What should I show on my watch?

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡?

This is a common question for runners new to power.

There’s no correct answer – you should set up your watch to show the metrics you want to monitor while running.

But personal experience and Facebook conversations suggest many runners work through something similar to the following.

𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫

You have power showing, but you also have pace or HR as these are the metrics you’re familiar with, so you can cross-check your intensity.

𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 + 𝐇𝐑 + 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐞 = 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

You find that power doesn’t always match your pace or HR, with the differing metrics changing differently.

It feels confusing.

You decide to focus on power, relegating the others to secondary displays.

𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 + 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐬

You might show power but add metrics like cadence or Ground Contact Time to work on your form.

But you find it’s difficult to maintain targets and work on your form.

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞

Eventually, you realise that power is simply a way to train your perceived exertion – how hard it feels.

You adjust your watch display to show two metrics (lap power and 3s/10s average power), adding previous lap power when running intervals.

You may even switch to show percentage of Threshold Power, rather than Watts.

The above sequence is not unusual and may even be necessary to become entirely comfortable with Running with Power.