Ground Contact Time Balance Data

Ground contact time balance measures your running symmetry and appears as a percentage of your total ground contact time. For example, 51.3% with an arrow pointing left indicates the runner is spending more time on the ground when on the left foot. If your data screen displays both numbers, for example 48–52, 48% is the left foot and 52% is the right foot.

Color Zone

Red Red

Orange Orange

Green Green

Orange Orange

Red Red

Symmetry

Poor

Fair

Good

Fair

Poor

Percent of Other Runners

5%

25%

40%

25%

5%

Ground Contact Time Balance

>52.2% L

50.8–52.2% L

50.7% L–50.7% R

50.8–52.2% R

>52.2% R

While developing and testing running dynamics, the Garmin® team found correlations between injuries and greater imbalances with certain runners. For many runners, ground contact time balance tends to deviate further from 50–50 when running up or down hills. Most running coaches agree that a symmetrical running form is good. Elite runners tend to have quick and balanced strides.

You can watch the gauge or data field during your run or view the summary on your Garmin Connect™ account after your run. As with the other running dynamics data, ground contact time balance is a quantitative measurement to help you learn about your running form.

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September 2024