Learn your Garmin with the Garmin Learning Center

Have you ever wanted to see a Garmin product in action before you buy it? Or, maybe you're interested in tips and tricks about a device you already own? How about expanding your overall GPS knowledge?  If any of these scenarios sound familiar, the online Garmin Learning Center is for you. The Learning Center is the newest addition to Garmin.com, and is quickly becoming a popular place to visit because it's a one-stop resource for learning about Garmin products and all things GPS. Once you visit this site, you can watch short video snippets to learn more about your GPS. So far, the site features videos for the Forerunner 405, Edge 705, Approach G5 and Marine network. More videos will be coming soon, so you'll want to check back often.

Jenna recovers from crash in D.C. tri, preps for Germany race

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Jenna Shoemaker shares her training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

The Washington D.C. Dextro Energy World Championship Series race did not go as I had hoped, but that's racing. There are plenty of ups and even more downs! The whole weekend was a little bit chaotic with lots of events going on and some issues the day before the race surrounding the water quality that almost turned the event into a duathlon. I had a very poor swim, finding myself in the middle of the "washing machine," and ended up coming out of the water much further back than I normally do. From there, the race became a chase and unfortunately, the chase ended about 9k into the bike when I hit a large traffic cone in the middle of the bike course. I was at the back of the group, athletes ahead of me split right and left, and suddenly without warning, the cone was in front of me and I had no option but to hit it. I flipped off my bike, over my handlebars and landed on the left side of my head. I can remember seeing the ground and asking myself "can I get up and finish the race," but the next thing I knew, I was lying on a gurney in an ambulance trying to remember my name, birthday and mother’s contact information. CT scans revealed no fractures or bleeding in my head or pelvis, but they concluded, based on the time that I was "out," that I had suffered a grade 3 concussion, the most severe.

Team Garmin documentary "Blood, Sweat + Gears" premieres Monday on Sundance

Whether you're a diehard cycling fan, new to the sport or just want to learn more about it, we have a can't-miss film for you to watch. Documenting Team Garmin-Slipstream's 2008 debut in France at cycling's biggest event, Nick Davis Productions’ movie, “Blood, Sweat + Gears,” will premiere on the Sundance Channel on Monday, June 29th at 10:30pm ET and will show throughout the month of July.

Starring David Millar, Christian Vande Velde, Jonathan Vaughters, Magnus Backstedt, Mike Friedman and the rest of the argyle armada, the documentary features behind-the-scenes footage of a team racing for all the right reasons. From the scenic European landscapes to the punishing pace of the peloton, Davis captured it all. To give you a quick glimpse, we have the trailer here for a sneak peek. And be sure to check the newly redesigned Team Garmin site and Jake's Twitter updates for more news and views from France this July.

Jake's Journal: If you're running a fall marathon, we need to talk

My virtual partner is bound to take this the wrong way. It's not that the little man inside my Forerunner hasn't always been there for me. He pushed me through the streets of Chicago, Kansas City, New York and San Diego, 26.2 miles at a time, never wavering from our agreed-upon pace even when I was surging or struggling. And now that he's joined forces with my Forerunner 310XT's vibration alerts, I get encouragement as often as I want during a race or training run. But I want more. That's where you come in.

Now that I'm set on running the Chicago Marathon in October, I need more training partners. Because even though Virgil (my virtual partner) keeps me honest while I'm running, I need motivation before and after. I already have one person on board. Chris, a good friend from college, is also training for Chicago with his Forerunner. And though he lives on the East coast, the sheer potential for smack talk if I can't hang with him come October is enough to get me out the door in the morning. Now we just need more company, more sources of that second wind. If you're running the Chicago Marathon - or New York, Marine Corps, KC or any of those great fall races - and you want to join our little support group, post a comment below or shoot me a note on Twitter at @jakesjournal. We'll share success stories via Garmin Connect, swap secrets for getting through the rough days, and we'll all have a little more fun in the process. And maybe I can even drum up a Garmin running tank for you to wear in your race. We'll start with the first dozen or so people to send me a note, and see how things go from there. To be honest, I'm just making this up as I go. The idea came to me this morning when I was hitting the snooze button repeatedly while Virgil was getting impatient downstairs.

20-year stories: eMap finds its way home

In celebration of Garmin’s 20-year anniversary in 2009, we’re reaching back to the past to bring you stories from our younger years, including some memorable customer testimonials. When the following story was submitted through our website in 2000, this customer had definitely piqued our curiosity. Be sure to keep reading for the rest of the story.

An interesting thing happened to me today that I think is worth sharing with you. I have a Garmin eMap that is my newest best friend. I fell in love with it after I purchased one for my daughter as a gift. I had to have one of my own. I carry my eMap with me constantly and had the misfortune to lose it last weekend. I was about to order another one to replace it when I received a knock at my door. A young gentleman was standing there holding what he described to be my eMap. He asked me if I had lost it. I was flabbergasted! It seems that he is an electronics nut like myself and had found it in the park. He managed to get to the waypoint page and found one titled “home.” He set this as a destination and tracked to my home using the eMap. He said he figured that it must have been important and felt that it should be returned. We had a very nice discussion about the eMap. I went ahead and ordered another eMap and gave it to this young gentleman to reward him for his honesty and inventiveness. I’ve now bought three eMaps and am delighted to have done so because they have been valuable tools for me and my daughter, and I’m sure will do the same for my new young friend. Thanks, Garmin, for making such splendid products. Oh, by the way, did I mention that I’m blind? It’s true. I’ll bet I have your curiosity piqued, right?

Gil L.

