Garmins

So, does everyone have a Garmin? What's it all about?

[Potty Graduate]

Hi GLudgwig - No, I don't have one but will be interested in what responses you get!

[Hidden in reply to Potty]

Plenty of info to read here if you're interested! We're obviously missing out

[Steve_L Graduate]

I got myself a Garmin Forerunner 15 and a Mio link wrist heart rate monitor. It's useful and interesting to see the details of your run and compare one with another. You can also link up with other users and compare progress.

[Zev1963 Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

Me too, Garmin Forerunner with MIO Link. They work really well together. I also like the Garmin site where all your runs download to a calender thingy. Great way of keeping a detailed record of all your runs.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate]

I don't have one, I keep looking at hem on Amazon, but for me Runkeeper on my phone does everything I want it to.. I would always carry a phone anyway in case of emergencies, and I have my music there too...I'm sure lots of runners here will tell you why a Garmin is better though...

[Curlygurly2 Graduate in reply to Curlygurly2]

Oh, a Garmin is better for longer runs, RK uses a lot of phone battery.

[stephenbennyhat Graduate in reply to Curlygurly2]

I found mapmyrun on my ageing iPhone 4s always over estimated my run distance by about 10% -- the GPS is much more accurate on my forerunner 15. Of course newer phones might be better!

[Steve_L Graduate]

I wear my Garmin 24/7 - it monitors your activity - counts you daily steps, and even monitors your movement while asleep so you can see how well you're sleeping

[Zev1963 Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

me too

[Marie70 Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

And me!! :oD

[PrincessStef Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

and me too - It turns out I am quite active in my sleep too

[Jase44 Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

Steve which garmin have you got? J

[Steve_L Graduate in reply to Jase44]

I've got a Forerunner 15 - I didn't want to bust the bank, but I did want one that links to a heart rate monitor (I have a Mio link that you wear on your wrist). It does everything I need, I think.

[Jase44 Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

Nice one. I use my tomtom cardio runner ( this has a built in HR monitor which uses the same technology as the hospitals use) for running which is good then my garmin 205 and garmin 510 when biking. I totally love the stats thing. Strava is good too but I only use that mainly for social side of things. It still has good stats but runs phone battery down quite quickly I like the idea of the sleep side of things too am I just the stat man? Lol J

[Steve_L Graduate in reply to Jase44]

The sleep monitoring is really interesting. You can see if you had a good nights sleep, or have been restless.

[Jase44 Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

Yes I really like that idea as I usually sleep terribly unless I've been running

[AdamB Graduate]

I use a Garmin 610. A GPS watch is not an essential. If you are a stats freak, though, it's fun to have. The advantages of using a dedicated gps watch as opposed to an app on a smartphone is:

1) you don't flatten your phone battery which will happen very quickly on a longer run or bike ride. I find that I'll flatten my phone battery in under 2 hours with an app. My bike rides are typically 4 to 10 hours long.

2) you can check your pace during a run - just look at your wrist instead of having to dig in your bum bag, open the phone case, unlock the phone, flick through all the open apps to find the right screen, drop your phone while you are trying to put it back away again. If you don't want to check your pace during a run, there's no point. I sometimes like to to compare how I'm doing against a preset target.

3) it's easier to upload your stats to a pc after a run. I just get in the house, dump my watch by the pc and go away and run a shower. By the time I come down again my run has been uploaded to myfitnesspal, strava, jantastic etc. I can compare how I've performed on previous runs, get km splits at my leisure (I know you can get all this from your phone app, but it's not as clean and easy to do)

4) The dedicated running watch is more accurate - my phone invariably tells me that I've been running on water again (rather than on the riverside footpath)

Whether or not you need this depends on you. The major benefit for me is the ability to check my pace whilst running at the time I want to check (rather than waiting for the audio prompts from my phone app)

[Hidden in reply to AdamB]

That sounds really good. I'm a bit jealous now after reading all these posts! Thanks for the info

[Curlygurly2 Graduate in reply to AdamB]

I haven't got anywhere near 4 hours - I wish!

Runkeeper tells me my pace as I run

It's easy to upload - it goes as soon as you connect to the internet usually, although sometimes it takes a while.

[misswobble Graduate]

I have a garmin 10, the basic one, but you do become a slave to the damn thing. I can't even read the ruddy thing when running, plus i forget to stop it after races so i don't know why i bother really

I do use the virtual pacer but again i never know if i am ahead or behind as the text is too wee. I have to park my specs on top of my head ready for reading it at opportune times, eg at crossings.

