The greatest challenge for many runners is staying motivated and accurately measuring progress. The Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver with Heart Rate Monitor is like having a training coach on your wrist that urges you on when you're running, biking, hiking and participating in other outdoor sports.
The immensely customizable Garmin Forerunner accurately measures time, distance, heart rate, pace, and calories burned. It traces your track on a very basic map and can be used to navigate to your starting point if you become lost. (Caution: You should never rely on a GPS unit as your sole means of navigation. Electronics can fail leaving you stranded.) There's even a setting that allows you to run against a digital figure keeping your best time on a saved route.
I use my Garmin Forerunner to pace myself and stay in a heart rate zone that improves fitness. Also, Florida heat can be very stressful, especially when running in the summer. If I see my heart rate go too high, I slow down and let my body recover.
The Garmin Forerunner watch itself is a little bulky but it's easy to get used to. If the screen was any smaller, I wouldn't be able to read the numbers while running.
Using a couple of control buttons, you can select the data that you want to appear on the main screen and even set it to scroll through a few screens so you can monitor multi-data sets. I prefer to know time, distance and heart rate. The heart rate is transmitted to the watch from a fairly comfortable and fully adjustable chest strap. (I have to put athletic tape over the chest strap's kind of rough battery compartment or it chafes my skin.)
The Garmin Forerunner watch records all the data, which can be downloaded to your computer and compared with previous runs. This is invaluable for competitive runners and bikers. The watch is also water resistant, but not waterproof for long periods. I wouldn't recommend swimming with it, but it holds up well to rain and humidity. To prolong the equipment's life, make sure to rinse and dry the watch and chest strap after every use. On a full recharge, the battery can last up to ten hours.
My Garmin Forerunner GPS receiver quickly locks onto GPS satellites 99% of the time. However, the initial lock-on when you first use your unit, can take quite a bit of time, so you might want to start the process well before you go for a run or if you're running at a different time of day than usual. Just place it outdoors in a safe place with a clear view of the sky and switch it on. Another tip: If the watch asks you if you moved hundreds of miles since your last use, say yes. The watch will search harder for satellites.
If the Garmin Forerunner GPS never seems to lock on, make sure you download the latest software version from Garmin's Web site. If that doesn't work, consider getting a replacement. There have been instances when mine lost satellite contact because of high buildings, thick tree canopy or tall canyon walls. If you live in this type of area, you might have a problem using the GPS watch.
I've been using my Garmin 305 for years as a running buddy and coach. If you need a little boost to keep you on the road to good health, be sure to give it a try.
The Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver with Heart Rate Monitor consists of a watch, heart rate monitor chest strap, and charger/data cradle. The watch tracks multiple data sets including time, distance, heart rate, pace and calories burned. The watch is a little bulky, but it's easy to get used to wearing it. (Just fight the urge to wear it to formal events.)
The Garmin Forerunner watch screen is easy to read -- there's even a backlight -- and can be customized to show the information that's most important to you. I set my main screen to show time, distance and heart rate. You can set it to scroll through several data sets. There's even a setting that lets you run against a virtual opponent who keeps your last best time on a set route. It also records your route on a simple map and has a compass that can point you back to your point of origin.
The Garmin Forerunner charger/data cradle plugs into the USB port on your computer. A full charge lasts up to ten hours. The watch records your workouts. The data can be downloaded and collected on your computer, which makes it a great tool for tracking your progress and overall fitness.