Sleek and simple, touchscreen Dakota makes being tough look easy

More than ever, touchscreen navigation in the great outdoors is within your reach. Today, we announced Garmin's new Dakota 10 and Dakota 20 outdoor handhelds. Physically smaller than the iconic Garmin eTrex, Dakota boasts a much bigger color display thanks to the 2.6-inch glove-friendly touchscreen.

Lightweight, rugged and waterproof, Garmin’s new Dakota devices quickly acquire and maintain satellite reception – even in heavy tree cover or deep canyons – thanks to a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFixTM, which automatically calculates and stores critical satellite information and can use that information to quickly calculate a position. Everyone from geocachers and youth scouts to surveyors and hunters can take advantage of Dakota’s 850 MB of internal memory, which can store up to 1,000 waypoints, 50 routes, 2,000 geocaches and an active tracklog of up to 10,000 points and 200 saved tracks.

Dakota 20 adds even more features, including a 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter, a microSD card slot for increased mapping and memory storage, and wireless unit-to-unit connectivity for sharing your waypoints, tracks, routes and geocaches wirelessly with compatible Dakota, Oregon, Colorado and Foretrex devices. Dakota 20’s 3-axis, tilt-compensated electronic compass shows your heading even when you’re standing still, without needing to hold it level.

Victor's Vectors: Migrating to Duluth

Today is the first day of the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) Migration Fly-In, and Garmin representatives are already in Duluth so they can meet current and future Perspective owners and provide helpful tips and tricks about the Perspective avionics suite. The Cirrus Perspective is an all-glass Garmin cockpit that is tailored for Cirrus aircraft. With this cutting edge avoinics panel, all information — from aircraft attitude and air data to engine instrumentation, real-time weather data link, traffic and terrain — is integrated and digitally depicted on the 12-inch PFD and MFD. Thanks to these large displays, pilots can see the big picture, which ultimately helps simplify operation, enhance situational awareness and increase flight safety.  The Perspective also includes a unique “LEVEL (LVL) MODE” button, a new safety feature that may be used in times of high workload when the pilot needs a few extra moments to flip through charts or read back a clearance. When engaged, it brings the aircraft to straight and level flight. The Perspective is chock-full of features and we've barely scratched the surface in this blog post. If you're in Duluth this weekend, stop by and say hi and learn more about other Perspective features like SVT, GFC 700 autopilot, dual AHRS, SafeTaxi, FliteCharts and more.

Free, mandatory GPS software available now

Today, Garmin released a free, mandatory GPS software update to correct a software issue that has been discovered to cause select GPS devices to repeatedly attempt to update GPS firmware, and then either shut down or no longer acquire GPS satellite signals.  The products affected are the nüvi 7x5 series, nüvi 800 series, nüvi 8x5 series, zūmo 660, GPSMAP 620 and GPSMAP 640.

Garmin nüvi 7x5 series products that are no longer able to acquire a GPS satellite signal may download a firmware update immediately that will correct the software issue. This firmware update may be downloaded using Garmin’s WebUpdater.

Firmware updates for other affected products will be available online through Garmin’s WebUpdater in the near future. Affected customers who have registered their GPS device will be notified about these updates through email.

Garmin nüvi 7x5 customers who are no longer able to power on their GPS device will need to visit www.garmin.com/support, and select the first FAQ titled “My nüvi 755T, 765T, 775T or 785T is giving me the message ‘Updating GPS Firmware’ or will no longer power on…” Customers will then need to follow the instructions to request a return authorization so that the device may be repaired under warranty.

We know our customers rely upon their Garmin GPS device(s), especially during the summer travel season, and we regret any inconvenience this situation may have caused. We are committed to developing products that are known for their quality and reliability and will continue to work diligently to earn the trust of our customers.

Garmin helps land the big fish at SKA tourney

Summer is here and the tournament season is heating up! We were in Fernandina Beach, FL, last weekend for the 27th Annual Tournament of Champions Kingfish Tournament, an SKA sponsored event, where we heard from participants with Garmin equipment already on-board, and showed off our latest marine electronic offerings to skippers and other tourney goers alike. A typical boat at this tournament was a high-end center console in the 30-foot range with twin or triple outboards, but the winning boat for this tournament was a victory for the underdog - a 17-foot Boston Whaler (the smallest boat registered) with a single engine and a Garmin chartplotter/sonar combo unit on board. With its built-in digital sounder, the owner credited the GPSMAP 545s for getting him to the fishing spots and for helping him find the winning 48-pound fish! Have a look below at the winning fish, the owner's boat, and the Garmin booth displaying the equipment that helped land that prize-winning catch.  

 

Team Garmin unveils roster for Tour de France

Team Garmin-Slipstream today announced its much-anticipated Tour de France roster. The riders that will represent the American team in tackling the world’s toughest sporting event are:

Julian Dean
Tyler Farrar
Ryder Hesjedal
Dan Martin
David Millar
Danny Pate
Christian Vande Velde
Bradley Wiggins
David Zabriskie

“We are bringing a diverse and versatile squad to the 2009 Tour de France,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports, LLC and Director Sportif, Team Garmin-Slipstream.  “We had an incredible first Tour as a team last year and this year we hope for GC contention, possible stage wins and even the yellow jersey at some point.”

Ask Garmin: Why does my nüvi 7x5 not power on?

It has come to our attention that the Garmin nüvi 7x5 series has a firmware error that is causing some devices to perform an unprompted GPS software update and in some cases shut down. We are aware of this issue and we are working diligently on a solution.  We know our customers rely upon their GPS devices and we apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. Developing quality products always has been and continues to be a priority at Garmin. For regular updates about this issue, please visit www.garmin.com/support. 

