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2/3/13 12:08 P

I received a Garmin Forerunner 10 from my son/daughter as a gift.
It's simple; it gives the info I need; it does take a moment to pick up
the signal. No bells or whistle- a perfect fit for this average runner.

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1/2/13 1:43 P

ive got a garmin forerunner 110 & i get a signal in no more than 30 seconds
when i started running a couple of years ago i used to use the runkeeper app on my phone & that used to take up to 5 minutes to lock on

Posts: 776
1/1/13 11:18 P

Three easy ways I've found to get a signal. 1. Turn on and set on a windowsill for about 5 minutes before you head out the door. 2. Turn it on in the car if you are driving to run, or 3. Turn on and set down on something, it will work quicker than if it is on your wrist, even if standing still, don't know why. I love my 305, but acting weird lately, I picked up a New Balance as a back up and am having a hard time with the instructions.

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1/1/13 8:44 P

Thanks for all the feedback! I am definitely getting one of the watches!

Posts: 699
1/1/13 1:33 P

I am on my second garmin 305. Could not live without it! I work with a coach and upload all data (heart rate, distances, paces etc) from it to training peaks website where my coach analyzes and plans my workouts specifically to where I am at in my training based on all this data. I got mine for $129.00 on amazon and I just looked at them the other day and they were like 300! So if you want a 305 wait for the price to go down. When I wore out my first one I looked at some of the newer models and the reviews on the good old clunky 305 were much better. I also can put workouts my coach gives me onto the watch from the garmin website and this is awesome. However, I loved my garmin even before I was doing such intense training. It is so nice to be able to monitor you pace, distance etc. I upload all of it to my computer so it is really fun to look back over the years at my data and how fast I was running when. I would never be without one now. I am partial to the 305 but I know there is a really cute more basic model in pink that one of my running club friends just got

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Posts: 508
12/30/12 12:35 P

Agree that it takes the Garmin a few minutes to connect to a signal. I use that time to do a few lunges and then walk to warm up before my run. Mine is always ready by the time I'm ready to start running.

current weight: 170.8

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Posts: 1,722
12/30/12 8:57 A

I have a Garmin 305, but honestly, I find it too much of a pain to use for shorter runs. It takes a few minutes to pick up the sat signal, so I'm already a quarter mile down the road by then, and I don't have the patience to download and look at my data for most short runs. If I'm doing a tempo run where I'm concerned about my pace, I just wear my cheapo sports watch. I do like it for longer runs though, and use it for anything over 8 miles or so because it helps me pace myself. I haven't used a foot pod with mine, but find the distance to be very accurate down to about .05 miles in a half marathon.

If you like to listen to music when you run, you might check out the MotoActv. I actually had one for about a month and really liked it, but they dropped the price way down, so I returned it to repurchase for a cheaper price, but then found my Garmin slightly used for $110 and bought that instead. It looks like the MotoActv is going for $165 right now.

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Posts: 508
12/30/12 7:56 A

I use the Garmin 305 mostly for tracking my calories, pace and distance. During my runs I watch my elapsed time, heart rate and intervals. I too like the information, but I mostly just note it, not use it to help improve my running.

current weight: 170.8

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Posts: 8,522
12/30/12 6:14 A

I've used the Garmin 305 for a couple of years and have just recently (within the last week) started using the Garmin 410.

I love data and all the possibly ways to program a Garmin to use. I too have a heart rate monitor.

I upload all the data to a free Garmin site called Garmin connect. Here is a link that tells the information available on this site.

connect.garmin.com/features

current weight: 132.0

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12/30/12 2:23 A

I don't know much either. My Hubby just bought me a Garmin Forerunner 405 set (watch and heart rate monitor strap) and added on a foot pod and an iPhone connector (which requires a $0.99 app and seems to do the same thing (or at least the more basic things) as the watch...so you could use the watch OR the phone, but don't need both). I do know the foot pod info is only collected when the watch is set to record it, so it doesn't really work at collecting the all day "regular everyday" steps.

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12/29/12 11:18 P

I'm relatively new to running, and trying to find some motivation and a way to analyze my runs. A family members owns a garmin watch from a few years ago. I tried it out and really liked it.

I know I don't need all the bells and whistles. I've been investigating their website and don't really know what me to pick.

I really like the garmin forerunner 210 because it can come with a heart rate monitor and the foot pod. I need that for the winters here when being on the road is seriously unsafe.

Does anyone own one of their watches or have any ideas on it?

Any advice would be appreciated!