Running Mania

I seem to have lost my garmin. :/

I had it for my race on sunday and haven't seen it since. Can't find it in house or car. Don't think I left it at the race ground so I don't know... maybe it is hiding under something and will turn up.

It's 6 years old and time for a new one anyway, but I've been putting it off due to budget issues (and it's not a priority so I haven't been able to justify the purchase). But if my old one doesn't turn up I will have to start thinking about a new one.

Anyway, my main concerns are long battery life and accuracy in trails/mountains. I don't need multisport, HR, or any of the other extras. Have browsed a bit on the new garmins and suuntos and the prices are pretty ridiculous. Why don't any of them make a simple gps with no frills and long battery life?!

Suggestions? Which ones have been good/bad lately?

has anyone tried the polar v800?

It's pricy (but they all are). It gets a good gps and battery life rating on this evaluation: http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Best_Running_Watch

I really like the basic garmin 10, but the battery life isn't great. Part of that is that it functions as a regular watch as well (though you can turn it off to save energy). I still think it maxes out at 5 hrs of GPS time which probably wont' work for you. Did you already obsessively read all the stuff over on DC Rainmaker? I always come back to his reviews.

My 910xt gets great battery life which has made it popular with ultra runners even though it's designed for triathlon. It supposedly gets up to 18 hours although some people have complained that they die early in long ironmans.

Since it is a one-generation older model there have been some good deals on new units.

(I might actually be getting rid of mine so talk to me - I lost my vivosmart so I might get something that incorporated the all day tracking and replace the 910xt.)

may have found the solution: someone in my running group mentioned that the Fenix is on for $99 at bestbuy. 20 hour battery life. no frills. I've just reserved one at the metrotown location... I know some people have had problems with the fenix but others say it's awesome. for $99 it's worth a shot.

ultraslacker wrote:may have found the solution: someone in my running group mentioned that the Fenix is on for $99 at bestbuy. 20 hour battery life. no frills. I've just reserved one at the metrotown location... I know some people have had problems with the fenix but others say it's awesome. for $99 it's worth a shot.

Hmm. Never heard of the Fenix. I may have a look at one when my Garmin 10 wears out, as I'm a "no frills" type of runner, too.

Avis wrote:

ultraslacker wrote:may have found the solution: someone in my running group mentioned that the Fenix is on for $99 at bestbuy. 20 hour battery life. no frills. I've just reserved one at the metrotown location... I know some people have had problems with the fenix but others say it's awesome. for $99 it's worth a shot.

Hmm. Never heard of the Fenix. I may have a look at one when my Garmin 10 wears out, as I'm a "no frills" type of runner, too.

The Fenix line used to be Garmin's "outdoor navigation" watch. The origin l Fenix is a few years old so had been reduced in price (I assume that's the one Holly is talking about); it wasn't really designed for running but can do basic running distance and pace stuff. Since then they have released the Fenix 2 and most recently the Fenix 3 which has all the functions of other running/multisport watches.

Yep mine is the older model, which is why it was so cheap. It is designed more for navigation and hiking, which works just fine for trail and ultra running. It doesn't have some of the fancy running functions (like for interval training) but I don't need those. I love the long battery life and the navigation tools, especially since I'm often alone in the middle of nowhere.


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My friend has the Garmin 410 and just recently got a newer one. I'm not sure, it maybe the 610. I could ask him what he's doing with the 410 if you like. I've been happy w/ my 410 in the trails. Once the GPS connects, I usually don't loose the connection and the distance seems to be pretty. accurate.

I'll find out what Tomtom my co-worker got. He bought it thru eBay and he seems really happy with it.

I already bought the Fenix for $99. Couldn't pass that up. Tried it last night for runpub. The buttons are all different from my 205 so it is a bit of a learning curve, and the navigation features will take some practice too. But I like it so far.


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ultraslacker wrote:I already bought the Fenix for $99. Couldn't pass that up. Tried it last night for runpub. The buttons are all different from my 205 so it is a bit of a learning curve, and the navigation features will take some practice too. But I like it so far.