Chicago Store: Slim down for summer with the nüvi 1200/1300 series

Chicago's Michigan Avenue is the place to be to check out this summer's must-haves, and the Garmin Chicago store is no exception! Arriving in the store this week, the sleek and slim nüvi 1200 and 1300 series units are the perfect GPS companion for all of your summer endeavors.

Pedestrian friendly, this new series of products is ideal for the traveler who wants advanced features at an affordable price. With optional cityXplorer maps, these products offer pedestrian navigation such as public transit information for select tourist destinations in both North America and Europe, and can easily be downloaded directly to the nüvi. Recently the crew at GPS Mag posted a full hands-on review of the nüvi 1390Tand touted that users will be navigating the local bus and subway lines like a native in no time. According to their experts - "If you need to tackle the complexities of public mass transit in unfamiliar cities, you won't find a better travel companion than the nüvi 1390T." And we couldn't agree more!

As the only dedicated GPS store in the country, Garmin Chicago is eagerly anticipating your arrival. Our service associates are on-hand to answer any and every question regarding the new personal navigation devices, and every purchase comes with on-site product registration and complimentary one-on-one training with a product expert. Garmin Chicago even carries products to accessorize your unit! So what are you waiting for? If you're in the area, stop by the store and find the GPS that best fits your travel needs this summer!

Garmin Garage: Father’s Day Special

We’re just a day away from Father’s Day, so if you’re looking for some last-minute gift ideas (*cough* new nüvi *cough*), you’ve come to the right place. We were hard at work all week in the Garmin Garage to get our two new father friendly vehicle icons ready for you. Introducing Weekend Warrior and Windsor. Weekend Warrior is perfect for short trips around the town or around the yard. And Windsor works well with any special occasion. Besides, it wouldn't be Father's Day without the ol' "Get Dad a tie" joke! Either one would make the perfect addition to a gift for dad.  And since they’re priced right (FREE!), you could download two for the price of none! How’s that for savings? Of course, fans of the Garmin Garage may also remember Big Daddy – our 2008 Father’s Day icon. So regardless of what you’re doing this weekend, plan a trip to the Garmin Garage and add a little character to your nüvi. Happy Father’s Day from all of us in the Garmin Garage! 

Peg’s Posts: Forerunner frenzy and envy

One of the many perks of working for a company that’s developing the leading training devices in the fitness world is being the very first to try them out. At recent group rides or races, I’ve witnessed other athletes look longingly, perhaps enviously, at the latest and greatest hardware gracing our wrists and bike stems. Products like the Forerunner 310XT need no introductions in triathlete circles. They spot it, say “that’s the one I want” and mentally pencil it in at the top of their gotta have gear list. Several Garmin associates had the swim-proof, multisport 310XT on hand for a recent triathlon/duathlon. The race was part of the Kansas City Corporate Challenge, a metro-wide series of events that let corporate folks compete against other companies. After taking top honors in the bike race, 5k meet and track meet, Garmin pulled out a win in the triathlon/duathlon meet as well. Having the right training tools makes all the difference.

Even for first-timers like my boss, who posted a super-fast time in a very competitive age group. Now, let me clarify first-timer: Jon’s a seasoned runner and cyclist, but this was his first chance to string the two together for a duathlon. All the guys he beat who’ve been doing this for years probably didn’t want to hear that. Could be the new sleek ‘do and Team Garmin kit that makes him look like he’s just part of the peloton. Could be years of experience or it could be the tech training tools. Don’t miss your chance to get your hands on the latest Garmin gear. We’ll be at the inaugural Seattle Rock’n’Roll Marathon next weekend, so come see us and find out how the Forerunner 310XT and our other new devices can take your training to the next level. 

Give dad some quality time with the FR60 fitness watch

Forget ties, tees and hats that only look good on motionless mannequins. Garmin has the gift for active dads that he can wear every day — the FR60. This versatile fitness watch can mind the miles, heart rate and calories burned for dad’s morning jog, keep him on time through the day, then track more data for a bike ride after work. Since FR60 is non-GPS, some models come with a tiny foot pod to count steps and measure distance, indoors or out. And it can team up with ANT+ accessories like the speed/cadence sensor for detailed feedback when cycling. Best of all, FR60 features wireless uploads to the computer, so dad’s data zips to our Garmin Connect site when he’s in range of the computer. No wires, no downloads, no sweat. Garmin Connect is an easy way for dad to analyze, store and share data and even create and track his fitness goals. What dad wouldn’t love that? So easy, it doesn’t even need an easy button. Come winter, when dad trades trail runs for gym time, FR60 becomes an indoor training partner. It will even work with compatible fitness equipment like spin bikes and treadmills to display and record data. Make dad’s day with a gift that will really move him — FR60.

Jake's Journal: Why June 18 is better than my birthday

Today is a good day. Scratch that, an excellent day. Two years ago, on June 18, I walked into Garmin's headquarters on my first day of work ready for a new adventure. A big reason I was hired is because of my fondness for fitness and the outdoors. Since June 18, 2007, I've completed my first marathon and finished three more in the past eight months. I've hiked the Rockies of Colorado and the hills of Cinque Terre in Italy. I've ridden the California coast with some of the brightest minds in cycling. I've raced in two events on opposite coasts, finishing by wading into different oceans a week apart. I've done it all with the best GPS technology available, and the adventure is still just getting started.

On June 18, 2008, I was honored to be the one announcing Garmin's title sponsorship of the Slipstream elite cycling team. Since then, I've been with Team Garmin at the finish line for victories, in a helicopter above the peloton in France, in casual conversations with champions from countries near and far, and proud to be a student of an amazing sport with the best teachers imaginable. And the education continues next month when I spend time in France with Jonathan Vaughters, Matt White and the argyle armada that makes us proud every time they hit the roads with Garmin on their chests and the Edge 705 on their handlebars. And I'm going to be looking for suggestions from you as to what I should ask them, which pictures I should take and what you'd like to see on the Garmin blog from France. Shoot me a note on Twitter - I'm @jakesjournal - and I'll take everyone's suggestions with me across the ocean.

