Pacer Support Guide · Part 21 of 33
What to Do When Watches Display Different Results
GPS watches often disagree under bridges and between tall buildings. Practise a simple three-step reconciliation routine — and agree in advance whose watch leads.
Marcel Lennartz
1 min read
Updated
GPS watches frequently display conflicting data under bridges, near tall buildings or because of satellite drift. During group sessions, teams practise a simple reconciliation routine in real time:
- Cross-check split times – pacers call out and compare their lap and average paces.
- Agree on course position – establish together where the team actually is relative to the plan.
- Make a consensus adjustment – agree on any correction, which the lead pacer then applies smoothly (see adjusting pace smoothly).
Settle it in advance#
Small differences between watches are normal and should be settled by agreement in advance, not debated mid-race:
- Before each session and race, agree that the leader’s watch is the primary reference for pace decisions; the leader has the final say.
- If a support pacer’s watch differs noticeably (for example by more than a few seconds per kilometre), flag it quietly to the leader rather than changing pace unilaterally.
- Log recurring discrepancies in the group chat after the session. They often point to a GPS or settings issue (see the watch checklist and Garmin settings) rather than a pacing error.