FuelStepsYour fuel plan.
On time.
Gel, Dextro, caffeine: build every step your way. FuelSteps buzzes just before it's time, so you never miss a gel again.
Build it like
a workout.
A chain of steps by distance or time, with repeats. Each step has its own name, grams and caffeine. Up to 5 schedules, picked on the watch.
- All distance (km or miles) or all time (min) per schedule
- Repeats are numbered automatically: Gel #1, #2, #3
- A gel before the start counts, without an alert
- Not just gels: any text per step, like Water, Salt or Bar (0 g is fine)
- Racing? Match your gels to the aid stations, so you take each one with water: tip in the plan builder
Marathon · distance
Right before
the moment.
60 s or 150 m early (adjustable), so it never clashes with your km or lap alert. Vibration, tone and a full screen with what to take, the planned moment and your position. On a time schedule the countdown pauses when you pause.
See it coming.
A countdown ring, what's next, and your carbs so far and per hour. The countdown turns amber in the last 500 m or minute.
Full, half or a corner.
FuelSteps fits the data screens you already use.
Ready in a minute.
- Install FuelSteps from the Connect IQ app on your phone; after the sync the watch asks to install it, pick the running activity › OK.
- Allow the alert on the watch: activity settings › Alerts › Add New › Connect IQ › FuelSteps › On (the watch may ask this during installation).
- Edit your schedules in the Connect IQ app: My data fields › FuelSteps › Settings › Save. Schedule 1 "Gel 5 km" is ready to go (3× 5 km, 25 g gel with caffeine). Build your own schedule and copy the import text.
- Pick a schedule on the watch before the run: hold UP › Connect IQ fields › FuelSteps. Nothing fires until you do, and after the run it is off again, like a navigation route.
In Garmin Connect.
Your planned intake is saved in the activity: two charts and four summary values. Nothing to enter afterwards.
- Charts: carbs so far and carbs per hour
- Summary: total carbs, fuel moments, caffeine moments and schedule
- Planned values: FuelSteps reminds you, you never have to press a button
Good to know.
What is FuelSteps?
FuelSteps is a free data field for Garmin watches (Connect IQ) that reminds you when to take a gel or other fuel during a run. You build your own schedule by distance or time, and FuelSteps vibrates, beeps and shows a full-screen alert just before each moment.
Which Garmin watches does FuelSteps support?
All round Garmin watches with Connect IQ 5.0 or newer, including Forerunner 165, 170, 255, 265, 570, 70, 955, 965 and 970, fēnix 7, 8, 9 and E, epix (Gen 2) and epix Pro, Enduro 3, MARQ (Gen 2), Venu 2, 3 and 4, and vívoactive 5 and 6.
Can I mix different fuels in one schedule?
Yes. Every step has its own name (for example Gel, Dextro or Gel CAF), its own grams of carbohydrate and an optional caffeine mark. Steps can repeat, and repeats are numbered automatically.
Can I plan by distance or by time?
Both. Each schedule is either all distance (km or miles) or all time (minutes), with steps from 0.5 to 100 km or miles, or from 5 to 600 minutes.
Why does the alert come early?
By default the alert comes 60 seconds or 150 metres before the planned moment, so it doesn't clash with Garmin's own km or lap alert. You can set it from 0 (exactly on the moment) up to 3 minutes or 300 metres.
Why do my alerts come a little before the aid stations in a race?
Your watch measures a little more distance than the official course: you never run the ideal line, and GPS wobbles. On a distance schedule set to the official aid-station kilometres, the alerts therefore come slightly earlier as the race goes on. That works in your favour: the reminder arrives before you reach the table.
Do I have to press a button when I take a gel?
No. FuelSteps is a reminder, not a log. It saves the planned carbs in your activity, shown as charts in Garmin Connect, without button presses that could disturb your recording. The charts and totals are marked "planned": they show what the schedule said, so if you skip a gel the chart won't know.
Is FuelSteps free?
Yes. FuelSteps is free, with no subscription, no ads and no account. Donations are appreciated.
Which languages does FuelSteps support?
English, Dutch, German, French, Spanish and Italian, on the watch and in the settings.
Free. Always.
No subscription, no ads, no account. If FuelSteps gets you to the finish, donations are appreciated :)
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