So how is this June 18 measuring up? Not too shabby. I joined a friend for 8 miles this morning with temps in the 80s, and there's a department picnic after work. And while it may not go down in my personal history books like the past two years, I sure do like barbecue and badminton. I can hardly wait to see what happens next year.

Make the most of your Garmin with one-click

Have you ever noticed that it’s often the behind-the-scenes technologies that get little fanfare yet quietly catapult consumer electronics forward in terms of ease-of-use?

We think you’ll find the myGarmin Agent is that type of advancement. You’ll never see it on the front page of a newspaper, but we think you’re really going to like it because it makes interfacing with your Garmin products much easier. The myGarmin Agent works with all of Garmin’s newer devices and tells you when a Garmin device is plugged in to your computer, allowing one-click access to the new myDashboard at my.garmin.com.

With the myGarmin Agent installed on your computer, you will see a message in the lower right corner of your screen whenever you connect a Garmin device. Clicking the message box takes you to the myDashboard page the starting point for one-click software updates, map updates, and much more! You can also access the myDashboard page at any time by double-clicking the myGarmin Agent icon in your system tray.

The myGarmin Agent is unobtrusive so it can sit on your computer and you’ll never know it’s there until you need it. It’s the new starting place for all of your Garmin needs and gives you one-click access to almost everything you need for your Garmin, so download it today.

Caddy Confidential: Dad's Day, The U.S. Open and The Watson Challenge

This past weekend, the Approach G5 made its tournament debut at the Tom Watson Challenge, an event that sees area pros and amateurs take on local hero and eight-time major winner, Tom Watson. Garmin supplied the field with a few dozen Approaches to test out the touch-targeting, scorecard and green view features. While scoring was closer than it sounds, Watson won handily by five strokes retaining his title as hometown champ. 

Speaking of championships, this weekend is not only Father's Day, but also the U.S. Open. This years tourney takes place at Bethpage Black, a course just added to the Approach G5 roster.

A fun little way to get some non-golfing use out of your Approach (or a timely trick for any golfer/Dad planning to take in the Open) is to fire up the Preview mode while watching the action. See how far the pros hit their drives, or just get a different perspective on Bethpage Black.

Check back in soon down at the shack as we Caddies are hard at work preparing more courses for the next free download (think July). Till then, Hit em hard, hit em straight and stay outta the rough.

Great Gifts for Flying Fathers

If you are anything like me, you were looking at the calendar and thinking about how many activities you could cram into the weekend only to be surprised to see that it’s Father’s Day.  Why is it that father’s are the hardest people to shop for?  If your dad is a pilot then there is no need for that spotted tie this year.  Garmin has several aviation portable GPS products to fit your budget and any flying father would be happy to unwrap one.  If a new Garmin portable is out of your price range this year, you could also give him a single or annual subscription update for the portable or panel-mount system he already owns.

If you don’t have time to get to you local aviation dealer, don’t worry.  You can do your comparison shopping on Garmin’s website and purchase it from any of our online dealers.

The Perfect Gift for the Hunting Dad

All this week we're showcasing various Garmin devices for Father's Day, and if your dad takes to the fields and forests with hunting dogs, the Astro GPS Dog Tracking System is the perfect gift.  Astro pinpoints your dog's precise position, and lets you know if he's running, on point, or treeing game -- up to seven miles away, depending on terrain.

Believe it or not, hunting season is right around the corner, so get Dad a piece of technology that makes him more efficient in the field.  We can't promise that we'll make him a better shot, but Astro will definitely help him keep tabs on his dogs -- and get him back home in time for dinner.

Jenna hitches a ride with Team Garmin

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Jenna Shoemaker shares her training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

As luck would have it, Team Garmin happened to come through Davos, Switzerland for two days this week for the Tour de Suisse. Davos is the small town, about three hours from Zurich, where I am based for the European summer. The timing of their visit was perfect, as I had a bit of a recovery day on Sunday after the small double sprint race I had the day before in Zug (near Zurich). Sunday happened to be the same day that the boys rode Stage 1 of the Tour, which departed from and then returned to Davos. The Team was nice enough to let me accompany them in the team car for the stage, so I got to hang out with the team director and the mechanic for a few hours. I knew many of the roads that the guys had to race on, so it was really fun to get to watch them ride the same climbs that I use for training. Of course, they ride them about four times as fast as I do and they descend like maniacs! It’s also great to know that I’m using the same Garmin training gear as these pro cyclists — the Edge 705. Although it was a pretty quiet day in the peloton, partly because the first 40-some ks were straight downhill, being in the team car is a real experience and one that I'm really glad I had. Hopefully I can manage to get myself to France to see a stage or 2 of the Tour this year!

I am now in my last few days of preparation for the two big races I have back in the USA. I head off on Thursday to Washington, D.C. for the World Championship Series race on June 21. We will swim, bike and run in the heart of D.C., on Pennsylvania Avenue, which is really exciting and should be a very memorable experience.

Versatile new Foretrex units perfect for military use or some family fun

Few products can fit the rigorous demands of the challenges that face our armed forces. Even fewer can stand up to those tests while being simple enough for recreational family outings. That's why we're excited to announce the simple yet sophisticated Foretrex 301 and 401, slim wrist-worn GPS navigators perfect for outdoor activities that require the use of all of your attention -- and both of your hands. These new Foretrex models combine a high-sensitivity GPS receiver, rugged, waterproof design and USB interface into a lightweight device that is reliable enough for military personnel yet versatile enough for hikers, skiers, campers and families.

