Jake's Journal du jour: Fans cheer Farrar to another podium finish

Now that I'm back in the States, watching Team Garmin on Versus and tracking each stage on Twitter, I'm appreciating just how far the excitement for pro cycling's biggest event stretches beyond the roadsides of France. Though I'm sitting in a cube in our office instead of a team vehicle in the caravan, I can still get unbelievable access to this exhilarating event. So when Tyler Farrar stormed uphill to the line in Saint-Fargeau and scored his second consecutive top-three stage finish, I was cheering the Versus telecast along with everyone updating feverishly on Twitter. Finishing less than a bike's length behind the stage winner, Farrar racked up his fourth top-five finish this month, and he's now tied for third place in the overall points battle. Tyler's teammates also continue to impress as Dave Zabriskie, Danny Pate and Julian Dean make the right moves to put him in place for success while Bradley Wiggins (5th) and Christian Vande Velde (8th) hold their spots in the overall top 10. 

If you're like me and need more Tour excitement once the day's field sprint is over, check out the home page of our newly redesigned Team Garmin minisite. You'll find links to our Flickr photo gallery (for action and candid pictures), Garmin's YouTube channel (for highlights and Edge 705 tutorials), acclaimed filmmaker Nigel Dick's behind-the-scenes videos and the Garmin and Slipstream blogs. You can relive key stages through Team Garmin's Edge 705 data on the Featured Rides page, and you can find out who is on Twitter by visiting the Extras page. Finally, you can get the gear that the team uses in tours - either by registering to win free stuff in our sweepstakes or shopping for Garmin accessories or Team Garmin apparel.

Peg’s Posts: relive Millar’s epic stage 6 ride

We all know it takes guts, experience and a ton of training to pull off a performance like Millar’s stellar stage 6 ride in yesterday’s TdF. But for those of us not lining the rain-soaked roadsides in France or streaking by in our skivvies, we’re a bit removed from the true race experience. Just how fast was Millar going on the downhills? What was his max speed? Average speed? And just how long does it take a pro to ride 112.2 miles? You can see these stats and more thanks to the data collected by the Garmin Edge 705 that guides David and all other members of Team Garmin. Check out Millar's stage 6 ride in Garmin Connect. The Edge 705 is the only GPS-enabled bike computer that combines GPS positioning, maps, speed/cadence, heart rate, power compatibility and more on one display. And the same technology used by the pros is available to you. Already have the Edge? Check out our latest Edge training videos that Jake and our video team here at Garmin have been cranking out. These short, topical videos can get you up to speed quickly on the top features of the 705. Some may say the Edge’s so intuitive a child could use it, but since Jake likes to talk and our customers like to listen, we aim to keep everyone happy, so we'll keep cranking them out.    

 

Millar on the attack in stage 6, tastes a stage win

If you’d been following the TdF news today and heard all but the final results, one look at these pics of Team Garmin’s David Millar could fill in the last words. He gave his all in a valiant fight for a stage victory, and in the end, his spent body couldn’t keep pace with his spirit. For today’s 181.5k stage, Millar rode into a main breakaway at the 50k mark and was hailed “the virtual yellow jersey”. He then surged for a solo attack 29k from the finish, but was caught in the final two kilometers. Tomorrow, Millar will wear the prestigious ‘red-on-white’ numbers to distinguish him as the most aggressive rider for the day. Be sure to watch the stage 6 highlights video and tune in for more TdF highlights when Jake returns from his overseas adventure.

Incidentally, when the bloggers back home saw these finish line pics of a Forerunner-decked forearm ready to wipe David Millar’s brow, we were sure it was Jake in action. He assured us it was not, but that the entire Team Garmin crew (staff and riders) have been training with the Forerunner 405CX and are learning their fav features.

 

Jake's Journal du jour: Team Garmin close second in team time trial

In the end, it came down to a matter of seconds in Montpellier. Team Garmin-Slipstream rolled out of the starting chute on a mission. With three times behind them in the starting order of the team time trial, they had to top the times already on the board while setting a standard that would truly test those yet to ride. The argyle armada did just that, posting the fastest time at the halfway point and getting to the third checkpoint 31 seconds faster than the previous best split. The key to the team time trial is getting your five fastest guys through the course as quickly as possible, and the clock stops when the fifth man crosses. So the crowd was cheering wildly as Christian Vande Velde, Bradley Wiggins, David Millar, Dave Zabriskie and Ryder Hesjedal flew through the final stretch of the 39 km course. After finishing second by 19 seconds, Team Garmin has four in top 12: Wiggo 7th, Zabriskie 9th, Millar 10th, CVV 12th. Visit our team page for more Team Garmin news and stage videos and for up-to-the-minute posts of the TdF action through the weekend, follow Jake on Twitter. Don't miss Jake's guest post on social media.

Jake's Journal du jour: Farrar sprints to second in second stage

 Team Garmin's day began in muggy Monaco with Bradley Wiggins in the green jersey and third place overall, and it wrapped up in balmy Brignoles with Tyler Farrar following a beautiful leadout by Julian Dean and Danny Pate to finish second on the stage. As the vast majority of the peloton finished together, the top of the general classification didn't change. Wiggins still sits in third place, just 19 seconds behind the race leader. And though Tyler didn't quite take the stage win Sunday, he was a popular pick to win and turned heads with his strong finish. Check out VeloNews to read about his stellar sprint, and you can also follow his progress in his own words as he and other Team Garmin cyclists post rider diaries on various sites. We'll highlight more over the next few weeks, and you can always find links at the newly redesigned Team Garmin site.

