The Running Thread - 2016

[gjramsey]

ATTQOTD: Garmin 920xt here as well. Had a 305, and sweated out the vibration and beeps it made, so when upgrading I went with the 920. Big reason was it also has the hiking mode that I was wanting when going on our Philmont Scout trek last summer. I also looked hard at the Fenix 3, but those were not in wide release when I needed to make the purchase.

This is the one I really really want....LOL

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/running/fenix-chronos/prod532035.html

 

[camaker]

QOTD: It seems someone is always looking to get their first GPS watch or upgrade to a newer one for various reasons. What watch or GPS device do you use for tracking your runs (or other activities) and why did you choose it?

I started with the Garmin 220 and absolutely loved it. Upgraded to the Garmin 235 for the on-wrist HR monitor and couldn't be happier. It does everything I want it to do and then some.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

QOTD: It seems someone is always looking to get their first GPS watch or upgrade to a newer one for various reasons. What watch or GPS device do you use for tracking your runs (or other activities) and why did you choose it?

Garmin 920XT for me as well. It's a triathlon workhorse and does everything I would want it to do. Great in the pool or open water, on the bike trainer or open road. It just works.

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Hi guys. I didn't know if there was a welcome thread so i thought i'd just introduce myself here. Been a lurker for a while, but everyone seems nice so i thought i'd say hi. Currently registered for Dopey, Rebel challenge plus 5k, and Dark Side challenge plus 5k.

And to participate in the discussion above, i don't race every race. i rundisney for fun, and i do other races for time. I have disney PRs and race PRs.

Thanks and i hope to talk to you all. )

Welcome, welcome!

ATTQOTD: I have the Garmin 235 and I love it! I hadn't worn a watch on a regular basis for years, but with the smart phone features on the 235 it has become a regular part of my wardrobe outside of running now. I'm very happy with it!

 

[ZellyB]

ATTQOTD: I have a Garmin 220. I had a 210 for several years and switched to the 220 about a year ago. I like it a lot.

@Keels

@virtuoso1989 Welcome!

 

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

QOTD: I am old school (in more ways than one!). I use a good old Timex Ironman watch with a lap feature. I just don't want another device to care for and feed.

 

[JohnRPG]

QOTD: It seems someone is always looking to get their first GPS watch or upgrade to a newer one for various reasons. What watch or GPS device do you use for tracking your runs (or other activities) and why did you choose it?

ATTQOTD: I have an Apple Watch that I purchased in March and it works well for me, even without the GPS. (The GPS version is very tempting at the moment.) Honestly, the watch's nagging to meet daily goals is what got me into an exercise routine in the first place. I do run with my phone in a belt, though, which is one of the attractions to the newer watch.
I particularly like the Watch's combination of uses and options for different apps. For running specifically, I've found that since WatchOS3, RunKeeper as become a really solid app. Prior to that it was a bit flaky.

In other news, since straining my leg on 10/1, I still haven't been able to run yet. I'm getting pretty frustrated with waiting, but I figure it's better to not run on than it would be to try to run and further delay the healing process.

 

[The Expert]

ATTQOTD: I have a Samsung Gear S2, which I got last Christmas and a few months before I started running. It's a fabulous smartwatch with lots of functionality thanks to build-in S Health, HR monitor and GPS, but isn't really built to be a run tracker. The screen sleeps unless you have your wrist a certain way, so checking pace during a run is tricky without turning the screen on full time (which would kill the battery), and it doesn't do lap time without me running Runkeeper or something similar on my phone. I just ordered a Garmin 10 specifically for runs and will use the S2 for the rest of my day.

 

[LSUlakes]

ATTQOTD: Garmin 920xt here as well. Had a 305, and sweated out the vibration and beeps it made, so when upgrading I went with the 920. Big reason was it also has the hiking mode that I was wanting when going on our Philmont Scout trek last summer. I also looked hard at the Fenix 3, but those were not in wide release when I needed to make the purchase.

This is the one I really really want....LOL

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/running/fenix-chronos/prod532035.html

With that price tag... what a deal! Buy the watch and cancel your next WDW trip. The other option is to just give them an arm, you got two and only need one to wear the watch. lol

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

Raced my first "ultra" on the weekend, the Vulture Bait 50K. Guess who won!

Full (and if you have read my race reports you know I mean FULL) details in my journal...

 

[LSUlakes]

Raced my first "ultra" on the weekend, the Vulture Bait 50K. Guess who won!

Full (and if you have read my race reports you know I mean FULL) details in my journal...

Like I said earlier, you are a animal! Congrats!

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

Like I said earlier, you are a animal! Congrats!

Thanks Jerry! The only Animal I can relate to...

 

[opusone]

QOTD: It seems someone is always looking to get their first GPS watch or upgrade to a newer one for various reasons. What watch or GPS device do you use for tracking your runs (or other activities) and why did you choose it?

