Let's face it. While outdoor running offers immense benefits for both your physical and mental well-being, prioritising safety is crucial. Whether you're squeezed for time and find yourself running in the dark or embarking on longer routes far from home as part of your training regimen, it's essential to acknowledge the potential risks. That's where the safety features of our running watches, such as LiveTrack and Incident Detection and Assistance, come into play.
What exactly is LiveTrack? It's a feature that provides real-time tracking of your location during your runs or any timed activities, allowing friends and family to monitor your progress regardless of where you are. Not only does this serve as invaluable support during races, but it also offers peace of mind to both you and your loved ones during training sessions.
To activate LiveTrack, simply pair your compatible Garmin device with the free Garmin Connect™ mobile app and enable LiveTrack for your timed activity. By opting for AutoStart, all subsequent timed activities on the device will automatically initiate a LiveTrack session.
Once LiveTrack is initiated, your device will promptly share a link with the contacts you've specified via email, text, GroupTrack, or X. Through this link, they can access a webpage displaying a map with your device's current location.
Now, what about Incident Detection and Assistance? This feature, available on select Garmin running watches, is designed to detect significant changes in movement during a timed GPS activity, indicating a potential fall or accident. In such events, the Garmin Connect mobile app can automatically dispatch text messages and emails containing your name and GPS location to up to three emergency contacts.
Upon detecting a possible incident, your device and paired smartphone will display a notification indicating that your contacts will be notified after a 30-second delay. If no assistance is required, you have the option to cancel the automated emergency message.
To activate Incident Detection, you'll need to pair your device with the Garmin Connect app on your smartphone and configure your emergency contact list. During your runs, ensure that your phone is with you to trigger the incident detection notification, and it must remain within an area of network coverage with an active data plan. Additionally, your emergency contacts must be capable of receiving text messages (standard rates may apply).
Ultimately, running should be liberating. With a Garmin running & triathlon watch equipped with safety features, you can tackle your training sessions with confidence, knowing that your safety is being looked after, allowing you to focus on the challenge ahead.