Jake's Journal du jour: Team Garmin's Wiggins makes prologue podium

On a muggy day in Monaco, the ice vests used in Team Garmin's warmups really had their work cut out for them. And on the tricky 15.5 km prologue that started with a 7 km climb, Team Garmin kept its cool while placing four cyclists in the top 17 finishers. Bradley Wiggins sparked an ovation among the argyle armada - all of which were outfitted in special Fourth of July T-shirts - when he flew through the finish and set a new time to beat. Even though Wiggo's time would be topped before day's end, seeing one of our stellar time trialists take his place on the podium set the tone for the rest of the Tour.

Team Garmin prides itself on its depth and consistency. So it wasn't a surprise to see Wiggins (3rd), Dave Zabriskie (13th), David Millar (14th) and Christian Vande Velde (17th) all finish within a minute of the stage winner. And the crowds around the bus - of both fans and media - reminded us just how much people love showing their argyle affection. ESPN, The New York Times and the Versus crew were fixtures at the team bus where our guys would emerge throughout the day to work up a sweat on their trainers before heading out on the streets. Versus even had a camera mounted in the Garmin chase car to capture the action as it happened. And Joe Lindsey of Bicycling magazine even found a way to be in two places at once, interviewing David Millar at the bus while sending a mini-cam with me in the car following Martijn Maaskant. And I can attest to the difficulty of the course. I wasn't even cycling - just along for the ride in the car - and I had trouble keeping my balance. Of course it may have been because I was taking pictures, shooting video, drinking water and updating Twitter amid the excitement. Well, the action continues tomorrow (Monaco to Brignoles) and the next day (Marseille to La Grande-Motte) before things really get interesting at the Montpellier team time trial. If you want updates, candid photos and behind-the-scenes access, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@JakesJournal) and check the Team Garmin site. The fun is just beginning.

Jake's Journal du jour: Stars come out in Monaco

Neither jet lag nor lost luggage could dampen my mood right now. Plopped down on a lobby couch, looking at Team Garmin physiologist Allen Lim's Forerunner 405CX data and chatting with Kozo Shimano (yes, that Shimano), I was in mid-sentence when a figure strolled up decked out in orange and blue argyle from his smiling face to his lightning-quick feet. You'd never think that someone could bounce back so quickly from fracturing five vertebrae, yet here stood Team Garmin leader Christian Vande Velde looking like he could conquer the world. First stop, Monaco.

Even though bicycling's biggest race doesn't start until Saturday, this tiny shoreline nation is buzzing with excitement as the world's top cyclists, their just-like-clockwork staffs and top-tier sports journalists gather for the 96th running of this epic race around, outside of and across France. After chatting with Christian a bit, I talked with Martijn Maaskant and Dan Martin just as the news was breaking that Dan's nagging knee injury meant that Martijn would take his place. Handling it with more maturity than his 22 years would suggest, Dan wanted what was best for his team and his own long-term health. Then came the U.K.'s dynamic duo, David Millar and Bradley Wiggins, whom I last saw at training camp in Boulder. David paused for a Twitter picture, and Wiggo explained that his buzzcut was all business. "This is the Tour, man, no time for a rock star."

Well you wouldn't know it from looking around the busy streets. Larger-than-life banners cast shadows on ornate team cars, and cameras and microphones are as prevalent as the lean cyclists themselves. Seems we're surrounded by cycling's rock stars, and they're ready to perform on the world's biggest stage. Stay tuned to the Team Garmin blog and my @JakesJournal Twitter feed for updates.

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.

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.

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!

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Peg’s Posts: The multi-talented Forerunner 310XT

While Garmin runners Adam and Jake (plus Jake’s wife Jocie) are likely kicked back poolside in sunny Cali, resting their legs for tomorrow’s San Diego Marathon, I’ll sorta be doing the same, only from the ‘burbs of KC. My justification for pool time is recovering from a hot & hilly brick workout with the Forerunner 310XT several hours ago. Jake recapped the highlights of the 310XT’s swim-proofness, long battery life and multisport features, and I have to give a plug for the new quick-release mount design. The quick-release wrist and bike mounts (sold as an optional accessory kit) are easy to set up and the unit secures with just a quarter-turn twist. So I can swap the 310XT head unit from wrist to bike in seconds and know it’s secure. I’m also a big fan of the 310XT’s vibration alert. These little perks just prove that Garmin engineers, many of whom are athletes who live and breathe the sport just like you, think of pretty much everything.

Jake's Journal: In San Diego, in good company

I just landed in San Diego, and in 48 hours I'll be well into my fourth marathon. If the first was a learning experience going solo through sweltering Chicago and the second was strategic with my longtime running partner Steve in the rolling hills of Kansas City, the third time was a charm as I toured New York with my Garmin friend Joel. And though the fourth won't be my fastest - monthlong bronchitis delayed my Boston qualifying plans - I'm expecting something special. I'll be running with Forerunner 310XT, recently called the "King of Wrist-Mounted Trainers" by Wired magazine, and more important I'll be running with my wife, who recently decided to run her first marathon here. The initial plan was for me to run the full 26.2 and Jocelyn would run the half. That plan fell apart when we found out there is no half. Jocelyn, never one to shy away from a challenge, shrugged her shoulders and said, "I guess I'm doing my first full."

So for the past few months, she's been training with Forerunner 405, even going out and tackling 17 miles while I was in Pennsylvania running the Lehigh Valley half. She's fought hip and back pain as well as shin splints, all the while being a devoted disciple of Runner's World's training tips. On Monday, we ran a local 8K as a taper workout, ironic since the same event last year was her first time ever running more than 4 miles. And now we have 26.2 on tap this weekend. It helps that we have support. All of our colleagues, family and friends are pulling us for us, and here in town we have Stan (my brother in baldness) and other Garmin colleagues showing off our fitness products at the expo. Stan spent time earlier this week working out at the Olympic training center, quite a thrill for a runner of four decades. Throw in the thousands of other runners (and Forerunners) joining us on Sunday, and there will clearly be no lack of inspiration. We'll keep you posted, and you can follow me on Twitter.

