Last night I did some yoga to center my chi, and it felt great. I realized I need to stretch more! This morning I ran 3 miles and did another 25 minutes of yoga and I am really feeling good lately. No soreness and I’m starting to feel a little prepared for San Diego Rock and Roll. I have my last 20 miler this weekend so after that I’ll be on the taper road. Happy Cinco De Mayo to everyone, I’ll be watching the Biggest Loser tonight, nothing crazy! I know you all want to know what I think about the Garmin so here you go!
I was always told that I needed to get a Garmin. No one could ever really tell me why though, and to be honest, I’ve only used it in a pretty basic way thus far, but I plan to use it and all the different settings as I continue to learn more about it myself. Therefore I warn everyone, this is a very basic overview of the Garmin and it’s capabilities. I am still learning myself and I will post about any other great features as I learn about them. Honestly, I’m quite happy with just the simple way I use it now, so I know there’s more things out there, but at the same time, I like to keep it easy and simple.
I was an avid Nike+ user, but was starting to see an issue with it’s mileage tracking once I started to hit higher mileage. I ran a 25k (15 miles) and my Nike + told me I ran 17.86 miles. That’s when I knew that the mileage was off. I had calibrated it numerous times as well. Also I had gone through around 5 or 6 Nike pluses because of calibration issues and the sensors randomly dying or not being able to connect. I had heard about many people’s love for the Garmin, but no one could ever tell me why it was so fantastic. I did hear that it will change your running and racing a lot though.
I finally started researching the Garmin family and decided that I wanted to get the Forerunner 305. I decided on this one because it came with a heart rate monitor and seemed to be less expensive since it’s an ‘older’ model. I researched the 305 on Ebay and craigslist and found one for $130 with free shipping that was brand new. Finally the box arrived and the Garmin was mine. The first rule of having a Garmin is that it must have a name. I named mine Claude and he is the star of the Garmin Review.
One really cool and very accurate thing about the Garmin and that makes it much better than the Nike plus is the fact that it tracks you by GPS satellite. This makes your miles accurate and the mileage is an option that you can show on the Garmin’s screen when your running. Here is a picture of the Garmin’s Screen
This is the front of the Garmin. The setting I use it on shows the time in the top screen, (18.55) and the bottom two screens are split into two different modes. On the bottom left you can see my pace (20.42) and the mileage that I’ve gone thus far (2.06 miles) The buttons below, on the left is the lap/reset button and on the right is the start/stop button. It’s pretty easy to use and the face is obviously very large and visible. You can change the settings to see different ‘modes’ but I only use this mode thus far. There is another mode to show how many calories you’ve burned as well as mileage, time etc. In the upper right hand corner, if I was using the heart rate monitor, that is where it would say what my heart rate was as well.
This is the side of the 305. The arrow buttons change the modes on the front while you are working out. You can see that the 305 is pretty thick and bulky, but I haven’t had one problem besides a few adjustable ones and you get used to it. I will discuss the only ‘downfall’ towards the bottoms in the pros and cons section.
This is the underside and as you can see it straps on with a simple watch band. The band is plastic and it stays put fairly well. It is a very large band though and I have oddly small wrists.
This is the back of the Garmin. The numbers are my serial number and the four dots on the back are where the Garmin is charged from. The Garmin plugs into the computer for charging or the wall plug and charges quickly and easily.
This is the Garmin next to a pen. You can see how thick it is. I realized after I uploaded this picture it’s somewhat of an optical illusion though since the pen is so much closer to the camera. Epic Fail. You can see how large it is in the next picture though.
It is pretty basic as a ‘watch size’ but it’s fairly large in bulkiness. It’s very thick and the curve doesn’t fit on my wrist well, but I have had some other people wear it and try it on and there were no problems at all for them. I think possibly it’s because of my wrists and the bone I have on the outside of them that sticks up.
That bone can be easily rubbed raw and scabbed by Claude, that is why I choose to wear my Garmin up a little bit higher or sometimes I wear it on the inside of my wrist to stop chaffing.
A lot of people run and race without any type of tracking system but I have been very pleased with the Garmin, but it is nice that I can track my mileage, pace and overall distances run. It’s also great because it maps out the path you took on your run/walk since it has the trackability feature from the satellite.
I really liked how easy it was to use directly out of the box. Perhaps that’s why I haven’t really delved into the Garmin and really figured out everything on Claude, because it’s so simple and easy to use just how it is now. It stays charged for a long time (supposedly 10 hour battery life) and I’ve only had to recharge it once since I’ve gotten it.
To start the Garmin, once you are outside, just turn it ‘on’ via the on button on the right hand side and a screen will pop up with a progress bar that lets you know the Garmin is ‘locating satellites’. This is the only annoying thing about the Garmin. Sometimes it ‘locates’ the satellites immediately and other times, for me it takes up to two minutes. Once the satellite is found you hit start and your workout is started.