I've been running for quite a while, so I started with Timex watches with lap functionality, then got into heart rate monitors and went through several brands over the years. When GPS watches first came out, I wasn't impressed with their size, so I held off for quite a while; however, when Garmin developed the Forerunner 405, I was finally sold on the form-factor and immediately bought one. Ever since, I have stayed with the Garmin line simply because they are the best GPS watches for pure running. Here are the GPS models I have gone through:

Garmin Forerunner 405
Garmin Forerunner 405CX (x2 since I dropped and broke my first one)
Garmin Forerunner 610
Garmin Forerunner 225 (my current watch) - changed to this watch for the wrist-based optical HR monitor. I was very happy to give-up the chest strap. If I was purchasing today, I would get the Forerunner 235 which is basically the same thing except with some smart watch features as well as 24-hour HR monitoring.​

Over the years, I have always used DCRainmaker's website that @LSUlakes mentioned. Ray is the only unbiased and detailed reviewer of all things electronic for fitness.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: It seems someone is always looking to get their first GPS watch or upgrade to a newer one for various reasons. What watch or GPS device do you use for tracking your runs (or other activities) and why did you choose it?

Currently I use an Apple Watch. I have been debating upgrading to an Apple Watch Series 2 or possibly getting a Garmin. I do like my Apple Watch a lot though.

 

[cburnett11]

QOTD:
I bought a Forerunner 10 shortly after it was released in 2013. It worked well enough for me. My big knocks on it were the limited amount of data per screen and the relatively short battery life. But it got me through lots of training and several races. I signed up for the 1/2016 marathon and was concerned that the Forerunner 10 battery would die on me late in the race... or maybe I just was ready to buy something new. So when the Forerunner 230 and 235 were released, I ordered the Forerunner 230 within a few weeks. I debated between the 2. I had never used HR data and this intrigued me. However I already have issues with micromanaging the data I get, so I was concerned that adding HR to the mix would probably push me over the top. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure HR data is valuable and very important to a whole lot of people. I just decided that I'd not bring that into the mix for me. At any rate, the Forerunner 230 has very good battery life, finds a GPS signal quickly, and has never given me any real issues.

 

[dis_or_dat]

ATTQOTD: Got the Garmin 15 on a ridiculous sale and thought it would be all I need - GPS. But I got curious about HR monitoring and found an OK deal for the 235 and after much consideration, jumped on it. I'm so happy did. The GPS picks up immediately (the GR15 would take 1-30 min) and I love how I can program runs into the watch as well as pace alerts. The HR monitor is a bit plus/minus for me since my HR tends to run super high for some reason (even with HRR changes) and it looks like I'm close to redlining a lot.

 

[ebradley23]

ATTQOTD: when I started running, I just used mapmyrun and the accelerometer in my phone to get very inaccurate tracking. It worked for what I needed at the time. About 9 months into running, I ran a timed race. The timing company was weird though and posted gun times instead of chip times at the race and for awards (even though it was a chip timed race). I knew I had set a PR, but their times weren't showing it right away (they later posted correct chip times on their site). Anyway, I was just mad enough that I decided right then and there I would have a watch to prove to myself accurate timing. The 620 had just been released, so my husband and I went and picked up two that day.


Three years later that watch still works perfectly. I have no issues with it. I just hate the boa constrictor of a HR monitor, and I hate also having to wear a separate fitness tracker during the rest of the day. So now we're impatiently waiting for the delivery of these Fenix 3 HR. It's a great looking watch, so we can wear them daily. I'm excited about the smart watch capabilities and the fitness tracking. It's way more watch than I need, but the same could be said of my 620 when I bought it. I eventually grew into needing and appreciating what it could do. I wouldn't have been able to say the same for the Forerunner 10 - which would have been sufficient at the time of purchase. Plus, the price with included Titanium band and the fact that Garmin made a special Titanium version with wrist based HR for Sam's can't be beat. We also needed Christmas and anniversary presents for each other

We've also consulted DC Rainmaker before both our purchased. His info is invaluable.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I use Garmins - right now, the 620. Like @opusone , I started running long before this GPS technology was portable. But I have been using Garmins for about 15 years now (they were HUGE when they first came out). I trust them, so I keep buying them.

I do not buy when a new device is released - I buy about 2 years after release. This cuts the price in half, but allows me to stay fairly current.

 

[Slogger]

ATTQOTD- just like @dis_or_dat used to have, I am still using my Garmin 15. Started with a Timex Ironman GPS watch, switched to a couple of apps on my iPhone and saw the 15 at Costco one day last fall and decided to give it a try. It picks up the satellite signal quickly, syncs to the Garmin site easily and I've only had a couple of times that the data field had an error and I had to erase the run to get it to sync again. Might be looking into a HR device for next year.

 

[virtuoso1989]

Attqotd: I'm in the minority of using fitbit surge for my runs. When i got this last year i was only interested in the GPS feature, and it is cheaper than garmin. I didn't care about other features. After having it for a year, i'm looking at getting Garmin 235 for Christmas. As feedback about it has been really positive.