Garmin shares more details about new running features for Forerunner 970

Garmin has confirmed more information about its new Running Dynamics and Physiological Measurements tools. Step speed loss (SSL), Running economy and Running tolerance were each announced alongside the new Forerunner 970 smartwatch and the HRM 600 chest-worn heart rate monitor. Pages describing each metric in detail are now available on the brand’s website.

Step speed loss (SSL) tracks how much you slow down each time your foot hits the ground. It is measured by a heart rate monitor and expressed in cm/s, taking the difference between your forward speed when you first touch the ground and the minimum forward speed. As such, users should aim for a low value. A linked metric is step speed loss percent (SSL%), calculated as your SSL divided by your current running speed. Both can be displayed as a real-time data field or viewed in charts in the Garmin Connect app.

The next metric is Running economy, indicating how efficiently your body is performing. The unit of measure here is milliliters of oxygen consumed per kilogram of body weight per kilometer (ml/kg/km). It takes into account your heart rate, vertical oscillation, SSL and other metrics. Users are required to wear a heart rate monitor to generate this score. Again, a lower number is preferable, as this represents less wasted energy.

Finally, there is a new Running tolerance metric that tracks the impact of the exercise on your body. Garmin suggests that you could use this to spot potentially harmful habits, like not taking enough time to rest after a harder workout, which could be hindering your performance. Here, you want your acute impact load, calculated using your latest workout data, to be less than your tolerance score.

These three new Running Dynamics and Physiological Measurements features appear to be exclusive to the new Forerummer 970 smartwatch for now. The new model will be released on May 21st with an RRP of $749.99/€749.99.