I do like uploading the run and seeing how i've done, and connecting up to folks on here who have them. Oh yes glud, there is another forum on garmin connect. You'll never get owt done! LoL

[Buffy007 Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Dont' tell her about another forum!

[Hidden in reply to Buffy007]

Nooooo, save me!!!

[Hidden in reply to Buffy007]

Actually, it's fine, I can't afford one, I'm safe, just curious

[Wristy Graduate in reply to Buffy007]

Ok I'm coming to find you all! I am Nickonarun on GC!

[Hidden in reply to misswobble]

How do I find this magical place, and other people, MW?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Oh my gosh I think I just found it...

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Garmin Connect. Come on over to the dark side Spiky

[Hidden in reply to AncientMum]

Are you all, like, hiding over there?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Be warned though, if you hook up with MissW on Garmin you may feel woefully inadequate in comparison. Seriously though, she's like a machine

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Or indeed if you hook up with Frocky too

[Jase44 Graduate in reply to misswobble]

I must look into this one on garmin connect at this rate I'll have put 10lbs on carrying all the electronic gadgets lol. J

[ViaM Graduate]

I use the Forerunner 110 and I love looking at the stats straight after a run, whilst having a cup of tea. I am addicted to technology and gadgets though... Why run if not for the data, eh?

[AngieS Graduate]

I have a Garmin forerunner 320. I have a Windows phone which can't get most of the apps that you get on android and iPhones, so runkeeper etc were not really an option for me.

I love the stats from the Garmin - like Andy I plug it in when I get home, go off to stretch and shower and then enjoy looking at my splits, pace, cadence etc while I eat my breakfast. As well as being able to check pace whilst I run, you can also set up workouts such as timed intervals at different paces. This is useful if you're following a training plan that includes interval training. The Garmin beeps and prompts me when a new interval starts and then gives me alerts to tell me if my pace is within the range I've set for that interval. Sounds annoying, doesn't it - a watch that tells you you're not running fast enough!

[Megzig Graduate]

Real runners swear by their Garmins!!! I got a Garmin 110 (basic model) for my birthday last year, I like being able to see how far I have run and how long it has taken me. Once you have uploaded the data to Garmin Connect you are able to compare your runs as well in terms of route, time & distance. I have also set goals for myself and the Garmin stats show me how I am doing. PS I'm a slow runner but I do like to see my PBs - Longest run, fastest (for me) 5k etc

[Buffy007 Graduate]

Hooked or what?

[Hidden in reply to Buffy007]

Me or them?

[Buffy007 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

You!

[Niknok01 Graduate]

I've got a fitbit flex. I got it when I started WW. It counts your steps, tells you calories burnt, active minutes, got can track your sleep. You can also input weight and loss and calories in. I like it because it syncs to my WW app. I wear it all day everyday. U tend to wear it in my sock all day but when I do my runs I put it on my wrist. It will also track miles and pace etc.

[ViaM Graduate in reply to Niknok01]

Oh I had one of those and its wristband gave me a nasty skin rash!

[misswobble Graduate]

Real runners? LOL

[Megzig Graduate in reply to misswobble]

I've got the lycra & the garmin but I don't look like a real runner!!

[Dunder2004 Graduate]

I commandeered my son's old 205. It is around 4 years old so the battery probably won't have too much more to give.

I am a complete stats and analytics freak so the ability to pre-program workouts (which gives the ability, among other things, to check splits at varying times/distances) is great.

Compared to the mobile apps, I just find it a little bit more convenient, flexible and reliable.

[misswobble Graduate]

Course you do Meg! You're a runner! Laura said so!

[Niknok01 Graduate]

ViaM

I put the black bit in my sock as I feel it's a more true reading. I only have it on the wrist band when asleep or doing C25k. I wear it loose and had no problems. Fitbit don't recommend you wear it anywhere else but on your wrist. But I think that's more down to advertising that you are wearing one.

[ajwyld Graduate]

I have an FR 15, but its had to go back to Garmin for repair (4 weeks and counting...) and I REALLY miss it. I've gone back to runkeeper on my phone, but find it way slow to lock on to a satellite (fault of the phone not the app) and find it really difficult to juggle starting my music and starting tracking my run. When I have my garmin I just set my music running on my phone and then put it in its carrier, and rely on the garmin for run tracking !

[Curlygurly2 Graduate in reply to ajwyld]

RK locks on quickly at the back of the house, but takes forever out the front.. I have a tiny house BTW!

[Dunder2004 Graduate in reply to Curlygurly2]

Broadly speaking how well/quickly the GPS 'locks on' is more a product of the hardware (your phone's GPS) than the software (RunKeeper).

I have tried Runkeeper (as well as Strava and My Tracks) in a few different mobiles and the performance varies a lot depending on the handset but pretty much not at all by app.

[Hidden]

I got a FR 15 for Christmas and to be honest I'm still trying to figure out what all the fuss is about.

I've not linked up with anybody yet though - I'm guessing that would make things more fun. (Can anybody help?)

I still use my Nike+ app alongside it, which probably defeats the object! I like the instantaneousness of it and find it a pain to be always plugging in my Garmin to upload. So I only do it every other week or so!

I thought I'd like the freedom of going out without my phone but haven't brought myself to be able to do it yet for safety reasons. Maybe once the mornings are a bit lighter.

Blimey I sound a right bore don't I?

[Dunder2004 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

On Garmin Connect there is a group named:

NHS C25K H.U. Forum Group

Many of us are members of that.

[Hidden in reply to Dunder2004]

Found it already - a whole new world haha! Thank you though x

[runswithdogs Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I'm runswithdogs_1 if you'd like to connect.

[AdamB Graduate in reply to Hidden]

and I'm slow_coach over on Garmin Connect. When I registered it didn't seem to give me any options over username - it just took one look at the times I was logging and decided my name for me

(though it could also be something to do with the fact that I have other garmin accounts related to cycling and picked up on one of my forum names from there...)

[PrincessStef Graduate in reply to Dunder2004]

found it too - Now everyone really is with me on every run - I am PrincessStef if anyone wants to connect

[Steve_L Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I'm on Connect as Steve_L_Oxf so feel free to connect if you want!

[Ugifer]

I began running about a year ago and picked up a second hand ForeRunner 410 on e-bay. It came with a Heart-Rate Monitor (HRM), charger and a dongle that connects to the PC. I bought a new chest-strap for the HRM thou'.

I've found it very useful because it gives me a continuous readout of pace and HR while I am running, which helps to stop me going too fast at the start of a run. You can also program it with your "Walk 10, jog 5, walk 5, run 10" type workouts, which is handy.

I also found the route-planning (on the web site & downloaded to the watch) useful when I was building up my time and distance & finding the length of the local routes. More recently I've joined a gym but I still wear it for the HRM and calorie count.

Having used it for a year or so, it's nice to look back and see that I've run 240 miles and burnt 30,000 calories in the last year.

[Rignold in reply to Ugifer]

I have the same model from the same source. You clearly have delved deeper into its capabilities than I have, though. I generally just use it to analyse my data post run and to monitor my heart rate when I'm doing zone training.

My two slight peeves about the 410 are: the 410 and 610 seemingly get the fuzzy end of the lollipop re connectivity. It took months for the software updates to filter down to us older model users, and whenever there is a glitch we are the last to get reconnected.

Secondly, there isn't a way of just using the heart rate monitor independently of GPS tracking. OR maybe there is because I am sure I did it once by accident but can't find any way of replicating this. It would be really useful to me to be able to use the HRM while doing Crossfit or P90x, or I guess same goes for people who run indoors on treadmills, but until it locks onto satellites you can access the HRM data, which is annoying because it beeps to acknowledge the HRM before searching for satellites.

I love my Garmin and wouldn't be without it, but that is because I am a slightly obsessed exercise junkie (one of the cats wee'ed on my weightlifting record sheets the other day and it was more distressing than when my computer hard drive died). If I was 'just running for pleasure' I am not sure I would bother. I think there is a danger with stats to get sucked into a self-improvement loop that you might not consciously eitehr be aware of or want to be doing. It is the same with being on forums. facebook groups etc. I sometimes find myself feeling dissatisfied with my results and pushing myself more than I intend, and then realise it is because I am reading all my online friends posts of their daily results and measuring myself unfavourably against them. I have to remind myself that most of them are half my age and in some cases professional athletes.

[Ugifer in reply to Rignold]

I use it in HRM mode several times a week (in fact I'm just back from having done so tonight). I just go to the GPS menu and turn off the GPS!

