The One Running Data Field Almost Nobody Adds: Cadence
Most runners only look at pace, distance, time, and heart rate. Cadence — your steps per minute — is one of the best signals for why a run feels harder than it should.
Day 116: The Data Field Almost Nobody Adds — Cadence
It's surprising how few runners ever change their Garmin data fields. Most stick with the defaults: pace, distance, time, heart rate. There's one field worth adding that rarely gets a look: cadence.
What cadence actually tells you
Cadence is your steps per minute. It sounds basic, but it's one of the most useful running signals you have. When cadence drops too low, you're taking longer, heavier steps — often what makes a run feel harder than the pace or distance alone would explain.
When that happens, it's a cue to run lighter and quicker rather than pushing harder into each stride.
Forget the "180 steps per minute" rule
You don't need to chase 180 steps per minute — that number gets thrown around a lot online, but it isn't a universal rule. What matters is learning what's normal for you specifically, then watching for the drop. A sudden dip below your own baseline usually signals fatigue or a loss of rhythm, regardless of what the "ideal" number is supposed to be.
How to add it
- Open your Run activity profile
- Go to Run Settings → Data Screens
- Edit a screen and add Cadence as one of the fields
Keep an eye on it for a few runs to find your own normal range, then use any drop below that as your signal to reset your rhythm mid-run.
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