My first running watch Garmin 45: I’ve been... - Bridge to 10K

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My first running watch Garmin 45

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10
36 Replies

I’ve been wanting a Garmin for a long time and so this arrived today. I only plan to wear it for running and will be trying it out at parkrun tomorrow. Initial impressions, I don’t know if I’ve warmed to it yet.

I also have the London Winter Run next weekend and didn’t want to faff about with my phone on the day 🙂

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JaoJao profile image
JaoJao
Graduate10
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36 Replies
Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate10

Ooooh a new garmin. I'm sure you'll love it once you start playing about with all its features. Remember to download the garmin connect app on your phone .

I've got the Garmin forerunner 35 and I love it, I wear mine 24/7.

Let us know how you get on with it at parkrun 😊😊

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10 in reply toBuddy34

I wanted the Garmin forerunner 35! But this one had a couple features I thought would be useful, v02 max and emergency alerts.

GoGo_JoJo profile image
GoGo_JoJoGraduate10 in reply toJaoJao

The 45 is great value for money and the fitness metrics are really good for the price

Grannyhugs profile image
GrannyhugsGraduate10

Enjoy, like buddy I have the 35 which I also wear 24/7. Switch off the move alert, it's very rude, even if you've run a 10k in the morning it tells you to move during your afternoon cuppa😉

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10 in reply toGrannyhugs

Hahaha! How funny! Let the lady enjoy her cuppa in peace 😁

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10 in reply toJaoJao

Yes, I also turned off the HR alert. I know when my HR is high without it telling me!

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10

Fab! I have my trusty old Garmin Forerunner 10. It's pretty basic compared to more recent models but records all the info I want and like Buddy34, I wear it all the time.🙂

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10 in reply toSandraj39

Wow I’ve not heard of the 10, I’ll look it up 🙂

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10 in reply toJaoJao

Not sure they do it now - Ibought it about 4 years ago. The one downside is that I have to connect it via USB to my laptop to upload data to Garmin Connect. I would upgrade but apart from this (which I do once a week) it really does everything I need! I'm kind of attached to it - it has been there recording my greatest successes!😁

Beachcomber66 profile image
Beachcomber66Graduate10

Wouldn't be without my Garmin 35. A whole new world of lovely stats opened up through Garmin Connect. In run data too so you know when to speed up and slow down; have fun 😊

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10 in reply toBeachcomber66

Thank you. I’m also getting used to Garmin Connect 🙂

linda9389 profile image
linda9389Graduate10

Took me quite a while to fall in love with my 235! I found it counterintuitive at first, but once I understood it better I was soon hooked 😍. I'm sure you will love it too before very long 👍

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10 in reply tolinda9389

It worked fine this morning at parkrun, I did a test run on the way there. I’ve ordered an orange strap for it now, think it will be a keeper 🙂

linda9389 profile image
linda9389Graduate10 in reply toJaoJao

👍👍👍

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator

A friend of mine has a Garmin 45. I helped her set it up a few weeks ago. It’s a lovely watch. She now wears hers all the time. I have a Garmin 35, I wear mine all the time too. But at the end of the day I just use mine for pace, distance and time. I don’t bother with all the fancy information. Cadence , Vo2 max means nothing really, V02 max can only be properly calculated in a sports laboratory.

Enjoy it. It’s so much easier than carrying a phone.

Damien

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10 in reply todamienair

There should be a Garmin forerunner 35 club so many of you have it.

I enjoyed it this morning and it all worked first time 🙂

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10 in reply todamienair

I'm the same - just pace, time and distance on my old Forerunner 10. I have no desire to know the rest as I think I would get bogged down in all the stats. Can you turn off VO2 max, heart rate etc?

damienair profile image
damienairAdministrator in reply toSandraj39

I had a very similar watch to you. I had the Garmin Forerunner 15. I upgraded to the 35 as it was on a really good Amazon Prime deal for £80.

But to be perfectly honest it doesn’t really do anything more than the forerunner 15. The upgrade I like is Bluetooth connection to Garmin Connect on my phone and it’s smaller so I can wear it as an everyday watch. The 15 was a little bulky (men’s version), so I just wore it for running.

