GPS Watches for Running?

[wade moore]

Time to reach out to the FOFC braintrust.

My wife is looking at getting a GPS watch for running with some Christmas money.

What she is considering is getting an iPod Touch AND a GPS watch. The purpose is to use some of the running training programs that tell you when to walk/run on the iPod and the GPS to track distance, pace, heart rate, etc.

I've looked on amazon, etc at the GPS watches and it's all as clear as mud for me.

So. Anyone have any experience with this? Maybe you know of a good site to get reviews/information?

Is it possible that there are GPS watches that could perform the same/similar function as the iPod? Meaning can you maybe program them with a training program that sets up multiple timers so that say you want to run 10 minutes, walk 1 minute, run 10 minutes, walk 1 minute, run 10 minutes, walk 1 minute it could track that somehow?

Since this is for my wife, she's somewhat, but not completely worried about form as well as function. In other words, she's pretty turned off by the Forerunner 305, even though it appears to be one of the better models out there.

Any help would be appreciated!

[Oilers9911]

I would advise her to go with a Garmin. Either the 305 or the 405. You can get models with or without a heart rate monitor and you can program them for various types of workouts. I have an older model (the 205) which does everything I need it to do. It keeps my pace per kilometer, (or mile) distance, elevation etc. There is really no need for both a GPS watch and an iPod Touch if you go the Garmin route.

[wade moore]

I would advise her to go with a Garmin. Either the 305 or the 405. You can get models with or without a heart rate monitor and you can program them for various types of workouts. I have an older model (the 205) which does everything I need it to do. It keeps my pace per kilometer, (or mile) distance, elevation etc. There is really no need for both a GPS watch and an iPod Touch if you go the Garmin route.

Can you give me a little more detail on how the workout programming works?

Does it just display the times on the watch and you keep an eye on it for when you switch to the next part of the workout program?

[Oilers9911]

Can you give me a little more detail on how the workout programming works?

Does it just display the times on the watch and you keep an eye on it for when you switch to the next part of the workout program?

Basically it keeps track of the workout you have chosen based on time, distance, calories burned etc and gives you an audio and visual update on your progress. If you go to Youtube and search for Garmin 405 there are lots of videos on there to show you what you can do.

[wade moore]

Basically it keeps track of the workout you have chosen based on time, distance, calories burned etc and gives you an audio and visual update on your progress. If you go to Youtube and search for Garmin 405 there are lots of videos on there to show you what you can do.

Cool. Based on the description on the website it appears it may vibrate as well?

[digamma]

I upgraded to the Garmin 405 last year. It is a huge upgrade from the 305, mainly just because it is a lot smaller and doesn't look like a power glove on your wrist (but you may be into that).

I think they've recently introduced a more introductory model as well.

In addition to what Oilers describes, you can set up various workouts, intervals, distance based training, heart rate workouts, etc. I use mine primarily for distance, pacing, interval training and running log. (You can use a key fob to download the data to any number of run tracker web sites.)

[wade moore]

Ah, appears only a couple of models do the vibration.

[MartinD]

Another recommendation for Garmin - I'm on my third 305... I don't tend to use some of the functionality (setting up programs, maps and so on), but it does a very good job at keeping track of what I want to know (distance, pace, heartrate, and so on).

Whatever you decide to go for, it's probably worth your while to look at a free program called SportTracks - have found this much better (easier to use, and does a lot more) than the software provided for looking at the data afterwards.

[stevew]

My dad used to run a ton when he was younger. I wish something like this would have been out in the 80s, he would love it.

[sabotai]

I used the Garmin Forerunner 305 too. It made the HR monitor I had before it (Timex) seem like a kid's toy. So count me as another vote Garmin.

I did use an iPod Touch too so that I could listen to music as I ran. Not sure if I'd recommend using both though. It was fine for me, but it can be a bit...."messy". You have the HR monitor around your torso, the Garmin "watch" on your wrist, the iPod on an armband with the earphones (and the wire for them hanging off you). Didn't both me, but I can see how the bulkiness would bother other people.

[lordscarlet]

Another recommendation for Garmin - I'm on my third 305... I don't tend to use some of the functionality (setting up programs, maps and so on), but it does a very good job at keeping track of what I want to know (distance, pace, heartrate, and so on).

Whatever you decide to go for, it's probably worth your while to look at a free program called SportTracks - have found this much better (easier to use, and does a lot more) than the software provided for looking at the data afterwards.

Why have you needed 3?

[MartinD]

Why have you needed 3?

The first one was working perfectly apart from the power button... Garmin customer service was very good, though, and I got a replacement within a couple of weeks.

The second one had a terminal accident.

[EagleFan]

Ah, appears only a couple of models do the vibration.

Ah, so "watch" is a code word... :devil: