Peg’s Posts: Team Garmin fans tuning in

While Jake’s getting a sideline view of the action as Team Garmin prepares for 3 weeks of racing around France, we stateside fans are prepping in our own way. When the party gets started tomorrow, we’ll be tuning in for instantaneous updates from Jake on Twitter, behind-the-scenes pics on Flickr and of course daily coverage on Versus. It’s the one time of the year I actually sit still long enough to watch a little TV (not counting once every four years for the Olympic marathon and track event coverage). I think my son might follow the TdF action even closer than I do. No surprise, since his favorite things involve speed and wheels or just pure sport. Tomorrow as he rides his two-wheeler in the neighborhood 4th of July bike parade, he’ll be decked in some form of Team Garmin gear, showing our support for the “hometown team.” Be sure to follow the latest tour news and promotions on the Team Garmin page.

Ask Garmin: Updating your nüvi, zūmo or GPSMAP software

Some customers have asked us to follow-up about last week's mandatory software update decree, and they've specifically asked if all the new software has been released. The answer is a resounding YES! We have free software updates available for the nüvi 7x5 series, nüvi 800 series, nüvi 8x5 series, zūmo 660, GPSMAP 620 and GPSMAP 640. Offering free software is something we regularly do and we've always recommend you update your GPS when new free software is available. However, last week was atypical because the software update was mandatory. If you own one of the GPS devices listed above and haven't experienced any problems acquiring a GPS signal, you still need to do the free software update. It's free and easy to do. All you need to do is visit our WebUpdater site, download the free WebUpdater application, follow the screen prompts, and it will do everything else for you.  

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.

Ride like a pro: Buy a Felt bike, get a Garmin Edge

As all eyes turn toward France for cycling’s biggest race, now you have a chance to ride with the same gear that Team Garmin’s elite cyclists use. We’ve hooked up with fellow team sponsors Felt, CamelBak and Pearl Izumi for the “Celebration of Excellence” at select* Felt dealers. Throughout the month of July, while supplies last, you can go into participating* Felt dealers, test ride one of their many fine bikes and walk out with more than you could’ve imagined. Because if you purchase a bike like Team Garmin pushes through the professional peloton – the specially-priced AR2, AR4, Z1R, Z15, ZW1, ZW2 and F2 models – you’ll also get a free Garmin Edge 705 GPS, which helps you monitor location, heart rate, speed, cadence, altitude and gradient – even power from ANT+ compatible powermeters - all on the same display. And when you stop by the Felt shop, you might even end up scoring a CamelBak bottle or Pearl Izumi socks, but you have to hurry because all of these products are in limited supply and high demand. So find a participating* Felt dealer near you, stop by for a test ride and see how you can get geared up like Team Garmin.

*Not all Felt dealers are participating in this promotion, so we highly recommend you call ahead.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Rockin' and rollin' with Forerunner 310XT at San Diego Marathon

With the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon this weekend, San Diego is buzzing with activity - and with the popularity of the waterproof Forerunner 310XT with vibration alerts. Available for purchase for the first time - and branded with a limited-edition Rock 'n' Roll Marathon logo - the Forerunner 310XT is making its way on to people's wrists and wish lists. And there's plenty of reasons why. It's a true multisport training watch, so all of the triathletes here in San Diego can switch sport settings easily and accurately track each of their splits and transition times. The Forerunner 310XT lasts up to 20 hours on a single charge, answering the call of endurance athletes everywhere. The vibration alerts make sure that you won't miss any milestones, regardless of how loud or crowded the environment may be. And it communicates wirelessly with compatible power meters, heart rate monitors, speed/cadence sensors and your Mac or PC - automatically downloading your fresh data as soon as you near your computer. So if you're in San Diego to run or cheer, stop by the Expo, say hi and get your first glimpse of the new Forerunners. Just like the runners (including Adam from Garmin, pictured below), they're going fast.

 

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.

RaceTracker, Pate's place on podium fuel Giro fever

A blogger's cubicle confession: When it comes to watching the Giro d'Italia online or filling out an expense report, the Giro wins. Especially when Team Garmin is mixing it up. Ever since Garmin-Slipstream and Universal Sports teamed up to offer the RaceTracker online with live video, commentary and tracking, we've been tuning in to see Tyler Farrar contest the early sprint stages, David Millar, Dave Zabriskie and Bradley Wiggins push the pace of the peloton and Danny Pate survive in today's breakaway that placed him on the podium for Stage 18. We were huddled around a desk, cheering as Danny attacked and countered all the way to the finish line. We figure it's work-related, what with the Garmin logo emblazened everywhere on the kits of the argyle armada and the on-screen analytics of the RaceTracker.

