I’ve used Garmin etrex devices for walking since selective availability on gps was turned off in, I think, 2001 and have had about 5 different units over this time... they’re great and accuracy in open land is amazingly good. So, Garmin was always going to be my choice for a running watch, and I’m pretty pleased with it in all but one respect... accuracy. I’ve always assumed that a dedicated device from a trusted company would be far more accurate than my phone which is busy doing countless other tasks while I run... but now I don’t think this is the case.
Parkruns are measured. Maybe a marshal has put a turn a few feet out here and there, but it’s essentially 3.1 miles, or 5k if you will. My Garmin has always measured a parkrun as under... usually around 2.85-3 miles, which had me scratching my head... my tracker on iPhone however consistently measures my home parkrun as 3.11 miles, a fraction over but an insignificant fraction. I’ve been fine with this set of circumstances for parkrun.
Yesterday I went on a 5 mile guided run, and stopped when the Nike app told me to... my Garmin measured it at 4.62 miles. This could be a big issue as I increase distances I think.
According to NRC and an online routing app, a little lap I’ve found in my local park is almost precisely 500m. So when I’ve run laps of it I can count laps and know where I’m at, certainly in km, bit more complicated in miles than my brain can always deal with mid run 🤣
2.5 miles of it (almost exactly 4K) is consistently as near to 8 laps as I can put down to running wider on the tight bend, literally a few feet out per lap... Garmin has the 500m mark further ahead of where I started on each lap.
So, I’ve spoken to Garmin who’ve given me a couple of things to try... and then I had a google. According to a test I found the iPhone 5s proved more accurate than all but one watch, and I’m a few generations on from that device... and I know my phone to be accurate enough for geocaching, so pretty much consistently within +/- 10 feet, my etrex beats it by half of that error most of the time, but I can’t see how accurate my watch thinks it is, not on a Forerunner at least. fellrnr.com/wiki/GPS_Accuracy
I tend to have my phone with me in training, but on event day I’m going to be without it... am I better off training to the device I’ll have with me on the day? I’m a little worried about breaking the 10% rule if I do a guided run week on phone and then one on watch.
Written by
UnfitNoMore
Metric Marathon
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You can set GPS to track more frequently, also choose which satellite system you use. Garmin do tend to ramble a bit with GPS. It's fine for an estimate but not pinpoint accurate.
I have always used my phone and found it to be bang on. I have never used a watch for the reasons you state. I see that they are more convenient, but as I am accustomed to my phone and either hold, put in pocket or stick in one of those arm strap thingys it doesn't bother me.
So I guess for me it would come down to using what more accurate. However, I know others lover their watches, so I think its just comes down to personal preference.
Yeah... I think I need to train with the phone in charge of things. Apple Watch is starting to make sense to me for the first time ever... must resist!!!
I don’t really want to be even more contactable either... so if I was to buy one it would be just for running... maybe get 2/3 days on a charge then 🤣 and the Garmin would be my fitness watch. Or I could just train in the Garmin and thus find a marathon surprisingly easy as my long runs were already 25 miles!
I’ve done what Garmin told me to try so we shall see if it’s worked next time I do a run I can measure... maybe a few laps of a track are in order. We also have two identical watches in the house so will see if one is more accurate than the other. When I lived down south my first walking gps had an issue and they were going to send me another... when I told them my address they said to just come to their office as it was about 5 miles away, half an hour later I had a brand new unit, that’s service!
They brought that one out after I’d bought my Vantage V. The absolute only difference is in the material the case is made of, but apparently that makes it lighter.
Proven this today... Garmin is out and further out the longer the run, unless I run in a straight line.
My test:
Run 1km by watch on a straight path. Phone 0.62 miles, Garmin 0.62 miles
Pause and run back, phone 1.25 miles, Garmin 1.24 miles (arguably both are correct)
Run 1k, turn and run back. Phone 1.25 miles, Garmin 1.13 miles!
Seems Garmin cannot track accurately if the turn is tight, unless I stop. When I ran a track a few weeks ago they both measured it to be, as close as I could tell, bang on 400m, in that I was within 10 steps of the mile after 4 laps on both.
Always hand held my small iphone 4.Its gone now and replaced with first ever new XR and it is not coming with me on runs.
Use my series 4 Apple Watch.
Happy enough now,but for me it’s mind over matter, I don’t mind so it does not matter.
Will take anything now, wind assisted the lot as long as it shows me travelling like the wind and I experience what that feels like.
Actually just posted about being thrown a surprising result, in the May SSC, I did not believe on my phone then and I am replicating with my watch now.
Personally at 76 and a teckie 🦕, it came down to having it all on my wrist.Everything on my XR phone canbe on my watch.I minimise that.Was also impressed with latest Fitbit and battery life better.
Hey UNM, Honest, nothing to do with the fact that it can take an ECG or it knows if I fall and will ring emergency if I do not move.Even got the undertakers listed.🙈🤣🤣
Good luck with your choice.
Love to read posts of people , most recently Bev.,in love with their choices or indeed presents. No buyer’s remorse.
That could be a future feature... automatic funeral arrangement! I’m now thinking Apple Watch could be good for running and Garmin for 24/7 fitness tracking, then I won’t be wearing the Apple one much and can avoid people still!
I do miss that I could charge my phone once a week tops. These days most of my work is done on the phone or tablet... on a busy day I’m lucky if I get to lunch without plugging it in.
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Recommendations on a running watch?