Foretrex keeps track of your path and displays it as a dotted trail on the screen. Just turn on Foretrex's TracBack feature, and you can retrace your path back to where you started. You can save locations in memory as waypoints (up to 500 of them), so you can always find your way back to any important place, like your campsite or vehicle.

Military personnel can use the “Jumpmaster” function for static, HAHO (high opening) and HALO (low opening) jumps, making it possible to set data points for under-canopy guidance to a landing zone. Based on forward throw and windspeeds at altitude, Foretrex will calculate your HARP (high altitude release point) for the best results every time.

Adding even more features to the mix, Foretrex 401 has an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter. Foretrex 401 allows you to wirelessly share routes, tracks and waypoints between certain Foretrex, Oregon and Colorado devices, and it is also compatible with Garmin heart-rate monitors and cadence sensors.

Father's Day gift ideas: The gift of navigation

Father's Day is less than one week away, and like many of you, I've just started to brainstorm what I'm giving my wonderful Dad. Since this holiday seems to sneak up on a lot of people, we decided to feature gift ideas so that you can find a gift that is tailor-made for your dear 'ole Dad. And if you haven't figured it out by now, one of the best things about this time of the year is that there are always sales so you can give Dad a priceless gift without breaking the bank. 

The USA Today posted their top five GPS devices under $200, and Garmin was the only company to make the list twice. The nüvi 265T and nüvi 205 were named as great sub-$200 gifts, and we agree with their choices.  Either the nüvi 265T or 205 will easily get you from point A to B, but the 265T does so with a little extra flair. The 265T comes with free, lifetime real-time traffic updates that will route Dad around the traffic before getting stuck in it. Plus, it has Bluetooth capability so Dad can pair his phone to the GPS and safely talk on the phone without having to hold the handset to his ear.

If you want to go the extra mile and personalize the nuvi before you give it to Dad, you can take advantage of the photo navigation feature on the 265T and 205. Load pictures of some of Dad's favorite spots and let Dad navigate to them via the picture. While you're at it, you can personalize it even further by adding icons from the Garmin Garage. From golf carts to airplanes, Dad will be cruisin' in style.

Running expert Bingham raves about Forerunner 310XT

We've heard a lot of great things about the Forerunner 310XT - dubbed "The King of Wrist-Mounted Trainers" by Wired magazine and praised by triathletes as the watch they've been waiting for - but a recent email got our attention. With the subject line simply "WOW" - Runner's World columnist John "The Penguin" Bingham summed up his experience with the Forerunner 310XT.

I finally had a chance to get out for a decent run using the XT. WOW. The XT is better than anything on the market by a factor of 10. In my view, it’s better than any other Garmin product by a factor of 5. For the first time in YEARS I was able to run with only one piece of equipment on my wrist.

As a run/walker – and someone who has promoted run/walking in my books and training schedules – the interval training workout was FANTASTIC. And, as someone who uses the strategy in races the fact that the unit vibrates at the intervals is BRILLIANT! You have created as close to the perfect training companion as I can imagine. There’s nothing about the unit that I would change. Thanks.

Thank you, John. And thanks to everyone at Runner's World, which showcased Garmin's fitness watches in the July issue. You'll see the FR60 on the cover, and the inside feature on training technology features the FR60, Forerunner 405, Forerunner 50 as well as the 310XT. Get your copy and start training with Forerunner today!

Team Garmin: Farrar four-for-four in winning Holland tour

Sunday was a day of firsts for Team Garmin's Tyler Farrar (left) at the Delta Tour Zeeland in Holland. First place in the sprints classification. First place in the points classification. First place in the Best Young Rider competition. And best of all, first overall in the general classification. Simply put, from the first day when he won the prologue and donned the race leader's jersey, Tyler dominated this tour. Victory in Friday's prologue put him in the driver's seat with valuable seconds on his fellow sprinters. On Saturday, Tyler finished close behind a formidable foe, Alessandro Petacchi, but widened his lead to 6 seconds with one day remaining. Sunday, he was second again - but ahead of Petacchi. That consistency - never finishing lower than second place - paid off as he took the top spot on the podium.

Elsewhere in Europe, Team Garmin made a splash in the final day of Dauphine-Libere as Timmy Duggan (above right) pushed the pace, made the key breaks and showed off his deft skills on the final descent. Timmy stayed exactly where he needed to be, right up to the final meters, and finished a nailbiting second by less than a wheel. In the overall GC, Garmin's David Millar capped a solid week by finishing ninth. The excitement of these final tune-ups for France continues this week at the Tour de Suisse, so be sure to check the Team Garmin blog and minisite for updates!

Jake's Journal: Keeping up with Team Garmin, Christian's recovery

It's a good thing that keeping an eye on Team Garmin is part of my job because it's hard work tracking cyclists in various countries and time zones, staying on top of injury updates and roster news, all while getting ready for a busy month of July when the world focuses on France. OK, it's not "hard work" but that's what I tell the boss so play along. Here are the headlines from yet another busy and successful week with the argyle armada.
>> Winning bidder secures spot at finish in Paris: Last night we were honored to join a group from the University of Missouri-Kansas City to watch the final hour of bidding on a VIP package that sends four people to Paris for an all-access weekend with Team Garmin. And a flurry of activity in the closing minutes of the auction resulted in a hefty sum of money being raised for UMKC's Bloch School of Business and Public Administration. I'll share more details later as I learn more about our winners. 
>> Vande Velde to race in Tour de Suisse: Yes, Christian will be at the start line Saturday in Switzerland after bouncing back quickly from his Giro crash that left him with seven fractures, including five vertebrae, one rib and his pelvis. "Less than a month ago he was in a hospital bed in Italy," Jonathan Vaughters said. "To come back this quickly is truly a testament to his character."
>> Millar third in Dauphine time trial, high in GC: Showing great form in the Stage 4 time trial, David Millar (above) was the fastest from the middle time check to the finish, placing him on the podium at Dauphine-Libere. "I had a lot of fun though," David wrote in The Millar Diaries. "It’s been a long time since I’ve gone that fast for so long on a bike, for about 10km on the way back I was well over 60km/h." And proving once again that he's far from a one-trick pony, David entered the weekend in the top five of the GC.
>> New Team Garmin site unveiled: You can find the latest team news, learn more about the sponsors and their innovative technology, share your pictures and videos in the fan zone, get connected with me and the team on Twitter and - we saved the best for last - enter to win some amazing prizes in the Tour with Team Garmin Sweepstakes. 