But other than that it does not do anything more. The Garmin 15 was perfectly accurate and worked great. I gave mine to my sister and she loves it for running. I’ve turned a lot of features off on my 35. You can have all the stats in the world, but without hard work and sweating 😓 you’ll never run any faster. It’s just a tool.

Damien

Sandraj39 profile image
Sandraj39Graduate10 in reply todamienair

Yep, the Bluetooth is the main reason I sometimes think of an upgrade - I have to plug mine into the laptop to upload onto Garmin Connect. So true about the stats! 😏

ktsok profile image
ktsok

Ooohhh. They are large beasts to be sure. I have the 235 and thought I might only wear it for running. But you can change the watch faces through the Garmin Connect App; and the stats are so good that I wear it most of the time now. Sleeping, swimming, walking, running, yoga; it all gets logged! Enjoy 😊

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10 in reply toktsok

I’m enjoying checking out the features, stats and data and Garmin connect app.

RunningMigster profile image
RunningMigster

New kit! How exciting.

Let us know how you get on with it

Mig

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10 in reply toRunningMigster

Pretty good actually! It recorded my parkrun this morning!

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10

Update: Used it at parkrun this morning and it was super easy and was pretty accurate to my parkrun time. I’m super pleased with it and have ordered a bright orange strap this afternoon! I’ve taken it off now, and quite like the idea of having a big running watch for running And a sleeker watch for everything else ❤️

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate10

Welcome to the world of geeks and stats JaoJao. Love my 35 too. It just shows we’ve been running a year longer. The 45 followed the 35.

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10 in reply toDexy5

And many more happy years of running ahead fingers crossed 🙂

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate10

That’s a nice piece of kit JaoJao ...I absolutely love my Garmin, I have the Vivoactive 3 music and i wear mine all the time. I had a fitbit charge 2 before this and I loved that too but the gps kept letting me down and it nearly ended up in the canal a few times!!! But i’m completely happy with my Garmin and once you start faffing with yours I’m sure you will too x

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10 in reply toMummycav

Thank you! This feels so serious, but in a nice way. I remember saying in the summer, I’m happy with 5K, I don’t want running to take over my life, now look at me! New trainers, new watch, entered the London Winter Run... it is all going on.

Kevtrev profile image
KevtrevGraduate10

I’m loving your new watch JaoJao you will soon get used to it and plus you can use it for yoga mine has the option so should your watch I’m sure enjoy your new Garmin and first Garmin no matter which one you get you can’t go wrong they are fab and if you download a new face download the Crystal watch face and you can change the colour as well double check it’s compatible in the list take care JaoJao happy running XX

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10 in reply toKevtrev

Thank you Kev, I tried it at parkrun this morning and it worked a treat. It’s going to be so convenient in so many way by not using the phone. Well maybe to listen to the radio or a podcast but not for tracking runs on a mobile app. Look what’s happened to me... new trainers, new watch... whatever next!

Super duper! 👏👏I have the forerunner 25. I’ve had it for a few years now and it’s never let me down. The only thing I had to replace was the strap and that was a xmas gift 2019 off hubby.

I’m sure you’ll have lots of fun together you and forerunner45 🤣🤣

Congrats.

Very nice! It’s making me want one now and sounds like lots of people have the 35 as well so it must be good. I might do some research. Glad it worked well at your ParkRun. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

My current watch bought for me for my 40th, some years ago, needs servicing which would cost £250 😫so this might be another reason to buy one of these so at least I will have a watch to wear until I can afford the repair

Oh, am I talking myself into it!!! 🤣

Cantstopmenow profile image
CantstopmenowGraduate10

Ive got the garmin 35, I love it. I would certainly join a garmin forerunner 35 club. Enjoy your new toy/tool x

Oops looks like I just bought a Garmin 35. Thanks JaoJao!!! 🤣. Definitely have to get back on track now!

JaoJao profile image
JaoJaoGraduate10 in reply to

Haha brilliant 🙂🙂

in reply toJaoJao

I much prefer the shape of the 45 though and it comes in small which is great if you have slim wrists. Where did you buy yours?

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