Need Help picking a training watch

[Kensgirl519]

I have been training indoors at my gym using a treadmill. I have found that I don't trust the read out on the treadmill at all and I have started having this recurring nightmare that when it tells me I have done 3 miles, it's really only like a mile or something. I'm looking for something that I can watch my heartrate, track my mileage and that will tell me my mile/minutes. And it has to be easy to use!

I have heard of some that kinda give a warning when you dropping your pace? Any advice or suggestions? I'm not looking to spend $400 either.....

Thank you!
Shelby

 

[verticalchaos]

I have a Garmin FR60W and love it!

 

[rubato]

I love my Garmin 305. Of course, it won't do you any good on a treadmill unless you buy the foot pod, but if you are taking your runs outside, it's great!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I love my Garmin 305. Of course, it won't do you any good on a treadmill unless you buy the foot pod, but if you are taking your runs outside, it's great!

Second this one. I have a 205 but if you want to train monitoring heart rate, 305 would be good. Indoors you need the foot thingy.

 

[Pumbaa80]

I also recommend the garmin 305. I just purchased mine and have used it only a handful of times, but love it! Amazon - 144.00

 

[John VN]

Another 305 fan here.

A POD is needed for use on a TM but being outside is the best way to train. I haven't seen a sanctioned TM marathon event yet.

 

[Trudes]

Love my 305!

 

[jmasgat]

Ditto on the 305. Looks like you can get a new 305 and the footpod for around $200 on Amazon. I wouldn't be too harsh on the treadmill, though. It's not going to be off by that much. Also, since there is a difference between running on a treadmill and outdoors, you may find when you get outside that you may run faster--or slower-- than you normally would on the TM. That's pretty common--don't attribute it to the TM being "wrong". (And I train on the TM 2 out of 3 runs/week)

Maura

 

[SKWDW]

I have been training indoors at my gym using a treadmill. I have found that I don't trust the read out on the treadmill at all and I have started having this recurring nightmare that when it tells me I have done 3 miles, it's really only like a mile or something. I'm looking for something that I can watch my heartrate, track my mileage and that will tell me my mile/minutes. And it has to be easy to use!

I have heard of some that kinda give a warning when you dropping your pace? Any advice or suggestions? I'm not looking to spend $400 either.....

Thank you!
Shelby

Since I didn't care about heart rate monitoring, I went for the Garmin 205. They had it on Amazon this week for just $99 It does all you wanted but the heart rate monitoring. I like the Virtual Partner when I'm working out alone. It's a visual cue to prompt me if I'm ahead of or behind my planned pace.

I use the interval training. It beeps me into and out of walk/run times. You can customize it for whatever interval you're working at. Great feature.

 

[Fellowship9798]

I've got a Timex "Bodylink" watch that includes GPS and heart rate monitor functions. To be honest, I chose this because it was avaiable through the airline points system that I use, so it wasn't as if I chose to purchase it over another system, but after using it for most of a year I like it quite a bit.

It is different in that the watch is a relatively normal sized watch that acts as a receiver for a separate GPS unit (the size of an MP3 player) that clips to your belt or an arm band and a small heart rate monitor that straps around your chest, but you can wear these accessories or not depending on the type of activity you're doing and whether you want all the functions or only a few that day.

I've never tried a Garmin, so I'm not saying the Timex is any better but it's certainly an alternative worth considering.

 

[Kensgirl519]

thank you so much for all the responses! Our local running store has a Garmin Rep coming in towards the middle of Nov and everything will be 20 - 25% off - so i'm probably going to go with a Garmin, as long as they can break it down into terms i can handle and operate! I get so overwhelmed with the techy stuff!

Anyway - I want to run outside but i'm still not very confident at all. I feel like a slow overweight person that is surrounded by "good" runners outside. I'm trying to gain some confidence on the treadmill and I did a 5k on the treadmill at my gym this weekend.... so i'm slowly getting there!

Slow and steady....


Shelby