Garmin Connect welcomes all Garmin fitness devices

Great news from everyone at Garmin Connect! This week, Garmin Connect threw open its doors to all Garmin fitness devices, so you can now download activities from all of your Edge and Forerunner devices. Also, the move is on as we've started migrating everyone's activities from MotionBased over to Garmin Connect. Because there have been millions of activities shared at MotionBased and Garmin Connect, we had to start somewhere. So we focused first on the most recent activities (the most relevant in your training) and will be uploading the largest activities this summer.

Continue reading for more details about the Garmin Connect migration and other great updates to our online training community.

Garmin runner Mathew Chesang is ready to race

While some Garmin associates (Peg included) can vouch for our fitness products prompting their dedication to running, some in our midst seem to have been born runners. Mathew Chesang is that guy. That guy with “fast” in his genes. That guy who probably was probably lapping kids in the 800m in junior high. Mathew's an All-American who’s kept up quite a winning streak since his days leading his university cross-country team from 2001-2004. He now trains with the Forerunner 405. Here’s an update from Mathew on his current training and racing schedule.

Last year’s road racing season was one of my best even though I had a hamstring injury that denied me running toward the end of the summer. I had to start my training late this year because of the injury. I did run my first race during the Easter weekend in Wichita, KS. I ran a 31:40 in the 10k. After that I went down to St. Louis and ran the Spirit of St. Louis half marathon. I was 4th place with a time of 1:08, and then the weekend after, I ran the local Kansas City Trolley Run 4-mile. I was 12th place with a time of 18:39. If my training goes smooth and I stay healthy, I will be running the local Hospital Hill Run half marathon on June 6. After that, I’ll be running the inaugural Rock’n’Roll Seattle half marathon on June 27.

Stay tuned to the Garmin blog as we try to keep up with Mathew and his race schedule. We have some special events planned for Mathew’s race in Seattle, and even if you’re not there racing or as a spectator, you can stay up on all the action right here.

Jake's Journal: Putting Forerunner 310XT through the paces

Four miles downhill with a tailwind. Seven miles of Pennsylvania trails. A half-marathon on the home turf of Runner's World. A fast 5K with Garmin's good name on the line, and 18 miles of training later in the day. And though I needed to refuel after every outing these past three weekends, my Forerunner 310XT did it all on a single charge. The talk of the fitness industry since being announced in April, the waterproof multisport 310XT is up for any challenge and ready to chronicle your efforts wirelessly afterward. And it's my job to put it through the paces (especially average and lap - but more about that later).

That's how I found myself in the hills of Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, running trails with tech experts from Runner's World and Bicycling magazines. What started as a taper day turned into seven miles of exploration in the woods, and Forerunner 310XT's high-sensitivity GPS receiver excelled amid the heavy tree cover. Two days later, 310XT was again on our wrists as Brian from Runner's World pushed me to a new PR of 1:32. We knew we were on the right track when 310XT's "average pace" - what we're running over the entire race - stayed below 7 minutes and landed on 6:59.

Team Garmin update from Giro d’Italia

Team Garmin’s much-anticipated performance at the Giro d’Italia has already been marked by tragedy and triumph. Heavy stuff first: team captain Christian Vande Velde was injured in today’s stage 3 and the latest is that he’s in an ambulance headed to the hospital with possible lower back or hip injuries. Teammate Tyler Farrar pulled off a 2nd place finish today, moving him into 2nd place overall. Yesterday, Farrar’s sprinting skills shone on a flat finish, putting him in the top five. “The team put in a great ride for me today,” said Farrar. “Danny, Cam, and Tom did a fantastic job riding the front, and Dave, Bradley, and Julien took care of me for the final. I was feeling good and picked off the intermediate sprint. But I just didn’t quite have the luck in the end. I know that the legs are good, and the team is flying so I think a stage win is definitely in the cards!” In Saturday’s opening time trial, Team Garmin took 2nd overall, just six seconds behind Columbia. With today’s racing over, our thoughts are with Christian and the rest of the team members who could be facing the possibility of 18 more stages through Italy without the company of their team leader. Get continuing Giro coverage at www.garmin.com/teamgarmin.

Elite U.S. distance runners use Garmin as 'secret weapon' in game of cat and mouse

One of the best things about Garmin's fitness line is that a first-time user can take advantage of the same technology as the world's top athletes. Just as a bike commuter can use the same Edge 705 that graces the handlebars of Team Garmin's elite professionals, a weekend jogger enjoys the same benefits from a Forerunner 405 used by world-class runners. Recent notes from U.S. distance champs Deena Kastor and Ryan Hall to our fitness team shared a rare glance into just one of the ways that these two elite distance runners use their Forerunners in training.

"You make an incredible product," Deena wrote to us, "I’ll give you a little inside scoop on how I’ve made it work for me: I get a head start on Ryan for hard training runs and he tries to catch me. I usually look at my Garmin to see what pace I’m running or how much ground I have to cover in order to hold him off. I tease him right before I start by saying 'Catch me if you can.' Then, it is only my Garmin giving me information to fend him off. It is my secret weapon."

For more reasons, why Deena and Ryan love their Forerunners, check out Jake's YouTube videos from the New York City marathon.

Garmin associates race around the world

With Boston book-ending the start of the official marathon season, this past weekend was packed with races in places around the globe. And Garmin had representation in many of the biggies. First up was Nashville's Country Music Marathon, which Garmin sponsored. Garmin associate Amy chose Music City for her marathon debut. A fitting locale since Amy confessed she spent most of her childhood planning to be a country music singer. The bands, fans and crowds kept her going through a hot, humid race. Such weather was a cruel irony for someone who logged nearly all her training miles in the rain, slow and sleet of a Kansas winter/spring. But by minding her Forerunner early in the race to hold a moderate pace and then walking more as the temps rose, Amy was able to run a smart race and avoid a post-race ambulance ride like about 40 runners experienced.

