Running with a Garmin

kjb0976

Does anyone run with a Garmin? I am thinking of purchasing one for my outside running to help me acheive my goals. I already use a HRM but I have no idea how fast or how far I am running. Thoughts?!?

Vkoons3

I have a Garmin but have not used it for running yet! Was wodering about that myself

mag1c

I use an app on my android named JogTracker. Works great for exactly what you are trying to do.

Angela4Health

I don't have one but I have been wanting one as well, but I wanted to say, I love you shoes, LOL

keb80

I have a Garmin Forerunner 305 and use it when I run. It will change your life!

kelsully

I have a Garming FR60...not a GPS version...I can use the HRM for general exercise and it tracks my distance, pace etc while running...love it...it is perfect for my needs and allows me to just set out to run...I can go out for a long run with no specific course in mind and I can just run...I check my traveled distance every song or two and decide which way to turn next...I have a few known distances...ie a corner that is 1.8 miles from home...so if I am shooting for 8 miles...as long as I somehow hit 6.2 before that corner I am good....love the freedom it gives me to have a structred run but still feel free.

therealangd

I have a Garmin 305 with chest HRM. I love it. LOVE.

I still don't know how to use all the features yet. But it tells me pace. Time. Speed. Distance. There is a training module to run against another virtual runner. Apparently there's a "find home" function if you get lost. You can download your runs to the software and then race against yourself. It tells you calories burned too. I have read reports that the calories burned is low. They do seem a little low I guess. Heart rate is perfect. matches my MIO within a beat. So it must be the calculation.

Anyway, I love it.

jrueckert

Just today I learned about a site called mapmyrun.com. I was disappointed that the HRM I just bought didn't have a GPS, but this site helps you know how long your routes are!

scottb81

I run with a Garmin 310XT. My opinion is that a GPS is one of the best additions to training a runner can make. The model I have allows you to pre-program training runs so that you can get the desired training effect. It alerts you with a tone and vibration when the pace is too fast or slow or the heart rate is too fast or slow. It also tells you when to stop, either by distance or time. I generally program multi effort runs and simply let the watch tell me when to increase or decrease running effort.

1horsetown

The Garmins that use GPS don't use your heart rate to figure your calorie burn. The chest strap is only so you can monitor your heart rate and stay in your 'zone'.

I have the Garmin FR60 with a foot pod. It's fairly accurate as long as your speed stays about the same. I run intervals and it has some trouble with that, not terrible, but not totally accurate.

I'd love to know if there's a GPS watch out there that uses your heart rate. Polar's site doesn't mention it.

I've come to the conclusion that I'll need a separate GPS and just use my FR60 for my heart rate.

scottb81

The Garmins that use GPS don't use your heart rate to figure your calorie burn. The chest strap is only so you can monitor your heart rate and stay in your 'zone'.

I have the Garmin FR60 with a foot pod. It's fairly accurate as long as your speed stays about the same. I run intervals and it has some trouble with that, not terrible, but not totally accurate.

I'd love to know if there's a GPS watch out there that uses your heart rate. Polar's site doesn't mention it.

I've come to the conclusion that I'll need a separate GPS and just use my FR60 for my heart rate.

The more expensive Garmins measure calorie burn by heartrate.

scottb81

This site has very good reviews on all the Garmins. http://www.dcrainmaker.com/p/product-reviews.html

Lisamarie1226

I have a Garmin Forerunner 305 and use it when I run. It will change your life!

Agreed!

I got the Garmin FR 305 with GPS for Christmas from my folks and it's amazing! It's a little bulky for my small wrists but it's so awesome. Not only can you monitor your pace and distance, but it will tell you your overall pace and your best pace. you can set alerts so it will chime if you fall below your set pace.... you can set timing alerts...

It really is a great tool for running outside!

it's definitely worth it!

lclarkjr

I have a Garmin Forerunner 305 and use it when I run. It will change your life!

This!