[Rignold in reply to Ugifer]

there you are you see. Technology. not designed for fat fingered Luddites like me.

Thanks for that.

[MarkyD Graduate]

See my Garmin VivoSmart review a few posts above this one.

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

I'm happy just using Runkeeper. Just depends whether stats are an incentive (obsession? ) for you.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Other makes of GPS watches are also available..........

[Hidden in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Love it! That was a bit of a Garmin-fest, wasn't it?

[Rob_and_his_westie Graduate]

My Garmin is my constant companion. It is there, by my side (OK, on my wrist) when I need it. It is my helper, my organ of record and my conscience.

Do not come between me and my Garmin...... my precisousssssss.

[Hidden in reply to Rob_and_his_westie]

Oh blimey, they're a bit scary then. I don't think I want one any more, ha ha

[HJBates Graduate]

No-one seems to have mentioned Endomondo - which is a free app that monitors each run so that you can see a map and a run profile with loads of statistics about speed, altitide, calories etc. It also allows you to map out routes and share them with others on the website. I was looking at Garmins on saturday but decided that I'd try Endomondo first as it's completely free! Seems great so far.

[Zev1963 Graduate]

Likes it we does, the Garmin precious. We dont like no nasty RunKeepersis do we precious, no we dont. Gollum

[Rignold]

although, if I was buying afresh I would probably get a Suunto than a Garmin.

I may even get myself one as a birthday present if I get my marathon <4hrs. And Mrs R can have my Garmin. LOL.

[flossieflyblow Graduate]

I have a Garmin 110 that my lovely husband gave me for my birthday at a time when I thought that I'd never run again. It is better than an app (Cardiotrainer) that one of my sons had put on my phone at tracking where I've run as round here the GPS on the app seems to cut out. I get an accurate map of my run, time and 'stats' of stuff that I have absolutely no idea about. I have no idea how to make it do anything else such as telling me that I've run for 10 minutes or 1k and have 30mins or 4k to go or washing up, cooking etc and regularly press the wrong button and so it won't start or can't get rid of the last run and ........Aaaaaaargghhhh! You understand my frustration?!!

In summary: useful but not that useful.

[Theziggy Graduate]

I have a Garmin 10 which I am putting on eBay very shortly. Haven't used it much, it is very accurate, but in the tree filled country park where we parkrun it has failed to connect in time before the parkrun began.

So - it is off to the big Bay in the Sky for it.

[hilbean Graduate]

I *think* I would like one but I don't have one. I dug an old stopwatch out of the drawer and use that but keep looking at the Garmins. Have told myself that if I still want one by the time it's my birthday maybe it'll be worth getting one

[Jase44 Graduate]

Hi G, I have a garmin a tomtom and strava on my iPhone lol. I use them because I can look back and see how much I've improved. I'll also know how many miles I've done (coming up for my first 100 miles soon :)) so I can have some new shoes lol. The main thing thou is although I feel fitter I can also see how fitter I am. They also build up a trail on a map so you can see your highs and lows that you have run.

You don't need it but it does inspire you to carry on and beat old records. My garmin forerunner has a back course on it too so if I did ever run somewhere I didn't know I could turn this on and at least return to where I started from hope your well J

[mrstickle]

Hi GLudwig, i just ordered one for £102.07! it's a Forerunner 405 with free next day delivery, did some research and am hoping this will be more useful than my antiquated pedometer for recording walks, treks and runs (the main reason for the plunge into GPS) discount-supplements.co.uk/... there's a 12% discount code on the site, though as I've not used them before have no idea of service. Legs crossed

[Hidden in reply to mrstickle]

Sounds good, I'm jealous! I think I might have to start saving for one. Have fun!

[mrstickle in reply to Hidden]

thanks, keep you posted

[mrstickle in reply to mrstickle]

no real surprise here, the order cannot be fulfilled by the supplier, back to the price comparisons but have decided to stick with a Garmin

[Hidden]

That's a shame, but someone else posted on here today about Garmins on sale on Amazon - you might want to have a look

[mrstickle in reply to Hidden]

Thanks GLudwig, picked up a forerunner15, just setting it up and all seems very simple for a beginner, with room to use more of it's features as I progress. Now to schedule W1R1 ! No more excuses ...

[Hidden in reply to mrstickle]

Excellent, go for it!