One of the perks to working out and training for races is that you can justify toys and gear. When I’m running, I love having my lap times. I’ve use a Timex Ironman with heart rate monitor for years. Well this spring Katie and I received a joint gift from family – a Garmin 410 watch (Amazon affiliate link). This piece of gear has made my training so simple!
The Garmin tracks my route via GPS and tracks each mile as I run. When I’m done, I just plug in a USB stick into my Mac and the watch wirelessly syncs my training data to my Garmin Connect account. Taking this to the next level, I connected my Garmin account to DailyMile and so all my training is posted where my friends can see it. This watch allows me to focus on my running and training. I love tracking my mile splits and seeing how I can alter my runs, going out fast vs. a steady pace. The Garmin brings this data to my computer seamlessly.
Here’s what the Garmin Connect data looks like when my watch syncs:
Is this watch cheap? No.
Is it necessary. No.
Is it a perk? Absolutely. But if you see your training as a healthy habit worth than you can justify it!
Question: Do you use a watch for training? How do you monitor your workouts?
HRM and Nike+iPod. Both probably antiquated. Do I need them: YES. Expensive: A little bit. I’m looking forward to my first iPhone for the running apps!
Excellent tools Lisa. I love my HRM too.