Jake's Journal: Carless commute? What about B-O-B?

This Sunday, Team Garmin will compete in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, part of the Belgian classics and one of five "Monuments" of the European professional road cycling calendar. The race covers 261 km and goes from Liège to Bastogne back to Liège. Yep, it's not just a clever name. And that's why my carless commute - which I did for the first time this week on Earth Day - will now be known as "Brookside-Olathe-Brookside". There are some interesting similarities between Team Garmin doing L-B-L and my B-O-B. We're both on bikes (for the most part). We both count on the Edge 705 to show us color mapping and our real-time data, such as time, speed, distance, heading, elevation and GPS location. We both use Garmin Connect. (Here's recent data from Team Garmin's Ryder Hesjedal. Here's the data from my trip home.) We both have a lot of traffic to avoid. In Belgium, they're navigating through the world's top cyclists and overzealous fans. On my bike trails, I'm dodging joggers and walkers with babies in strollers and pets on leashes. And ... I think that's where the similarities end.

At Liège-Bastogne-Liège, there are 11 recognized climbs, with one being 4km long and one heartbreaker at a 12% grade. Now don't get me wrong, Brookside-Olathe-Brookside has plenty of hills. And at least one spanned more than two blocks. L-B-L starts in the heart of town and finishes in the northern suburb of Ans. B-O-B starts in a southern suburb and finishes in a neighborhood right in the heart of KC. Oh yeah, and probably the biggest kicker aside from the distance (261km vs. 83km) is that Team Garmin gets on the bus after the ride is over. For me, the bus played a big part in the Brookside-Olathe leg (5 miles of bike, 21 miles by bus). But the 26 miles home was all pedal power. And it was exhilarating. The one regret is that I forgot to turn on Auto Lap to help me overanalyze each mile on Garmin Connect, which replays the route on its map player. I'll have to remember that for the next edition of B-O-B.  

ecoRoute and Edge team up on Earth Day

As we all try to find ways to help and enjoy the environment on Earth Day, Garmin offers up some simple options for making your day a little more eco-friendly. The first option, for those of you who can't get by without your car for your daily commute, is as easy as a free software download. Visit www.garmin.com/ecoRoute  and the interactive ecoRoute minisite to learn more about ecoRoute's fuel-efficient navigation and how the driving challenge and tips for fuel conservation can help you save fuel and money.

For those of you looking for alternative forms of transportation, Jake has turned his daily commute into a multi-mode relay of sorts. This morning, he biked from his house to the bus stop to catch the Garmin shuttle, which was set up to provide rides for employees in other parts of the metro area. A leisurely bus ride later - with his bike safely secured on the front of the bus - Jake was at work 10 minutes early and ready to start his day. This afternoon, he'll again saddle up on his bike for his 26-mile ride home. And rather than dodging traffic, he gets to enjoy the mixed-use trails that wind through Johnson County and Kansas City. He'll be tackling the trails with confidence, guided home by Edge 705's GPS data and color mapping. We're hoping Jake will share his car-less chronicles (and his Garmin Connect data) with us tomorrow, and we'd love to hear your Earth Day stories as well in the comment below. From major eco-friendly initiatives to tiny tweaks in your daily routine, every bit helps.

Jake's Journal: Lucky Winners in the Land of Oregon

So I just sent out an email to four people - Steven in Westminster, CA; Emily in Scott Depot, WV; Kyle in Riverton, UT; and Michael in Barstow, CA - and I usually don't share such notes but I thought you might want to congratulate these four if you know them ... or visit the Land of Oregon to see what you missed ... or start searching for Garmin geocoins in random caches. Here's what I sent: 

I hope this note finds you well – because we have some great news for you. You must have had a pretty good time in Garmin’s Land of Oregon minisite, because of the countless visitors – and the thousands who completed every task asked of them – you’re one of just four winners!

As a result of your keen eye, quick wit and adventurous spirit, we’re sending you an Oregon 400t touchscreen handheld device, preloaded with topo maps of the entire U.S. and capable of sharing data with other nearby Oregon and Colorado units. We’re also sending you two limited-edition Oregon geocoins, with a little favor to ask. One of the geocoins is for you, no strings attached. The other is for you to stash, thus passing along the fun of geocaching and the thrill of discovery. You see, these coins aren’t available for purchase. The only way to get them is from Garmin HQ or to find one that’s been stashed. Then send me the cache location where you hid the coin so that I can keep an eye on the logs and see when and where they’re found. Just like that, cachers around the world will have memorable stories to share at garmin.blogs.com and at geocaching forums and gatherings, and it will be thanks to you!

So congratulations again to Steven, Emily, Kyle and Michael, and even though the contest has ended, the adventures continue in the Land of Oregon ... and beyond. And if you find one of those limited-edition coins that has been stashed, send us your story and we'll share it on the blog.

Jake's Journal: Farrar's sprint caps off Team Garmin's week of winning

Friday in Santa Croce Sull’Arno, Italy, Team Garmin's Tyler Farrar topped a who's who of sprinters in professional cycling to win the 166km third stage of Tirreno-Adriatico. It was the second stage win in three days for the argyle armada, following Christian Vande Velde's successful Paris-Nice solo attack. And whether the finish line was a mass sprint decided by fractions of seconds (like when Tyler lunged past the world's fastest men) or a one-man march to victory (which gave Christian time to do a quick rock-a-bye for his new daughter before throwing his arms in the air), that moment is one you want to relive over and over again. Especially if you're stuck in the office an ocean away.

So I hopped on Twitter to see what people were saying and I found love for the argyle like you'd see in Jonathan Vaughters' closet. Steephill.TV captured the raw emotion in Tyler's face at the finish. Replays from the home stretch were being shown on Justin.TV and CycleTo.com. Vaughters chimed in on Twitter: "Once a team starts winning, it just rolls on. Everyone believes more, as the same guy you beat at training camp just won, so why not me? JV" And VeloNews talked to Tyler, who called it "the biggest win of my career." I think we should add a disclaimer - biggest, for now. Tyler has great things ahead of him.