I really like the calorie counting feature but the Garmin uses speed traveled — not heart rate — to calculate calorie output on the Forerunner. It doesn’t bother me that much though and I even think I like that more since I haven’t used the heart rate monitor yet, nor do I want to have to wear the heart rate monitor to find out how many calories I’ve burned.
Another cool feature of the Garmin is that once you have a few courses you like, you can save and race against them, marking points along the way. You can set up interval workouts with specific distances or time or repeats. You can also use the GPS navigation feature to see your path on a map once you upload your workouts and you can save locations you want to remember — and find your way home if you get lost. (Would have been a good tool for my friend LA Runner when he was lost on his Skyline to Sea 50k) 
Another great thing that I like is the fact that the buttons are easy to use and you don’t have to go through them all to find one thing, i.e. the start and stop button. It has an auto-pause feature that stops the timer when you stop moving and restarts again when you get going — great for stoplights and water breaks.
The only problems I really have with Claude is that is doesn’t really like my wrist bone and that I can’t really get it to easily work with my Mac computer at home. I am going to have to spend some time with that to find a fully functional way to upload data to a website so I can view it no matter where I am. I have a website to check out, but I just haven’t had the time to sit down and work with it for a while. Also this may be weird, but there is no clock that I have found that you can ‘show’ during your workout. I guess this just means that I have to look at the clock before I leave on my run and then just add the time gone to know what time it is, but it’s a little strange.
The Pros:
Easy to use, no set up needed, can use the ‘normal’ functions and still understand the product, a lot of features that I haven’t even discovered, available with the heart rate monitor, not as expensive if you search, large display, possibility to update workouts to websites, long enough battery life, different modes, GPS tracking system which means accurate distances, looks better than the 301 that looks like a giant black twinkie, charges via usb
The Cons:
No exactly the most chic accessory, not many color options, not really kosher with my Mac at home (but I’m working on it), no clock
I will definitely continue to learn more about my Garmin and will post. I’m sure I’ll get many comments telling me lots of other ‘great features’ but honestly, I like it just the way it is! I thought it was a little expensive, but now that I have it, and if I was truly training to get speedier I can see how it would be very helpful in determining my pace. I did a speed workout last week and I did find myself able to hold my pace for much longer because I knew how much was left and exactly how fast I was going because of my Garmin. It’s a great training tool and I am really glad I did purchase it. It’s worth the money and overall thus far I would give it a A-grade! I will let you know if anything sway my opinon of the Garmin anymore, including more discoveries.
Hope this was helpful! If you have any questions, feel free to email me @ danicakoo@gmail.com
xoxo
So I have a new lover…
March 23, 2009
He even was there when he helped me name little Claude and has seen Claude’s intense tracking power. Let me tell you, Claude is amazing. I will post a complete review hopefully by Friday because by then hopefully I will have been able to upload the workouts online.
This weekend was my first long run with Claude and thought I only went 15.5 miles, instead of my full 16, it was great to have him along and I felt like the tracking was much more precise and it was nice to see so much about my workout located on the little screen.
My long run was done on Saturday this week because I knew it was going to rain on Sunday and I don’t run in the rain. Everything was going great, I was hydrated well, had some delicious shot blox and did my first 7 miles with an average 8:55 pace. I stopped at mile 8 back at my house for about five minutes, went to the bathroom, got some more shot blox and took off again. About mile 14 I started to sputter around. I continued on the stretch home but I got really weird cramps in my back right by the back of my ribs. It was strange but my last mile I think I averaged about a 10 minute mile and I was hurting. I came home did my sit ups and push ups and then showered up. It was a good run and for not running very long runs consistently, I’m glad I got that one out of the way. I totally forgot I have a 1/2 marathon this weekend in Paso Robles. It should be fun and I feel prepared for it.
Mr. R and I went shopping and then we went to church and watched Man Vs. Food, one of my new favorites shows on the travel channel. Yesterday one of his friends randomly invited us with him to the Ducks Hockey Game and they won 6-2! There were not very many fights , but the seats were about 10 rows back from the ice so that was exciting. We also saw the movie, “I love you, Man” and it was hilarious! I really recommend it. I love Jason Segal. He’s so hilarious in all movies he does, I love Forgetting Sarah Marshall too. I am not the biggest Jamie Pressly fan either, but I loved her in the movie as well.
Yesterday was a scheduled rest day for me and tonight I’ll be doing an easy 5 miler with my lover Claude. I can’t wait to post a full review for you guys. I was very skeptical as to what the Garmin actually did, and now that I have one I completely understand the common, “You’ll never run without it,” and the, “You’ll wonder what you did before it” comments I was getting before.