For great dads who love the great outdoors

With Father's Day right around the corner (you didn't forget, did you?), we're here to help with a few gift ideas. With innovative products in so many areas - automotive, marine, aviation, fitness, outdoor recreation and mobile devices - there's no shortage of options with Garmin. For starters, let's take a look at technology for the trails.

Whether Dad's idea of outdoor activity is a walk around the neighborhood or an expedition to foreign lands, Garmin's outdoor handhelds can make his next outing even more enjoyable. And with products boasting high-sensitivity GPS receivers for just $99.99, there's an outdoor handheld that can fit any budget and any backpack. Your options include the iconic eTrex series, the buddy-tracking Rino two-way radios, the award-winning Colorado series and the revolutionary Oregon touchscreen devices. While each product has its unique features and preloaded capabilities, they all come in handy when you're hiking, camping, climbing, exploring or just wandering. You can learn more about the eTrex Venture HC this Saturday at 7:50 a.m. Eastern as Fox & Friends does a Father's Day roundup. And with Oregon 550's built-in camera, you and your dad can even capture the memories as you're making them. But no matter which device you choose for Dad, you can be sure he'll have the intuitive interface mastered in no time, regardless of whether he's a recreational rookie or ultimate survivalist. And the best part of the gift will be the assurance that you'll both find time to get outside and away from your hectic schedules. Don't worry, you'll always be able to find your way back home. Even if you're in no hurry to do so.

June is Map Update Month

We're not exactly sure who proclaimed June as Map Update Month, but apparently it's official,so we're celebrating!  Roads, routes, and points of interest are always changing. That’s why we offer three map update options -- nüMaps Guarantee, nüMaps Lifetime and nüMaps Onetime. Each of these are great options that will help you make the most of summer roadtrips. According to a study done by NAVTEQ (Garmin's map provider), drivers want to be reminded when to update their maps. Seventy-three percent of Americans said they want to receive reminders to update the maps in their systems. If you're one of those who want to be reminded about map updates, we have good news since most newer Garmin devices notify you when yearly map updates are available and myGarmin.com tells you when quarterly map updates can be downloaded. If you want to see if your GPS has the latest and greatest map data, just connect your device to the computer and then we'll show you what you may have been missing. 

Victor's Vectors: Chasing storms with a 696

With the recent storms rumbling through the Midwest making national attention for the tornados and hail, I’m really getting a good idea of the advanced weather and safety capabilities of the GPSMAP 696.  The large display and XM weather give an enhanced view of severe weather with not only NEXRAD but also lightning, storm tracking, and SIGMETs.  Even when I’m here sitting in the safety of the office it is awesome to see the intensity of nature’s fury.  This also makes me appreciate the enhanced NRST features of the 696 with its split screen moving map and nearest airport list.  Just in case the view of the weather out the windshield necessitates an in-flight change in the flight plan.

 

Get there with Garmin and MSN Direct

We’re always working on ways to help you get where you’re going. And we’ve got a great new feature for those of you who use MSN Direct. We’ve worked with Microsoft to allow MSN Direct users to wirelessly send points of interest from Google Maps to their MSN Direct-compatible nüvi. As you know, MSN Direct users benefit from having traffic details, weather forecasts, movie times and more right at their fingertips. And now we’ve added even more convenience to this great functionality by allowing wireless POI transfers. Sending is easy; just search for the point you want on Google Maps and, once you find it, click on the Send link. Select GPS and then Garmin. On the resulting page select the MSN Direct tab and click the Send by MSN Direct button. (You may be prompted for your MSN Direct username and password.) The point will be sent wirelessly to your MSN Direct enabled nüvi and should appear on the device within minutes. It’s quick. It’s easy. And it’s a great way to plan a trip from the comfort of your computer. Take it for a test drive today!

Ask Garmin: How far, how fast, and when can I rest?

One common question we get as runners and cyclists embark on new training programs is, "How do I set up intervals and workouts on my Garmin?" Fortunately for you (but maybe not for your legs), we've made the set-up for interval training and pre-programmed workouts the easiest part of your exercise. Whether you're using an Edge 705, Forerunner 310XT or Forerunner 405, you'll want to access the menu, then select training and workouts. You'll get a few options - Simple, Advanced and Interval. For Simple workouts, the Edge lets you choose two of three factors - distance, time and speed - and Forerunner sets up the workout based on either time, distance or calories. Interval training allows you to set up your workout based on distance and time, and then you determine your rest time/distance as well as the number of repetitions. You can also set up alerts (including vibrations if you're using 310XT) to help you train for time, distance, speed, heart rate, cadence and power goals. To see these and other features come to life, check out our training videos for the Forerunner 405 and Edge 705. We're in the process of shooting more product tutorials, so keep visiting our GarminBlog YouTube channel to see these tips and tricks in action.

