Adventure Racing With Garmin Watches

The Adventure Race activity type found on select Garmin watches is designed for adventure racing. Adventure Racing is a team sport where you compete to finish a designated course, or arrive at a designated location before other teams. These races can include trekking, mountain biking, and water sports such as kayaking.

Compatible Watches

To use this activity, your software will need to be up to date, and the activity will need to be added to your activity list, see - How to Add an Activity on a Garmin Outdoor Watch.

• D2™ Mach 1 | D2™ Mach 1 Pro

• Descent™ G2

• Descent™ Mk2 | Descent™ Mk2i | Descent™ Mk2S

• Descent™ Mk3 | Descent™ Mk3i

• Enduro™

• Enduro™ 2

• Enduro™ 3

• epix™ (Gen 2) - Standard Edition | epix™ (Gen 2) - Sapphire Edition | epix™ (Gen 2) - Porsche Edition

• epix™ Pro (Gen 2) - Standard Edition | epix™ Pro (Gen 2) - Sapphire Edition

• fēnix® 6 - Standard Edition | fēnix® 6 - Solar Edition | fēnix® 6 - Pro and Sapphire Editions | fēnix® 6 - Pro Solar Edition

• fēnix® 6S - Standard Edition | fēnix® 6S - Solar Edition | fēnix® 6S - Pro and Sapphire Editions | fēnix® 6S - Pro Solar Edition

• fēnix® 6X - Pro and Sapphire Editions | fēnix® 6X - Pro Solar Edition

• fēnix® 7 - Standard Edition | fēnix® 7 - Solar Edition | fēnix® 7 - Sapphire Solar Edition

• fēnix® 7S - Standard Edition | fēnix® 7S - Solar Edition | fēnix® 7S - Sapphire Solar Edition

• fēnix® 7X - Solar Edition | fēnix® 7X - Sapphire Solar Edition

• fēnix® 7 Pro - Solar Edition | fēnix® 7 Pro - Sapphire Solar Edition

• fēnix® 7S Pro - Solar Edition | fēnix® 7S Pro - Sapphire Solar Edition

• fēnix® 7X Pro - Solar Edition | fēnix® 7X Pro - Sapphire Solar Edition

• fēnix® 8 - AMOLED Edition | fēnix® 8 - Solar Edition

• fēnix® E

• MARQ® Adventurer | MARQ® Athlete | MARQ® Aviator | MARQ® Captain | MARQ® Commander | MARQ® Driver | MARQ® Expedition | MARQ® Golfer

• MARQ® Adventurer (Gen 2) | MARQ® Athlete (Gen 2) | MARQ® Aviator (Gen 2) | MARQ® Captain (Gen 2) | MARQ® Golfer (Gen 2)

• MARQ® Adventurer (Gen 2) - Damascus Steel Edition | MARQ® Athlete (Gen 2) - Carbon Edition | MARQ® Athlete (Gen 2) - Performance Edition | MARQ® Commander (Gen 2) - Carbon Edition | MARQ® Golfer (Gen 2) - Carbon Edition

• tactix® 7 - AMOLED Edition | tactix® 7 - Standard Edition | tactix® 7 - Pro Edition | tactix® 7 - Pro Ballistics Edition

• tactix® 8 - AMOLED | tactix® 8 - Solar

• tactix® Delta - Sapphire Edition | tactix® Delta - Solar Edition | tactix® Delta - Solar Edition with Ballistics

Video on Using the Adventure Race Activity

How It Works

Part of adventure racing is navigating the course using a compass and map. Because of this, electronic navigation aids are not allowed.

The Adventure Racing activity will not show you a map, a track of your activity, allow the use of Connect IQ apps, or allow access to other features that would help you navigate the course. However, the compass and altimeter are accessible, and will continue to function while recording the activity. Your activity metrics and GPS position will also be recorded in the background, so that you can review your path and activity data after the activity has uploaded to Garmin Connect.

Starting the Activity

1. Press START/STOP (upper right button) on your watch.

2. Select Adventure Race from the activity list.

3. Wait for GPS.

4. Press START/STOP when ready to start the timer.

During the Activity

Adventure Race activities will display three data screens while recording: activity metrics (heart rate, elevation, timer, lap time, and time of day), compass, and verification screen (start time of the activity, and time of day).

Once in the activity, the watch:

• Can set alerts, laps, calibrate the compass, and stop the activity through the Action Menu by pressing the START/STOP button and selecting an item.
• Will resume the activity after a restart of the watch if you choose to. The watch will automatically prompt you to Resume or Save after a restart.
• Will not stop the activity when the watch is plugged in to charge the battery, unless the watch is plugged into a computer.
• Will show a data page in the activity that gives your start time, and time passed since the start of the activity.
• Will stop the recording when the activity is saved, and a new activity will need to be started if you stopped the activity by mistake.

Stopping the Activity

1. Press START/STOP (upper right button).

2. Select Stop Activity.

3. Select Yes when asked End Activity?

Verification

At the end of the activity, you will have the option to view Verification in the stats.

1. Press START/STOP (upper left button) when viewing the activity overview.

2. Select Verification.

Verification will give the start and stop time of the activity. This can be used to verify to race officials that the watch was only used to record the Adventure Race.

Allowed Data Fields and Functions

Features that are disabled during the activity will be grayed out in menus, and your watch will supply the message Adventure Race Active when you try to access them. Disabled features will not resume functioning until the activity is stopped, and saved or discarded.

The following features are allowed to be accessed during an Adventure Race activity.

Data Fields

• Compass
• Elevation (autocalibration is disabled)
• Heart Rate
• Lap Time
• Rest Timer
• Time of Day
• Total Time

Functions

• Alarm Clock
• Eat/Drink Reminders
• Bluetooth and ANT+ Sensors
  NOTE: Paired sensors will only report allowed data, such as heart rate, during the activity. Other data will be available in the activity summary after saving and syncing the activity.

Best Practices for Recording Adventure Races

The following will help you prepare the watch for your Adventure Race, and help you make sure you are able to record the whole race.

Battery and Charging

Adventure Races can be long, to make sure that your watch goes the distance and records the activity fully:

• Do not plug the watch into a computer during an Adventure Race, as that will end and save the activity.
• The watch can be charged from a power bank, or a USB wall outlet during the activity.
• To get more battery life you can use power modes. Power modes allow you to turn off certain features to extend battery life. See - Understanding and Using the Power Manager With Garmin Watches.

Action Menu

The Action Menu can be accessed by pressing START/STOP (upper right button) during the activity and allows you to start a new lap, set alerts, and calibrate elevation.

• The Lap key is turned off by default to avoid accidental button presses during the competition. You can start a new lap through the action menu. If you would prefer to have the Lap key turned on, you can change that setting in the Adventure Race activity menu.
• Alerts can be created, edited, and turned on or off through the action menu during an Adventure Race activity. Alerts created will be saved in the Adventure Race activity profile only.
• Calibrating the altimeter should be done when you are at a known elevation, like a checkpoint or peak. Altimeter calibration is affected by changes in weather and air pressure, and frequent calibration will assure your altimeter stays accurate.

Controls Menu

The Controls Menu is handy for additional tools you may want to access during the Adventure Race. See Customizing the Controls Menu in your Owner's Manual for more information.

• Set this up before you start your race to ensure the tools you need are easy to access and you are familiar with them.
• Timers and Alarms are two options that may come in handy during the competition.
• Not all features will be available during an Adventure Race.