Measuring speed and distance

[Tess22]

Hi, can someone recommend a suitable and reasonably priced watch which measures speed and distance, please/ It's what's keeping me on a treadmill. When I try to run outside I end up running too quickly and have to stop. Thanks.

[SunnyAnnie Graduate]

I use my phone, with Runkeeper or Map My Run. It fits in a little belt attachment, and I have set it to tell me my average speed, distance and time each minute, but you can set it to whatever you like. I know what I need to keep my average speed to in order to finish, so it suits me very well. You can use the apps in conjunction with Couch25K.

[groovyforster in reply to SunnyAnnie]

I also use Map My Run. Good App for running.

[sprynn Graduate]

My husband uses a Garmin but I think they are quite expensive. I also use the Runkeeper app on my mobile phone as well as the Wahoo app which has big screen display of pace so you can easily track it. It shows current pace, but if you tap it, you get your average pace. Both apps are free. I use a wirstband (My Band Elite) to hold my phone so I can see it easily as I can't quite see the screen on the ones that go on the upper arm. Good luck.

[dagshar Graduate in reply to sprynn]

The wristband is an interesting idea - i use the craneconnect app with my aldi heartrate monitor to track how i have done, but keep the phone in a waist pouch. I have struggled to find one that is big enough for the phone without being massive and am sometimes struggling with it moving around. A wristband would solve that problem and also give me visibility of heart rate and speed as I go along. Will measure phone and maybe give it a try.

[dagshar Graduate in reply to sprynn]

Ps: does the wristband work if you have headphones plugged into your phone? I always listen to my music.

[sprynn Graduate in reply to dagshar]

It works with an iPhone 5s and 6. You slide the phone in and as the port for the earphones is at the bottom which remains open, it is easily connected.

[dagshar Graduate in reply to sprynn]

I have a Galaxy S4 mini which is a similar size I think so should be ok. I was thinking more about the cables dangling about when moving your arms and whether that is distracting more than if the phone was in a jacket pocket or bum bag?

[sprynn Graduate in reply to dagshar]

The cables don't bother me really. I slide them up my sleeve and out through the neck when wearing short sleeves, which stops them flapping too much.

[dagshar Graduate in reply to sprynn]

I'd never have thought of that! Excellent tip.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

Hi, are you doing the NHS Couch to 5K programme? I always feel that when you are learning to run, it is about listening to your body - ie learning how to pace *yourself* rather than a bunch of numbers. The tech doesn't know you. (The music on the podcasts has some role in assisting pace... although not like 'run to the beat') Numbers can be very useful later on.

For that, I use Runkeeper on my phone.

[baronblaze in reply to GoogleMe]

Totally agree. A watch will only help you run slower or faster over very short distances such as at the finish of your run or if you are doing intervals. If you are running too fast without a watch you'll run too fast with a watch. Running too fast is good for fitness but not for distance. Get off the treadmill, run outside, relax and run within yourself. Running is a personal challenge for all of us, probably one reason why we took it up

[mfamilias Graduate]

I agree wholeheartedly with GoogleMe: your instinct's what you need to know if your pace is right for you. Settle for some good music and the C25K app if you are doing the program. Just enjoy the sights and sounds on your run - you can always track your run on a computer and calculate speed etc after your run.

[Rignold in reply to mfamilias]

I'm in agreement here too. If you find you are running too fast, slow down. Then slow down some more. There's no need to stop. Running at the speed a treadmill is set or your watch tells you is utterly arbitrary and not getting you in tune with your body.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate]

RunKeeper and MMR are both very good if you have a smart phone. I found the average pace feature on RK really helpful. I recently moved over to a Garmin, it cost about £70.

[AllieG Graduate]

Yep, simples. If you start running outside, just go slow. If you start feeling tired and want to stop, just slow down. You don't really need any tech to start with, although I used to use MapmyRun as it tells you speed/distance at every km. There are apps which allow you to set a pace, and if you go over/under it, a little voice in your ear says "speed up!" Or, "slow down!" But to be honest, it's really tempting to get all this stuff, to make yourself feel like a "proper" runner.

Once you've been outside a few times, you'll get used to what your body is telling you to do. I know when I go too fast because I get wheezy, so I slow down. But on the plus side as I'm getting stronger and a bit more experienced, I know that the wheeze is getting better.

I do have a Garmin now (you can get the most basic one on Amazon for about £50), I started running just before Christmas. I go out 3 times a week, once for the local Parkrun (they are BRILLIANT, it doesn't matter how fast/slow/young/old you are), once to do a 5k around a different park, and then once to increase my distance (am up to 7.5k now). I only use the Garmin on the long run, so I know when to stop as I'm increasing the distance by 500m a week. Parkrun logs your time for you, so you can see yourself improving week by week.

Just go slow and listen to what your body is saying. That's what I did, and now I'm happily motoring along at my own pace. Get out there, it's a bloody brilliant time of year to be running outside. Happy running and keep us posted

[valumas]

Hi. Download any app in your phone...such Runstatic...it even follows your way on a map throw its own gps. Good luck 😊

[Pollynorris Graduate]

If you have a smart phone, map my run is great. It has voice feedback of pace, time, distance as you choose, it has training settings for time intervals and distance among others I haven't tried, you can play your music over it and the biggest benefit I find is the live tracking so my husband knows exactly where I am in the event of an accident, or more often, that I am going to be longer than planned so he has to get the kids!

[rmnsuk Graduate]

I use strava on my iPhone. It tells you time and pace every half km. Well it does if you can get it to work (I have a thing about phones. They hate me.) So I decided to get a garmin 15 but haven't tried it out yet. Hopefully I can get one or the other working and start obsessing with stats