Jake's Journal: From the peloton to your PC

Three pro cycling tours - through France, Missouri and California - have provided three totally different experiences as we bring the action of the pro peloton and Team Garmin's highlights to you through the Garmin Blog, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr, the most recent being from Dave Zabriskie's Tour of California prologue (click here to see it). We've even helped outfit each video motorbike (left) with a Garmin zūmo so the TV crews can see the path that lies ahead despite the countless distractions and crowded roads. In the end, this stunning footage is hard to top. But read on to see how we strive to bring you the argyle updates that you might otherwise miss - whether we're in a team car, a damp tent, an office chair or a recliner.

Caddy Confidential: Keeping Score with Approach G5

After months of being snowed in at the caddy shack, Mother Nature is finally giving us a few hints of the warm weather to come. And every day we get closer to golf season is also another day we get closer to launching the Approach G5. With that wonderful nugget of news, we’ve posted yet another YouTube video that highlights the Digital Scorecard feature…from indoors…because it was snowing…yet again.

Tune in to see Jake and Dan the Engineer roll through every aspect of the scorecard feature, including how to fire up the scorecard on your computer. If you missed any of the previous Approach YouTube videos, you can click here and here to see more of what the Approach G5 has to offer. As always, keep checking the Garmin blog as we’ll be posting more videos in the coming weeks.

First 5,000+ golf courses announced for Approach G5

Golfers, take note: The list is out. More than 5,000 golf courses in the U.S. have been mapped in great detail and preloaded onto the Garmin Approach G5, which will hit shelves in just a few weeks. More than 5,000. Preloaded. No annual fees. No subscriptions. Just two AA batteries, and you're ready to tee off with this touchscreen marvel. To put this staggering number of preloaded courses in perspective, you could play a different golf course every day and still need 14 years to cover every course that comes standard with the Approach G5. To see if your favorite course is among the 5,000+, just visit the Approach product page and the course list. If your favorite course isn't on the initial list, fear not, our list is growing and there's room on the Approach for all of your favorites. We've even made it easy for you to request a course.

So be sure to watch Caddy Confidential, where Carl will share tips and tricks (while humbling Jake in the process), and he'll also have more YouTube videos to share, in addition to the Approach overview and the long-drive contest that showcased the measure-distance feature. Start working on your swing, because we're going to keep you busy!

Garmin Connect news: Forerunner 405 and 50 are now Mac compatible

We recently released software that will allow Mac users to upload their fitness activities recorded with the Forerunner 405 or 50 to Garmin Connect via the wireless USB ANT Stick. The software is called ANT Agent for Mac users. You can also send goals to your device when uploading your history/activities.

Soon you’ll be able to update your device software and GPS chipset to keep your device up to date. With future releases you’ll be able to send workouts and courses to the Forerunner 405 from Training Center and Garmin Connect, and independently send goals to the Forerunner 405 from Garmin Connect.  Future releases will also enable you to update your Forerunner 405’s device software and GPS chipset.

Jake's Journal: My cure for rainy days and Mondays

For the fifth day in California, I'm looking out my window at rain. Rain that's making headlines nationally and last night flooded the team hotel. In a day where you don't even want to get in the car, the cyclists in the Tour of California will get on their bikes (again) and ride more than 100 miles (again) in a relentless deluge (again). And yet, Team Garmin's spirits couldn't be higher coming off of Stage 2, a day in which Tom Peterson escaped in a key break, bridged to catch the race leader, followed the defending champ and passed him for Monday's stage victory. All at only 22 years old. Bonnie Ford tells us more about Tom and his Tour thus far in yet another great profile on ESPN.com.

Names that are more familiar to Team Garmin fans - Dave Zabriskie and Tom Danielson (Tom's pictured here with wife Steph before the Valentine's Day prologue) - are still high on the leaderboard as they continue to put themselves exactly where they need to be heading into Friday's time trial in Solvang. Zabriskie's current third-place standing overall is a product of his amazing prologue in Sacramento during the only four hours of sunshine I can remember this week - and more important, an exhilirating four minutes that I will remember for years. I had been standing at the finish line, where I had seen Svein Tuft post the early time to beat, when Slipstream President Matt Johnson asked if I wanted to follow one of our guys in a team car. I don't think I've ever been so eager to mooch a ride. First it was going to be Tyler Farrar, as I told the hundreds of people following my Tour updates on Twitter, then Tyler's car filled up before I arrived. Tyler's a great guy - and a stellar time trialist - but I couldn't believe it when I found out that the fallback plan was to trail Zabriskie.

Tour of California: Captain America Zabriskie takes podium

Sacramento's week of rain paused just long enough for the 136 cyclists in the Tour of California to speed through the 3.9km prologue. The argyle armada was led by two national time trial champions as tens of thousands of fans packed the state capital. Svein Tuft, sporting his Canadian speedsuit, was the first out of the chute for Team Garmin - and he set the bar high for everyone who followed. His 4:37.06 stood up to numerous challenges before finally falling, but it was still fast enough to land Svein in ninth place overall. Then it was time for the star to shine.

We're talking, of course, about the giant star on the chest of U.S. champion Dave Zabriskie's red, white and blue speedsuit, which would make Captain America proud. Zabriskie tore through downtown - we know because Jake was following in the team car, and we hope to put his video on our YouTube channel - and finished in 4:35.56, faster than anyone up to that point. When the day was done, Zabriskie's time held up for a third-place spot on the podium. Teammate Tyler Farrar finished 14th in 4:39.42, and proud new papa Christian Vande Velde was 22nd in 4:41.55. Steve Cozza, Tom Danielson, Trent Lowe and Tom Peterson round out the team whose next task is to go from Davis to Santa Rosa tomorrow. In the meantime, we'll try to get Jake calmed down enough from chasing Zabriskie to recap the thrill ride.

