Poll for runners: Garmin (or similar device) or no Garmin?

[kristilew]

the Runkeeper app on my iphone does everything DH's fancy Garmin does, except for heart rate - plus gives me voice prompts for distance, time, and interval training. I love it

 

[SAHDad]

The 305 is rated as IPX7 which according to their website:

As an addendum to this - I have worn my 305 out in the rain many times. The most recent time, I did get some significant water under the screen, but it did not affect performance at any point in time. It did stop halfway through the run, but that was a user-based, ID110T error, so neither the Garmin nor the rain was the problem.

 

[Jusacuz]

I want a Garmin soooo badly. However until I can afford it, I use the Nike+ sensor with my iPod Nano. It's okay, but is frequently off by as much as a quarter mile. No amount of calibrating seems to fix it.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

It did stop halfway through the run, but that was a user-based, ID110T error, so neither the Garmin nor the rain was the problem.

I get that error code with a lot of the technology I use

 

[SAHDad]

I get that error code with a lot of the technology I use

In this case, I was running a 15-miler, wearing a hydration pack (for the extra weight more than the water supply) in a light intermittent rain. When I hit the turnaround, I took Garmie off, hit "lap" and stuck it in the pack. . . .and somewhere in the process, hit "stop" as well. So yeah, it was an ID10T error.

(Good run though, so there was some consolation.)

 

[crewmatt]

Yea i'm so in the middle of getting vs. not getting. I had the timex GPS way back when (a few years ago) and really liked it. I have runkeeper on my iphone but I havent really used it. 150 seems like a really good deal

 

[geaux_half]

I've run with a 205 and now run primarily with a 305. I haven't noticed any difference between the two other than the HR monitor in the 305. The only features I use are distance and pace. I set pace smoothing to as smooth as possible to avoid the big spikes in pace.

I've been using Buckeye Outdoors for about a year now to download my Garmin information. They upgraded their website earlier this month and with Garmin connect, I am now able to download from the Garmin directly to the Buckeye website. I have my running shoes setup as equipment on the Buckeye site and am able to track my shoe mileage by just clicking the shoes that I ran in once the run is downloaded. Buckeye also has code that I use to keep my running blog sidebar updated with my running stats. You can also sync facebook and twitter to automatically share your training and/or race information.

 

[APrunner]

I have the forerunner 305. I have not had the chance to explore all the software and website options. Sounds impressive though. I am on Facebook, but rarely do I go there. I do post things on dailymile.com though. Dailymile has a facebook feel to it, but is designed for people who exercise. I can keep my discussions exercise focused here. You can link dailymile to facebook, but I choose not to. Again, I like to keep discussions focused on exercise (running in particular). Unfortunately I have too many friends who post every event of their day on facebook. I do not have the patience to scroll through all of that. I also do not have the "heart" to drop some of these friends.

 

[johde]

I broke down and bought one last night. I was searching and found several people who were able to get one using money in their HSA/FSA. The key was, that it needed to be a model that included a HRM. Some people with FSA's said their plan administrator wanted a note from the doctor before they would approve so YMMV. This would probably be the last year to do this because health care reform cut out nearly all OTC purchases. I am hoping to get it in so I can use it for next weeks long walk. So I will have 5 practice runs with it before I walk the Cleveland 1/2 marathon on May 16th.

 

[FireDancer]

Well, I have finally broke down and order a 305 from Amazon. As soon as it arrives I will be a Garmin owner.

 

[John VN]

Well, I have finally broke down and order a 305 from Amazon. As soon as it arrives I will be a Garmin owner.

Way cool and welcome to the Garmin Family! You're going to find it very helpful.