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I'm glad you like it.
All I ever use is time, distance and pace. Sometimes I regret spending the money on something with so many other features that I never use. Next one will be simple.

ultraslacker wrote:I already bought the Fenix for $99. Couldn't pass that up. Tried it last night for runpub. The buttons are all different from my 205 so it is a bit of a learning curve, and the navigation features will take some practice too. But I like it so far.


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Good to hear!

I went to Best Buy today and bought the Fenix as well. There was another guy there looking for a cheap GPS. I was talking to him about the Fenix and I think I convinced him to buy one but I got the last one at that store.

Now I have to try and figure out how the darn thing works.

It's a bit of a learning curve from my old one! But worthwhile I think. Exactly what I wanted for trail/ultra running.


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ultraslacker wrote:It's a bit of a learning curve from my old one! But worthwhile I think. Exactly what I wanted for trail/ultra running.


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I've gone through the on-line manual and watched a few of the You Tube videos. Coincidentally one of the guys who has posted some videos, Jim Cyr, is a guy I've e-mailed a few times though work. I may have to call him up and get some tips for loading up maps etc.

I have the Tom Tom GPS / heart rate watch. It's all I could afford but it's working well for me.

I still haven't figured out how to use the Fenix. I may have a lot of data load on it though. I hit the GPS, then Tracking then Running profile but when I start it I don't seem to get the running screen. It's hard to trail run with a group and try to figure out the screens at the same time. No one in my group has a Fenix so I can't get help from them. I'll figure it out someday.

I've had a Fenix 2 and now a Fenix 3. Still have questions?

of course I got injured immediately after buying it. Have hardly used it. :(

Just picked up the Garmin VivoActive during the Black Friday sales ... couldn't resist as it was on sale at about 30% off the msrp ... now, just have to wait another 3 weeks or so before opening it

I got the Garmin 920xt yesterday and I love love it.


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I bought a Forerunner 25 about 3 weeks ago and it's been perfect for what I need: time, distance, and the Bluetooth sync is really handy. That it does basic activity tracking is a bonus.

My Forerunner 25 has been behaving better recently. I still have no clue as to how to get it to do auto laps at 1km intervals. I have it set to metric and it gives me all my times in minutes/seconds per km. However, it does laps at 1.61km (i.e. per mile) intervals. I called Garmin support and they had no answer.

Gimp wrote:My Forerunner 25 has been behaving better recently. I still have no clue as to how to get it to do auto laps at 1km intervals. I have it set to metric and it gives me all my times in minutes/seconds per km. However, it does laps at 1.61km (i.e. per mile) intervals. I called Garmin support and they had no answer.

I had a similar issue with my new 225. I rectified that by doing the following:
Settings ==> Activity Settings ==> Auto Lap ==> Distance

I'm not sure if this will work for you, but it is worth a shot.

Stampie wrote:

Gimp wrote:My Forerunner 25 has been behaving better recently. I still have no clue as to how to get it to do auto laps at 1km intervals. I have it set to metric and it gives me all my times in minutes/seconds per km. However, it does laps at 1.61km (i.e. per mile) intervals. I called Garmin support and they had no answer.

I had a similar issue with my new 225. I rectified that by doing the following:
Settings ==> Activity Settings ==> Auto Lap ==> Distance

I'm not sure if this will work for you, but it is worth a shot.

Yup, that is what you are supposed to do but it doesn't always seem to work. I have done it online, in the phone app and on the watch itself. Anyway, it has now gone back to doing 1K laps, so all is good right now. I do still have issues doing the Bluetooth sync with my phone. I do that with my phone at Starbucks after the run to see the laps etc. However, it often takes several tries before a clean sync. And it often seems to need an internet connection before it will sync....which is particularly weird. This morning it had a clean sync for my run but it had to do another sync later to get my Step count transferred. None of this is enough to send the watch back but it does feel like it has gremlins in it....