Jake's Journal: Tracking ToC on Twitter

My first 48 hours in California have been brisk, both in pace and temperature. Day 1 started with the Tour of California press conference, which saw Team Garmin's Christian Vande Velde on an all-star panel representing "the strongest lineup to ever compete on U.S. soil." I knew these guys were fast, but I could hardly keep up as I shared updates on Twitter. Among the best quotes, the cyclists talking about following their press ("Christian, I know you Google yourself."), Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson vowing to ride this weekend ("But I'm not wearing those tight shorts.") and defending two-time ToC champ Levi Leipheimer picking his favorites: "This guy to my left." Christian, sitting next to Levi, raised his hand to clarify for the crowd of reporters and photographers.

Day 2 started bright and early, as I picked up NorCal resident Steve Cozza for a live interview on Sacramento's NBC morning news. At the same time, the local FOX crew was interviewing other Team Garmin cyclists and staff, so there was no time for sleeping in. In the green room, Steve and I watched footage of Team Garmin's previous day's training ride, which also landed the argyle armada on the front page of the Sacramento Bee. When Steve had his three minutes in the spotlight, he did a great job discussing the race and giving viewers a break from the coverage of the surprising snowfall in the area. My day wrapped up with meetings in rainy San Francisco. 

The prologue begins just minutes from now, and the 2.4-mile time trial is expected to bring 100,000 fans to the streets of Sacramento. I'll be among them, sharing Twitter updates while monitoring results and reading everyone else's Tour Tweets. To track the Tour from your phone or PC, click "Follow" on the Twitter page for Jake's Journal and Team Garmin-Slipstream. You can search for other Tweets using #ATOC. And be sure to visit our Flickr page and the Team Garmin blog as the week goes on to see the action for yourself.

Peg’s Posts: Follow your heart with Forerunner.

With tomorrow being V-day, I thought it’d be timely to talk about matters of the heart. More specifically, how Forerunner can help you follow yours. For those who’ve never trained with heart rate, the big question is “why would I need to?” Essentially, it’s so you can see whether you’re training too hard or not hard enough. Relying on pace or speed data isn’t enough, because heart rate can be a better indicator of how hard your body is working. Heard the expression “the heart never lies”? It’s especially true when it comes to sports like running and cycling. Your exertion level can vary depending on factors such as level of fitness, outside factors like weather and temperature and even how you feel on a particular day. Stress, fatigue and sickness can elevate your heart rate, so a workout under these conditions may feel “hard” even when you back off on your speed or distance. So, listen to your heart and adjust your workout as needed on those days.

Jake's Journal: Magnus works magic as mentor

The first time I saw Magnus Backstedt - I mean really saw him, who he is and the impact he has - was the Stage 4 time trial last summer in Cholet. Sure I'd been with Team Garmin's cyclists and staff for nearly a week at that point, but one scene summed up what I now truly appreciate about the 6'4" Swedish national champ. Under the watchful eye of his father - who may be the only person able to refer to him as "Little Maggy" - Magnus talked to, laughed with and signed autographs for a group of fans. All in grade school. The kids looked up to him - and up at him - in awe. And the smile on his face spoke volumes. 

Since then, I've had several chances to get to know Maggy - most notably in the basement of a Boulder pub where his bald head brushed the ceiling as we talked - and so it's with more than a twinge of sadness that I now write about his exit from pro cycling's top tier. Effective immediately, Magnus is stepping down from the sport's highest level. It's hard to blame him. His huge frame has been taking a beating for 13 years, during which he won multiple Swedish national titles, conquered the cobbles for the Paris-Roubaix victory in 2004 and captured Stage 19 in France in 1998. But just as he did that day in Cholet, he's turning his attention to the next generations of cyclists. He's going to stay on board as a consultant with Garmin-Slipstream while developing a young Swedish team that he founded, Cyclesport.se-MagnusMaximusCoffee.com.  

Jake's Journal: Accustomed to customizing my 405

Most of the time I have a pretty short attention span. It's why I need at least two TVs with closed captioning and just the right music while running at the gym. It's why I can get persuaded to go golfing in the name of research for the Approach G5. And it's why I'm glad that my Forerunner 405 has customizable training screens. Because I want to see different data throughout my run, and because different workouts call have different needs.

For example, I just finished a track workout with my friend Josh, running 400s with a 400 recovery in between. So I didn't care about elapsed time or total distance (or maybe I just didn't want to know) once my 1 1/2 mile warmup was over and I was on the track. (Quick tangent: I also set up auto lap by position so that every quarter was automatically marked when I crossed the starting line.)  Fellow blogger Peg trained for her first marathon using Yasso 800s (a creation of our friend Bart Yasso from Runner's World), and she changed her second training screen to focus on lap time and average lap pace. But when race day rolls around, Peg and I want to know our average overall pace in addition to time, distance and our most recent mile split. And when I'm hiking, I want to add elevation, bearing and time of day. It's a good thing that there are three customizable training screens with up to three data fields on each. And that's in addition to the heart-rate page and virtual partner. Be sure to check out our YouTube channel and Forerunner learning center to see the how-to videos on customizing your 405 and many other topics. We kept them quick and simple for people with a short attention span.

Caddy Confidential: Tee 'Em High With Approach G5

Down here at Caddy Confidential, we're going nuts. Stir crazy. We're stuck indoors, cold and grumpy, seeing colleagues finish marathons in sunny Florida and cheering on Team Garmin as they pedal back into form Down Under. We're checking the weather religiously waiting for one good day to get out and fire up the latest and greatest from Garmin, the Approach G5. Finally, a few days ago, we got a blast of hot air from somewhere, pulled our clubs out of the closet and sped off to the nearest golf course. ...Or more accurately, we first groveled to get permission to do some, eh-hem, "research."