Peg’s Posts: national running day/week

Hope you had a chance to celebrate the inaugural national running day on June 3. For many of us at Garmin, it’s been more like a week-long celebration of our favorite sport. Every evening — through high temps, low temps and rain — runners of all ages and skill levels have convened at a local track complex for the Kansas City Corporate Challenge track meet. KCCC is part recess, part boot camp, part friendly competition for 8 to 5ers around the city. Events range from fishing and darts to weightlifting and flag football. So far, Garmin has taken the top slot among companies our size for the bike race meet and 5k meet, and we’re currently leading our division in track by a nice margin. No surprise our cyclists and runners have the best training tools on their side — our Edge bike computers and Forerunner fitness watches. Come Sunday, several of us will be putting the new swim-proof, multisport Forerunner 310XT through the paces at the KCCC triathlon or duathlon. Another favorite local event, the Hospital Hill Run, takes place tomorrow and will draw some 5,500 runners to the streets of KC, including about 55 individuals from Garmin. I’m saving my legs for Sunday’s duathlon, so no hills for me tomorrow. But if you’re running HH, I’ll be cheering for you along with my friends from Girls on the Run at the last aid station on the 10k and half marathon course. We’ll be reminding those weary runners that “there’s no place like the finish line.”

Ways you can win with Team Garmin

As Team Garmin gets ready for its biggest race of the year this summer in France, you can join in their winning ways simply by filling out a form and testing your luck. By entering the Tour with Team Garmin Sweepstakes, you have a shot at winning the grand prize of one Felt Team Replica F1 frameset and one Garmin Edge 705 with heart rate monitor, speed/cadence sensor and data card preloaded with City Navigator U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico street maps. The other top prizes are also impressive - First prize being a Zipp 303 wheelset and a Second prize of a 3T LTD set consisting of one bar, one stem, one seatpost and one roll of handlebar tape. And even if you're not lucky enough to be one of the big winners, Team Garmin-Slipstream and great sponsors such as Clif Bar, Pearl Izumi, CamelBak and Pedro's have kicked in more than 200 great prizes for their fans. So don't hesitate, enter the Tour with Team Garmin Sweepstakes today!

Of course, one superfan out there will get an unbelievable experience in Paris this summer, spending a weekend of VIP access with three friends and Team Garmin. Visit http://www.ebay.com/teamgarmin for details, and don't forget to check out the Team Garmin site for the latest news and rider data downloaded from Edge 705.

Explore a new city like the locals...on foot

The team at GPS Tracklog posted their review of cityXplorer today. The long story short is that they think it's a winner. According to them, "...I had some nervousness about leaving my car behind and venturing into the city via MARTA (Atlanta's metro system), with only a nuvi to guide me. It turns out that my fears were misplaced. Quite simply, cityXplorer rocks."  We couldn't agree more!

cityXplorer is one of the newest features for the nuvi product line and it's ideal if you're walking a city. If you're planning to be in an unfamiliar city or if you're taking a stay-cation and exploring parts of your city you don't know, cityXplorer is for you! The maps show you detailed roads and points of interest and street directions that let you use public transportation. Now you'll know where to walk, where to catch the bus, subway, tram or other major transportation, and an ETA on how long it will take you to get there. cityXplorer is available for most major U.S. and European cities, and you can download most cities for less than $10. Check out GPS Tracklog to read more about someone who put cityXplorer through its paces.

Victor's Vectors: When to update your aviation databases

Another database cycle has started and several questions have come up regarding when the new cycles are available for download.  The answer is that most of the databases Garmin provides are available seven days prior to the effective date of the new cycle.  The one exception is FliteCharts, an electronic version of the National Aeronautical Chart Office (NACO) U.S. Terminal Procedures Publication that lets you quickly find and view all NACO Departure Procedures (DP), Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs), approach charts and airport diagrams. We receive the NACO data directly from NACO and since we receive it a little later than the other database data, FliteCharts is available two days prior to the new cycle’s effective date.  If you have any questions about what date a specific database is available, there is a chart for each database on the “Database” tab of your flyGarmin.com account.  Just click on the link “View aviation database cycles." 

Another thing to keep in mind is that the FliteCharts and NavData both come out every 28 days while the Obstacle and SafeTaxi are available every 56 days.  The AOPA database is updated four times a year on the 15th day of the quarter and the Terrain database is updated about once a year.  With all of these databases, dates and release periods its good to have flyGarmin.com as your fingertips to help you manage it all.

eBay winner will join Team Garmin in Paris for unforgettable weekend

Here's your chance to join Team Garmin for a once-in-a-lifetime weekend this July with behind-the-scenes access as they cross the finish line in Paris, France. An auction for VIP access to pro cycling's biggest finale is up for grabs on eBay to the highest bidder. And the winner will be helping education as the proceeds benefit the Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC).

Here's what you'll be bidding on in this limited-time promotion at www.ebay.com/teamgarmin
-- Experience Paris and the race’s final stage for four people. (July 25-26, 2009)
-- VIP spectator access to team staging areas and events, refreshments included.
-- Seats in exclusive sponsor viewing area near finish line on Champs-Elysees in Paris.
-- Shuttle service to/from airport and to official events.
-- Two hotel rooms each for 3 nights at sponsor’s designated hotel. (July 24-26, 2009)
-- VIP access to restricted Team Garmin areas.
-- Attend the post race Team Garmin party on July 26th.
-- Garmin Edge 705 cycle computer and Team Garmin gear.

Jenna trains in Switzerland

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Jenna Shoemaker shares her training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405, along with links to her data in Garmin Connect.

Hello from Davos, Switzerland!!
 
