Running with a Garmin

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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?

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

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.

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.

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

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.