I am also excited to share about my adoption in the month on April. I’m glad so many of you are interested in it, or at least my side of the story. Hope everyone has a wonderful day!
xoxo
And the Winner is!
March 18, 2009
Well according to the actual poll, Marvin won, except that is the name that I liked the least. Hermes came in second and then Thor and then Claude. So to decide the name yesterday while running I decided to call it all of the names and see which one it would ‘locate the satellite on’. Well for some reason the little guy was having difficulties locating the satellites yesterday but finally landed on then when I was calling out Claude. By the way this whole shenanigan was Mr. R’s idea. He said you need to call it so that it will know and come to it’s master. Yup, we took it way too far. So now he is named Claude, since that is what the satellites responded too.
We ran four miles together and then I did my sit ups and push ups and we watched Biggest Loser. I didn’t know I was running all these ‘halfamarathons’ as they were called on the show, I thought they were ‘half marathons’. What do you guys think? I am glad the alliance is finally broken up. Watched my dose of American Idol too, I know, I stayed up super late! Does the show really have to continue on when Danny Gokey is on there? I mean, I’m not totally personally sold on him but why does there need to be a show when no one else compares to him?
I also don’t think I explained myself well enough when I talked about how the Garmin hits on my wrist bone. It really has nothing to do with the strap and it doesn’t need to be tighter, but I guess the shape of my wrist is too flat for Claude and it hits when running because it doesn’t wrap around my wrist as it should. I did read that some of you wear it upside down and I tried this yesterday and it seemed to work well and didn’t look like I had some huge watch on my wrist either, double bonus. I am going to try the sweatband out as well just to see if that works any better.
As for green beer?
This was my first official green beer. Yea doesn’t look so green does it… Looks more like just a dirty gross beer, but don’t worry it was the nectar of Coors Light.
Then during lunch we saw some other people getting SUPER green beers so we had to give it another try!
Now that is some green beer! Hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Saint Patrick’s Day. Tonight I’m going to the gym and going to do some core work, cross-training, and maybe jog for 2 miles on the treadmill. Hopefully tomorrow morning I can get out of my warm, comfortable bed at 5:30 am and get in eight miles before work. We’ll see in tomorrow morning’s post, maybe I will find a gym freak of the week to share….
Some of you asked questions and complemented my nails in my post yesterday. Well they are fake, just without the white tip, and just the OPI black nailpolish, Black Onyx. Thanks for thinking they looked so great though. I have the awful habit of biting my nails so I got ‘overlays’ put on to try to help them not look so gnarly.
Also today I’m going to be filling out my March Madness Bracket! Any hints on that one? I know you all have your opinions!
xoxo
What do you name a new baby?
March 17, 2009
So I have been told that you must name your Garmin. I feel that I definitely agree. I have decided in between a few names and wanted to have you guys help me to decide!
I think the name Claude reminds me of a little crab that would run fast. The name Marvin just kind of makes me laugh. I like the name Thor because it sounds powerful and I also like the name Hermes because it sounds so classy, and he was the Greek god of Travel. So many options! Here are some other pictures of the child if you would like to take a good look before picking a name
This morning I ran 4 miles with the Garmin and it really is amazing. Though I never found an in depth review out there, I always had heard only great things about Garmins and I am too now a follower. I will post a much more in depth review next week with pictures and in detailed explanations because I would love to share that with you guys like I did for the hatphones.
There is one small problem that I have encountered with the Garmin thus far though. I have very small wrists and they are very bony. Weird, but true and this means that I have to pull the Garmin almost to the last notch. If I had regular sized wrists I feel that it would sit in the right place on my wrist and be able to stay there. Since my wrists are so small it rubs against the bone that I have there. The only idea I’ve had thus far is too wear a sweatband type wristband underneath because after only four miles the little bone was a little bruised and almost rubbed raw. I was wondering if anyone else has this problem.
I hope to run another 4 miles with Mr. R tonight to show him how amazing it is, and then maybe he’ll realize that it’s worth the $$$ and won’t be so mad. I did 150 sit ups this morning and will the remaining tonight along with my push-ups. I hope everyone has a great St. Patrick’s Day! Some co-workers and I are going to go to lunch and drink some green beer, which I’ve never had. Perhaps I’ll share some pictures tomorrow.
Remember to vote!!