I got mine as a gift at the beginning of the year and it has taken my casual running to the next level. I have the Garmin 305 as well with the HRM strap.

kjb0976

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I am thinking this will help me with my training more than anything else at this point. I hate it that I have no idea what my pace is while running outside. The treadmill (I refer to it as some not so nice words) bores me!

Thanks for the compliment on my shoes.. Love them. Asics Gel-Noosa Tri 6. They beat the heck out of the Mizzuno I was running in.

arc918

I've been an early adopter of every Garmin model they've had. I can't wait to get the new 610!

Get one for sure, they are awesome. I would expect lots of guys like me to be ditching their 405s as soon as the 610s become readily available = good deals on those models.

zoombie_bear

I use it, it's amazing, I have a garmin 4runner, excellent for outdoors & objectives

ilsie99

My garmin 310xt is my favorite piece of running gear ever. I feel naked without it.

nursekj

Garmin or iphone with the running app?? Bothh are pretty exp but I would hate for it to rain and ruin a phone! What do people reccommend?

lclarkjr

Garmin or iphone with the running app?? Bothh are pretty exp but I would hate for it to rain and ruin a phone! What do people reccommend?

Definitely Garmin. I've found it to be more accurate than any of the GPS apps I've used with my iPhone.

brityn

I got a garmin 410 for Christmas along with a comparable HRM. It's, by far, the best fitness investment I've ever made. I ran a 10k at the end of November and after training properly with the garmin I've shaved off 8 minutes of my race time (i ran another 10k last week) It's so nice knowing exactly how far, fast, calories burned, HR. And it's all saved in the watch until you upload it to your computer. I'd HIGHLY recommend one. You won't be disappointed

CommandaPanda

If you have a smart phone, might I suggest an app? Look for RunKeeper on the Android and iPhone markets, me and my friends use it to track our runs through GPS and we end up making a competition out of it.

I use it to track all of my runs and it will map out where you ran to and everything, pace, time, and distance (everything so accurate). I think the only thing that lacks with smart phones is the HRM and calories burned features (which is why I'm looking to buy the Polar FT7M since it's cheaper than most of the Garmin's I've seen).

DonPendergraft

The Garmin 310XT is an awesome choice! It's a bit spendy (w/HRM close to $400). If you can afford it, go for it! If you can't, consider the Garmin 305. It's almost identical and goes for less than $130. What you are missing is the stellar battery life of the 301XT (20 hrs - great for endurance athletes vs 8hrs for the 305), and the 305 isn't as water friendly. You can get it wet, but don't go swimming with it. The 310XT truly is waterproof so it better for tri-athletes. The 305 is slightly larger. A few other little things, but if you are on a budget the 305 is the way to go. By the way, you can go 20+ with the 305 if you bring the el-cheapo duracell AA portable charger with lithium batteries. Strap it to your wrist when you battery gets low and re-charge on the run.

elizamc

Bump

rybo

The only reason I now have GPS watch is because it was a gift. But I will say its kind of nice to just take off into the trails and know how far I went when I'm done.
I still don't like to rely on it for setting my pace, I'd rather "feel" how fast I'm running and whatever it turns out to be, just go with it.

ineednapkin

I love my Garmin 305!

mlb929

My running really improved when I got my Garmin, the information I receive really keeps me motivated.

AZTrailRunner

I've had a Garmin 305 for 5 or 6 years now and never run without it. One of these days I'll get a newer model, but can't justify giving up the old one since it still does the job wonderfully!

kobzal

I have a garmin 305, or should I say had. It died about a month ago. I loved it while it was working. However it lasted less than 2 years before dying, which is so disappointing after others have had their units last for 4 or more years. I will say one drawback is that on longer runs, it was so heavy that my arm would start to go numb at the end, and I wore it lose.

So for now I just use my polar HRM. So much lighter! I do have my eye on the 610 though. Trying to determine if it is worth the price, especially since my 305 gave out so easily.