If you dont mind paying for a Garmin, should you get one?
Advantages: semi-to-pretty accurate distance and pace, even when you're not running on the roads (i think).
Disadvantages: You may look and/or feel like a white-collar, spoiled runner with that extra gadget on your wrist.
You may miss the minimalist feel of going for a run without knowing too much about how far it is/was.
bumpz
I just got one - 405cx - besides the entertainment value, for me the best uses are the ability to do accurate interval workouts on the roads rather than just the track, and in races it has kept me on pace in the middle miles when I sometimes sag. When you look down and see your pace inching in the wrong direction it gets you going.
As for the workouts - you set it to have you do say 600 meters hard and one minute easy. It beeps at you when it is time to go fast or slow (no need to hit the lap button) and then it is all in the memory afterwards.
Since most of my racing is on the roads, being able to do measurable workouts on the roads is an improvement.
A HRM is also useful.
There is a hassle factor, so I often leave it at home.
Picture Me Trollin wrote:
Disadvantages: You may look and/or feel like a white-collar, spoiled runner with that extra gadget on your wrist.
That is a actually problem with your personality and lack of self esteem, not the watch. You need to look inwards and solve that first.
You may miss the minimalist feel of going for a run without knowing too much about how far it is/was.
Then take the watch off for a run or at least don't look at it until you are done.
If you can afford one GET one. I was never able to afford one in college but when i got one later (after getting a real job etc.) it was the greatest piece of training equipment i ever bought. Think about how much better training runs are when you know your exact pace at any given moment. Or knowing how far your run really was, not just an "estimate" based on time which we all know gets rounded up subconsciously. Knowing what i know now i would have spent every dime i had on one in college, I think i probably would have trained much better. Trust me who cares what you look like, its all about running fast right, plus their are several models out now that look just like wrist watches. GO GET ONE NOW
PS to answer your (i think) question they work every where in the world I have used mine in the middle of no where in Asia/South America, in places that have no roads. The only place they don't work well is in dense forests or jungles where you can't get a clear view of the sky, they don't get great reception.
they work a little spottily in midtown manhattan or I suspect other places where the visible sky is pretty small
This is a good post and one to which I have the following well thought out response, "SUCK IT Garmin!!!!"
Need I say more?
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