stroke: A stroke is counted every time your arm wearing the device completes a full cycle.

Swolf: Your swolf score is the sum of the time for one pool length and the number of strokes for that length. For example, 30 seconds plus 15 strokes equals a swolf score of 45. For open water swimming, swolf is calculated over 25 meters. Swolf is a measurement of swimming efficiency and, like golf, a lower score is better.

Critical swim speed (CSS): Your CSS is the theoretical speed that you can maintain continuously without exhaustion. You can use your CSS to guide your training pace and monitor your improvement.

Stroke Types

Stroke type identification is available only for pool swimming. Your stroke type is identified at the end of a length. Stroke types appear in your swimming history and in your Garmin Connect account. You can also select stroke type as a custom data field (Customizing the Data Screens).

Tips for Swimming Activities

• Before starting a pool swimming activity, follow the on-screen instructions to select your pool size or enter a custom size.

  The next time you start a pool swimming activity, the device uses this pool size. You can hold , select the activity settings, and select Pool Size to change the size.

• Select to record a rest during pool swimming.

  The device automatically records swim intervals and lengths for pool swimming.

• Select to record an interval during open water swimming.

Resting During Pool Swimming

The default rest screen displays two rest timers. It also displays time and distance for the last completed interval.

NOTE: Swim data is not recorded during a rest.

1. During your swim activity, select to start a rest.

   The display reverses to white text on a black background, and the rest screen appears.

2. During a rest, select UP or DOWN to view other data screens (optional).
3. Select , and continue swimming.
4. Repeat for additional rest intervals.

Auto Rest

The auto rest feature is available only for pool swimming. Your device automatically detects when you are resting, and the rest screen appears. If you rest for more than 15 seconds, the device automatically creates a rest interval. When you resume swimming, the device automatically starts a new swim interval. You can turn on the auto rest feature in the activity options (Activities and App Settings).

TIP: For best results using the auto rest feature, minimize your arm motions while resting.

If you do not want to use the auto rest feature, you can select to manually mark the beginning and end of each rest interval.

Training with the Drill Log

The drill log feature is available only for pool swimming. You can use the drill log feature to manually record kick sets, one-arm swimming, or any type of swimming that is not one of the four major strokes.

1. During your pool swim activity, select UP or DOWN to view the drill log screen.
2. Select to start the drill timer.
3. After you complete a drill interval, select .

   The drill timer stops, but the activity timer continues to record the entire swim session.

4. Select a distance for the completed drill.

   Distance increments are based on the pool size selected for the activity profile.

5. Select an option:
   • To start another drill interval, select .
   • To start a swim interval, select UP or DOWN to return to the swim training screens.