Garmin Fenix 5 Sapphire Edition Owner's Manual

appear when you achieve a new performance measurement, 

such as a new VO2 max. estimate.

Hold MENU.

Select Settings > Physiological Metrics > Performance 

Notifications.

Select an option.

You can enable the device to automatically detect your 

maximum heart rate, lactate threshold, and functional threshold 

power (FTP) during an activity.

Hold MENU.

Select Settings > Physiological Metrics > Auto Detection.

Select an option.

Training status shows you how your training affects your fitness 

level and performance. Your training status is based on changes 

to your training load and VO2 max. over an extended time 

period. You can use you your training status to help plan future 

training and continue improving your fitness level.
No status: The device needs one or two weeks of training 

history, including activities with VO2 max. results from 

running or cycling, to determine your training status.

Detraining: Detraining occurs when you are training much less 

than usual for a week or more, and it is affecting your fitness 

level. You can try increasing your training load to see 

improvement.

Recovery: Your lighter training load is allowing your body to 

recover, which is essential during extended periods of hard 

training. You can return to a higher training load when you 

feel ready.

Maintaining: Your current training load is enough to maintain 

your fitness level. To see improvement, try adding more 

variety to your workouts or increasing your training volume.

Productive: Your current training load is moving your fitness 

level and performance in the right direction. It is important to 

plan recovery periods into your training to maintain your 

fitness level.

Peaking: Peaking means that you are in ideal race condition. 

Your recently reduced training load is allowing your body to 

recover and fully compensate for earlier training. You should 

plan ahead, since this peak state can only be maintained for 

a short time.

Overreaching: Your training load is very high and 

counterproductive. Your body needs a rest. You should give 

yourself time to recover by adding lighter training to your 

schedule.

Unproductive: Your training load is at a good level, but your 

fitness is decreasing. Your body may be struggling to 

recover, so you should pay attention to your overall health 

including stress, nutrition, and rest.

VO2 max. is the maximum volume of oxygen (in milliliters) you 

can consume per minute per kilogram of body weight at your 

maximum performance. In simple terms, VO2 max. is an 

indication of athletic performance and should increase as your 

level of fitness improves. The fēnix 5/5S device requires wrist-

based heart rate or a compatible chest heart rate monitor to 

display your VO2 max. estimate. The device has separate VO2 

max. estimates for running and cycling. You can pair your 

device with a compatible power meter to display your cycling 

VO2 max. estimate. 
Your VO2 max. estimate appears as a number and position on 

the color gauge.

 Purple

Superior

 Blue

Excellent

 Green

Good

 Orange

Fair

 Red

Poor

VO2 max. data and analysis is provided with permission from 

The Cooper Institute

®

. For more information, see the appendix 

), and go to 

This feature requires wrist-based heart rate or a compatible 

chest heart rate monitor. If you are using a chest heart rate 

monitor, you must put it on and pair it with your device (

). If your fēnix 5/5S device was 

packaged with a heart rate monitor, the devices are already 

paired.
For the most accurate estimate, complete the user profile setup 

), and set your 

maximum heart rate (

). The estimate may seem inaccurate at first. The 

device requires a few runs to learn about your running 

performance.

Run for at least 10 minutes outdoors.

After your run, select Save.

Select UP or DOWN to view the performance widget.

Select   to scroll through the performance measurements.

This feature requires a power meter and wrist-based heart rate 

or a compatible chest heart rate monitor. The power meter must 

be paired with your fēnix 5/5S device (

). If you are using a chest heart rate monitor, you must 

put it on and pair it with your device. If your fēnix 5/5S device 

was packaged with a heart rate monitor, the devices are already 

paired.
For the most accurate estimate, complete the user profile setup 

) and set your 

maximum heart rate (

). The estimate may seem inaccurate at first. The 

device requires a few rides to learn about your cycling 

performance.

Ride at a steady, high intensity for at least 20 minutes.

After your ride, select Save.

Select UP or DOWN to view the performance widget.

Select   to scroll through the performance measurements.

You can use your Garmin device with wrist-based heart rate or a 

compatible chest heart rate monitor to display how much time 

remains before you are fully recovered and ready for the next 

hard workout.

Recovery time: The recovery time appears immediately 

following an activity. The time counts down until it is optimal 

for you to attempt another hard workout.

8

Heart Rate Features