The conversation with our boss went something like this: "Excuse me, sir, it is imperative that we head out to the golf course today to capture some very important video that will highlight some of the great features of the Approach... Well, yes sir, we will be doing a bit of golfing... No sir, not because we want to. No no. Only because we have to."

Jake's Journal: Good day for golf ... I mean, work

It's not often we get a 65-degree January day in Kansas. So when today's temps started climbing, our minds started racing. How can we take advantage of a balmy winter afternoon while being productive? My friends Carl the Caddy and Dan the Engineer reminded me that we had promised to produce tutorial videos about our newest handheld - Approach G5, Garmin's touchscreen GPS for golf. So we convinced our buddy Jimmy to grab a camera and join us at Sycamore Ridge near Garmin HQ to shoot videos for the blog and our YouTube channel.

The good news: As models of efficiency, we shot a handful of how-to videos that Carl will be sharing with you in his weekly Caddy Confidential blog posts and on YouTube. We covered the "measure distance" feature, touch-targeting for club selection and manual pin placement for accurate distances. The bad news: As a model of futility, I shot a handful of golfballs into the rough and ravine. Our long-drive contest was a two-sided contest with my only contribution being comic relief. Using Approach G5's touch-targeting to display distances to a location - and from that location to the green - simply told me that I was in trouble. At least Jimmy was generous in letting me try as many tee shots as we had tape. Or else he was just collecting blackmail material. I really need help. And more 60-degree days. Until then, I'll be studying our Approach tutorials and listening to Carl and Dan. When they're not laughing at my swing.

Jake's Journal: Around the world with Team Garmin

Though it was a casual setting on Pearl Street in Boulder, it felt like cycling's version of the United Nations. There I was in Colorado, chatting with national champions Magnus Backstedt (Sweden), Julian Dean (New Zealand), David Millar (Scotland), Dan Martin (Ireland) and Ryder Hesjedal (Canada), when the international reach of Team Garmin really hit home. While it was obvious this summer when I was completely immersed in the French lifestyle, the cross-cultural realization hit while hearing so many accents laughing together in a more familiar setting. So it's been fun keeping track of the team during the off-season, and this week's Team Garmin blog posts reminded me of the distance we span.

Trent Lowe, Will Frischkorn and Bradley Wiggins - three more guys who I loved talking to at training camp - checked in recently from their home continents. Trent is getting ready for his first Tour Down Under, which he'll begin Tuesday with Julian, Ryder, Timmy Duggan, Christian Meier and fellow Aussies Chris "CJ" Sutton, Cameron Meyer and director Matt White. Trent told CyclingNews, "We'll have some options and some cards to play, and Whitey's great at giving us a task each day."

Get Your Garmin Fix in 2009

Those of you who've followed our blog for some time may remember this post from the fall. But we've got lots of new readers joining us in the new year, so we thought we'd re-post this for everyone.

Around the Garmin blog, we’re always looking for ways to get our word out. In 2006, we tried skywriting our URL across the entire U.S. While we did enjoy limited success throughout parts of northern Montana, we didn’t get the results we were hoping for. In 2007, we thought we figured it out when we rented hundreds of Clown-a-grams® to blanket the states. Again – mixed results. But now we think we might be on to something. After a bit of coding and some switch flipping, we’re pleased to re-announce our ‘Subscribe Via Email’ option. Located in the upper left-hand corner of the blog, this new functionality will deliver a daily dose of blog posts directly to your inbox. It’s quick. It’s easy. And it’s a great way to stay-in-the-know about all things Garmin-related – whether it’s a contest, an event, a new product release, or just a chance to win some more of Jake's stuff. Not enough for you? Well, don't forget about Jake's Twitter account, too!

Of course, you can also subscribe to our RSS feed.  And if you’re not sure what an RSS feed is, we’ve included a quick video below from the good people over at Google. You can subscribe to the entire blog – or just individual feeds listed in the ‘categories’ section on the left. So however you choose to subscribe – RSS or email – you’ll get the freshest content available! Sign up today and put the Internet to work for you!

Greetings from Caddy Confidential

Hello all! Welcome to Caddy Confidential, your Garmin blog home for all things golf. I’m your host Carl the Caddy. My job – when I’m not scoping fairways and reading greens – is to keep you up to date on our new golf GPS handheld, Approach G5. If you haven’t heard already, Garmin is going golfing with a touchscreen, waterproof GPS device that comes preloaded with thousands of U.S. courses. For a quick peek at the capabilities of the Approach, check out this video that Garmin’s fitness guru Jake posted here.

We’re itching to dust off the clubs and get out to the course to show off the capabilities of the Approach. So as soon as we get a half-decent weather day (in Kansas, that’s about 45 degrees with no snow), we’re going to head out to the course to film and post a handful of videos that’ll show you all the cool stuff Approach can do, and how Approach can help you improve your game. We’re planning on updating Caddy Confidential weekly, so keep checking the Garmin blog for product info, tips for improving your game and to find out exactly how far Jake can hit his driver. Keep your head down, hope springs eternal and thanks again for touring Caddy Confidential!

Jake's Journal: Confessions from CES

The first day of CES proved a few things to me. People love the idea of saving gas and money. Even non-golfers can tell that the Approach G5 is a game-changer. Sometimes, valet parking is the cheapest way to go. And I have to work on my game - my short game, my long game and just about anything to do with the game of golf.