I’m here training with my coach and training partners and will be based from here for the remainder of the summer. Not only is it absolutely picturesque and secluded from any kind of distraction, but it is also convenient for traveling to the European races, which there are a lot of. However, right now, I am preparing for the two big races back in the USA – the Washington D.C. World Championship Series event on June 21st and the Des Moines, Iowa HyVee Elite Cup event (with the massive prize purse) on June 27th.
 
Davos sits at roughly 1560 meters, so the air is thin, making training more difficult, but also makes the possibility of big fitness gains that much greater. The riding here is certainly tough!  We are either climbing or descending in order to prepare to climb again!  On one of my first aerobic rides here, my Garmin Edge 705 measured that we climbed over 1200m. My coach had said that the “hill” topped off at 1700m — wrong!  It in fact topped off at 1860 meters!
 
I’m really looking forward to exploring more of Davos this summer. The trails for running are also pretty amazing and having my Garmin 405 to calculate my distance as I run straight up the mountains for hours will certainly be helpful. Check out my recent aerobic hill ride. For photos and more on my training in Davos, visit my blog. Find out how many pairs of shoes it takes to outfit the four athletes in our flat!

Jake's Journal: Success in San Diego

As I mentioned before starting the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, motivation has been easy to find. There are the elite runners who boggle the mind while breaking a record, the wheelchair athletes who pave the way to a great event, and the first-timers like my wife, Jocelyn, making up 48 percent of Sunday's participants. Then there's Team in Training. These runners, mentors and supporters raise money for great causes - and in honor of remarkable people - and they turned the Rock 'n' Roll marathon into a flood of purple. Any time I felt tired, I would read the backs of their shirts, where they had written the names of the people they were honoring. You didn't need to know the people to know the power of the motivation.

And speaking of inspiration, having Jocelyn running next to me was awesome. Just a year ago, she ran five miles for the first time. A month ago, she ran a half-marathon. Three weeks ago, she was hit by multiple leg and back injuries, and it seemed that fixing one would only inflame another. So when she said that her hip was hurting at mile two, I knew it was a valid complaint. In my previous marathons, I've been fortunate enough to be running healthy. Any lack of training was my own fault. But this was something different, completely out of her control. Yet she soldiered on. We found motivation in the kids lining the streets, handing out high-fives, the bands and volunteers that livened up quiet miles and in our Forerunners as they ticked off the miles and kept us aware of time and pace. And with more than 25 miles behind us, we entered the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and had a second wind (or 57th wind, we lost count) as we picked up the pace and ran past the men and women in uniform who had generously welcomed us to their home away from home. And with one memorable step, Jocelyn crossed the finish line of her first marathon and stopped her Forerunner 405, capturing her experience to remember and share on Garmin Connect. And I was one second behind, pressing my Forerunner 310XT, already looking forward to reliving the marathon mile by mile, memory by memory.

Wiggins 2nd in final Giro time trial

The cobblestone streets of Rome paired with pelting rain made yesterday’s final stage of the Giro d’Italia exciting and excruciating. Despite a technical course that brought down some leaders, Team Garmin’s Bradley Wiggins placed 2nd, a mere second away from a stage win. Excerpts from the Daily Peloton: “Wiggo was possibly the fastest man on two wheels in Rome today. He was fastest at the second time check by a sizable three seconds until disaster struck in the form of rain making the course too dangerous to negotiate at his speed to that point. He subsequently slowed to finish agonizingly close to the winner one second down in 2nd place.” Disappointing to come so close to a stage win, but Wiggins knows there’s more just around the corner: “Now I can consider that I have moved on enough in this Giro to be a real contender for the TDF prologue with the help and support from the best support staff and management team in the world of cycling today - Team Garmin.”

In other Team Garmin news, Tom Peterson, a Tour of California stage winner, finished 8th in last week’s Tour of Bavaria, while the team finished 3rd in the GC. Follow more racing action as the team gears up for the biggest race of the year in France. Enter the Tour with Team Garmin sweepstakes for your chance to win a Felt bike equipped with an Edge 705 plus many other prizes.

Caddy Confidential: 8,800 Preloaded Courses and Counting

Thanks to the 1,300+ new golf course maps now available on the Approach G5 website, I can finally get around my local track while actually knowing exactly where to hit the ball...or more accurately, where to aim the ball.

Swope Memorial Golf Course, an historic A.W. Tillinghast classic overlooking downtown Kansas City, is laid out in some of the hilliest terrain in the area. The course flows up and down, turning and twisting through large, old-growth trees creating a bevvy of blind shots. Even if you've played dozens of rounds at Swope, you're still left with numerous blind shots that you haven't faced before.

So to have the Approach G5 in my bag - specifically, having the ability to see the entire hole laid out in brilliant color, having the ability to touch the exact spot on the map where I want to hit the ball, and then zoom in for a better view of layup areas and greens, was invaluable.

Instead of employing the traditional method of "...aim left of the third oak - the one with the big leaves, two trees left of the squirrel," the Approach G5 offered my partner and I crystal clear views of exactly where we needed to hit it.

The Approach G5 was particularly handy playing the diabolical 560-yard par-5 17th, a huge blind, uphill then downhill dogleg left.

As you can see in the attached images, the tee shot is uphill, turns left and if you're a bigger hitter, blind as a bat. Same thing goes for the second shot - a downhill, blind shot left to a tiny landing area. The typical technique is to either walk 150 yards forward to see the landing area, or to try and remember which building in the distance lines up with where you need to hit it.  For the first time in recent memory, both my partner and I hit the tiny landing area and finished the hole with two net birdies.

We were playing in an 8-man scramble, so we weren't keeping our own score. Instead, we used the Digital Scorecard feature to keep track of our round. A handly little tip for when you're playing a club event or tourney, but still want to keep your own score.