The Ebay Experience
March 13, 2009
I have been looking for a Garmin per every one’s recommendation that I get one. After last weekend when my Nike + told me I ran 17.5 miles and I only had run 15 I was sad. I knew that I was reaching beyond the Nike + with my mileage. I also found some good deals on craigslist and was in the process of emailing people about them, and thought I had found one and was going to get it shipped to me. I had emailed back and forth with the guy for a while and he kept telling me he was going to ship it and then got to busy. Well you see, I am a little impatient. I do understand that work does get in the way, and life can be busy, but if I was trying to sell something and had a buyer I would have taken care of it right away. Yesterday I did a little searching around and found some Garmin 305s on eBay. So I have never bought anything off eBay, nor did I really understand how it worked.
I ‘watched’ the Garmin I wanted yesterday by checking in on it every hour. Then it became down to the minutes. I let it go down to 5 minutes and then I didn’t really know what to do. I wanted to be the highest bidder but I didn’t want to unnecessarily up the price and let the other buyer that someone else was interested. Sneaky I know.
Then it came down to a minute. My heart was pounding out of my chest. I was so worried that I wouldn’t get my bid in or I would be outbid. I placed my first bid with 48 seconds left. Then it immediately said I was outbid. I quickly typed in $135.00, then it said Auction ended. It also said that I had won the item! My heart seriously felt like it was having an attack. It was racing, but I had won and I was going to be a proud owner of a Garmin. Finally. Now I must think of a name for my new child. (and if my creative director from work sees this picture he’s going to KILL himself… he always makes fun of my not really there photoshop skills. I am waiting for him to laugh at his desk)
On another note, last night I ran a whopping 2 miles at 8:30 pace and right before I got home I stepped in a huge pile of dog poop. I was trying to get home quick before it was dark and SPLAT poop all over. After cleaning my shoe, I then did some cross training, including my 300 sit ups and my 50 push ups. I really am starting to feel my arms get stronger. I usually do push ups up against the couch because I feel like I tighten my abs more while I’m doing it.
Thursday Funnies
November 13, 2008
I saw this commercial the other days, and just couldn’t believe how smart those people over at Garmin are. I was laughing so hard. Nun on a run? Hiking Viking? Too funny.
I know many of you are hardcore Garminites, so here’s the video for your viewing pleasure.
Pretty hilarious, unlike the Amp’d Abs class last night! Holy Cow! I wish I could record it and play it out for you guys and how redic the trainer in there is. I mean I love it but it does seriously take your abs to a whole new level. I’m definitely going to try to do it at least once a week. Then a 45 minute run on the treadmill, which oh by the way, I’m pretty sure was the LONGEST I’ve ever run on a treadmill at the gym. Sad, but true. Told you guys I just can’t hack it at the ‘mill, but can go for days on the streets. Oh and I decided instead of doing a manual no hill run, I would do a random hill infested run on the ‘mill. DEATH! I have never been so disgustingly sweaty in my life! It was good though, and I was glad I got through it.
Speaking of the dreadmill wars, last night I felt like I was involved in another one. The gym I went to was in a different part of town that I am used to and had quite a few interesting characters. This guy was next to me wearing a bright striped tank top, and reminded me completely of the character Glen, in the movie “The Ringer”. He had a crazy bowl cut, shorter bright shorts, pale skin. They could have been identical, and if it wouldn’t have been the most creepy thing EVER, I would have taken a picture.
I almost swear it was him. He was going next to me at a blazing 8.5, and I was chugging along at the slower pace of 6.3, (the hills people! they were brutal, cut me some slack) and he kept looking over at me to see what my pace was. I wanted to look at him and say, “You are on manual! That’s why I’m not going as fast as you Glen!” Let me tell you, I wanted to bump up my speed SO badly, but I knew he wouldn’t be on for that long, and I didn’t want to not finish my 45 minute run. He hopped off at 15 minutes, and I continued my hill domination for the 45 minutes.
This morning I went for a 3.5er, and wore shorts. Wrong idea, my legs were FREEZING. I thought after the first 5 minutes they would warm up, alas they definitely didn’t. Oh well.
And to all who think that hat is by far the coolest thing ever. It so is. I’m so excited to get my hat with BUILT IN SPEAKERS in the mail. Are you kidding me. I’m so high tech. Not! And the whole Vicki saga. I am just waiting for someone to email me sometime along the lines of, Vicki’s my friend, and she’s nice! Seems like a crazy B on television!
Now onto a new great song that I’ve recently stumbled upon.
First off we have “B-Rock” aka Brandy’s new single called Departed.
Brandy – Right Here (Departed) (Watch at your own risk)
Really good, upbeat song with good lyrics. I have listened to this song at least 50 times since I got it online. It’s really great as a pump up song. Hope you enjoy the latest from B-rock.
Tomorrow I will return with the result of the biggest football game tonight that I’m going to that will be televised. High school football people, it’s crazy! If you have Foxsportswest, look for me, I’ll be freezing my entire body off in my gray peacoat Go Lancers!
xoxo