While ecoRoute and nuMaps lifetime offer savings - suggesting fuel-efficent routes and numerous map updates for one payment, respectively - I'm hoping that the Approach will save my golf game. Because I'm not so good. After all, I'm the outdoor/fitness guy and love to live that life. When I was handed a Forerunner when I started, I ran my first marathon a couple months later. Give me an Oregon or Colorado, and I'll tackle mountain trails all day long. So with the introduction of the Approach, I need to be able to swing a club without embarrassing myself. And the Approach, even with its touch-targeting and preloaded courses, can't solve that by itself. So I'm recruiting help from my friends Dan the Engineer and Carl. As part of our outdoor rec team, Dan represents the brains behind the Approach. As a friend and avid golfer, Carl is the brains behind my golf resurgence. And Carl's going to chime in on the Garmin blog, posting tips and behind-the-scenes wisdom in his Caddy Confidential. Here are a few pictures from a recent outing with Dan, Carl and the Approach, and we're also going to bring you videos in which we'll discuss specific features... and my mulligans.

Peg’s Posts: Magical Marathon

While some of my partners in blogging are in Vegas talking up our newest product offerings at the international Consumer Electronics Show, I’m about to depart for sunny Orlando to take a big step (make that many, many steps) in my running career. This Sunday, at 6:30 a.m., I’ll be anxiously poised to hit the start button on my Forerunner 405 and then run 26.2 miles through the Disney-themed parks. Last January, I vowed that 2009 would be the prime time to run my first marathon. And if this mom-of-three was gonna do one, it had to be Disney. How else would I get out the door for up to 4 hours on a Saturday morning unless there was incentive for the rest of the family? Read on to find out who and what has helped me through several high-mileage weeks … and find out how you can win for predicting Peg’s pace.

Jake's Journal: Getting fitter on Twitter

In addition to all of the excited recipients of Garmin gifts in our last Twitter-related post, one theme kept coming up as everyone opened surprises from Santa (or ordered their own gifts online): New Year's resolutions will be made easier to achieve through Garmin's fitness products. With goals ranging from getting back on the bike to losing a few pounds, running a first 5K to qualifying for the Boston Marathon, fitness enthusiasts unwrapped their Edges and Forerunners and started racking up the miles. And not to be outdone, hikers and geocachers took to the trails and parks with the help of an Oregon, Colorado, GPSMap 60 or eTrex. And all the while, they were talking about it on Twitter. The authors (the name after the first @) share their thoughts - in their own words, in 140 characters or less - to anyone listening. Click on their names to see what they have to say - and be sure to tell them @JakesJournal sent you. I join in on the conversations whenever possible, and you can follow my Tweets at twitter.com/JakesJournal.

Here, unedited, are my favorite two Tweets, from a runner and a cyclist, followed by dozens more in chronological order:

@KimAms @JakesJournal: I just got a Forerunner 405 for Christmas. I love it. I would rush into a burning building to save it.

@autumnrizing I LOVE MY GARMIN SO MUCH I COULD KISS IT! MAYBE EVEN LICK IT!!

Catching up with contest winners

Apparently saving a kick for the end isn't something Jake just tries while running. After announcing prizes for readers predicting times in his two recent marathons, Jake vowed to send them out by the end of the year. With a couple hours till closing time on New Year's Eve, he's over there scribbling notes and stuffing envelopes. So Laura, Brad, Steve, Jacki, Linda, Kelly, Chad, Thomas, Alberto, Jay and Tina - your winnings are on their way. (Jared and Marty, send us your address.)

In a matter of days, these lucky winners will be cruising around town in their Team Garmin T-shirts and showing off their limited-edition Oregon geocoins. And Laura, Thomas and Linda get a little something extra for having the best predictions when Jake ran a 3:31.18 in KC and 3:41.03 two weeks later in New York. You see, after American distance champ Ryan Hall told us why he loves his Forerunner (click here to hear his reasons), he was nice enough to autograph three NYC marathon posters. So each of our grand-prize winners gets one of those as well. That is, assuming that if Jake can run 26.2 miles in 3 1/2 hours, he can cover eight stories in an elevator in half that time.

Jake's Journal: Twitter's Garmin glee in 140 characters or less

One of my favorite parts of being on Twitter is hearing from Garmin users - especially when they get one as a gift. So you can imagine the fun I've been having this past week as hundreds of Tweets mentioned Garmin - either in anticipation of giving or in appreciation after getting. For those of you not familiar with Twitter, it's like a microblog. The authors (the name after the first @) share their thoughts - in their own words, in 140 characters or less - to anyone listening. Click on their names to see what they have to say - and be sure to tell them @JakesJournal sent you. And if you are familiar with Twitter, feel free to sign up to follow my Tweets. I'm always open to answering questions - or finding the right engineer to answer them for us.

To start off, this one sums up what I've been reading for the past week:

@Gitonyerhorse @Wildbun Yes, Santa is definitely a Garmin kinda guy.

Read on to see many of my favorites, presented unedited in chronological order beginning Christmas Eve. And check back later this week for ways that the Twitterverse is turning to Garmin for fitness resolutions.

Jake's Journal: Catch the Edge on CNN

It's one of my favorite types of phone calls: "I'm doing a TV appearance, and I want to feature Garmin." These are journalists or other experts in their fields who hope to share gift ideas or training tips with their audience - and Garmin is on that list. That's how Tiki Barber ended up telling NBC's Today viewers earlier this month about the Edge 205 and Edge 705, the GPS device used by Team Garmin's pro cyclists. And Rebecca Heaton, the editor of Rocky Mountain Sports, talked about the Forerunner 405 sport watch as part of the year's best training tools on a Denver newscast. Earlier this year, Bart Yasso of Runner's World sang the praises of the 405 on ABC's Good Morning America.

Well, the Edge has a CNN tripleheader this weekend, so you have three chances to see an editor from Best Life magazine discuss his favorite technology. At 8:30 a.m. Central on Saturday, CNN's Open House will feature the Edge 205 and the GPS technology that tracks your cycling speed, distance and location. The Edge is scheduled to return to CNN later Saturday and again Sunday during the 3:30 p.m. editions of Headline News.