Once the stage is done, there's always plenty to digest, with the race updates on the Team Garmin blog, including different cyclists' Edge 705 data from various stages. For example, did you know that Millar topped out at 944 watts of power in Stage 14? And speaking of impressive power, Wiggins averaged 377 watts during Stage 12. Throw in behind-the-scenes video from the Giro and other races, and it's amazing we get any emails answered before lunch. Especially when you factor in the success that Team Garmin is having at other big races. Irish road champ Dan Martin and his argyle/shamrock jersey landed on the podium of the Volta a Catalunya. Chris Sutton was the runner-up in the opening stage of the Tour of Bavaria. The only real way to keep up with the nonstop action of Team Garmin is to read the team blog, check out Graham Watson's behind-the-scenes pictures on Flickr and follow @TeamSlipstream and @JakesJournal on Twitter. OK, time to go, we have to watch Wiggo talk about his haircut.

Forerunner tester takes marathon title

As one of the testers for our Forerunner fitness watches, 24-year-old Sarah Milby of Delaware has given us valuable feedback on our products and how they help monitor her pace. Now, in just her fourth marathon, she can tell us exactly what it's like to set the pace. Sarah, a former soccer player at Yale, recently was the fastest woman at the Delaware Marathon with a personal-best of 3:05.17. As her trusty Forerunner 305 could tell her, that means she averaged a 7:04 pace over 26.2 miles in finishing best among the women and 10th overall.

"I didn't expect to win," Sarah told the News Journal. "It felt great out there. The crowd was great. The weather was perfect. It was just an awesome experience." Though she's only been running seriously since her senior year at Yale, the sport seems to be in her bloodline. Her father, Randy, ran the marathon in 3:31:26, and the two of them (pictured above) ran the New York City marathon together last fall.

Click here to read the News Journal's coverage of the race and find more photos here of Sarah's big day (how can she be smiling so much while running so fast??).

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.

Peg’s Posts: young athletes give it a tri

Last Saturday, I had the honor of assisting with the HyVee Kids’ Triathlon in Gladstone, Missouri. I say honor because I can’t think of a better way for athletes to support their sport than by volunteering at races. Several Garmin associates were there, lending their time and experience to make the race safe and fun for the young participants. More than 200 kids, ages 6-14, splashed their way through an indoor pool swim, then snagged their bikes and wobbled through transition to face a breezy bike ride through town. After parking their sweet ride (and I do mean sweet—there were some fancy streamers, basketed bikes, and even some training wheels), the participants headed onto the run course to complete 1, 2 or 4 laps on the .25-mile course.

We had a great group of volunteers on the run course and I tasked my running friend and Garmin engineer Tracy with sorting the participants, a process that involved some mental math to associate bib # with age group and number of laps required. Then a couple of course volunteers, Sharpies in hand, swiped runners’ arms as they sped by or directed them to the finish when their laps were complete. At the finish line, each participant received a medal, bestowed by Olympic triathlete Jarrod Shoemaker. To ensure that no participant finished last, we had a designated “last biker” on the course, and my oldest daughter filled the slot of designated “last runner.”

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.

my.Garmin.com: Get the latest and greatest for your GPS

We're at it again. We're figuring out ways to make your life easier, and we think we have another winner. This time we've created something for the GPS device you already own -- my.Garmin.com is a site where you can manage all there is to manage about your GPS. From registering your Garmin to downloading new maps to learning more about your specific GPS, my.Garmin.com is designed to be a helpful resource 24/7.

So, here's what you should do...
1. Visit http://my.Garmin.com.
2. Click on the second tab, myDashboard and follow the screen prompts
3. Connect your GPS to your computer through the USB port.
4. Be prepared to learn more about your GPS than you ever thought possible from one central location.

As soon as my.Garmin recognizes that a GPS device is connected to the computer, you can click on the second tab, myDashboard, and you'll see a picture of your devcie along with helpful information about your GPS like map updates and free software updates. myGarmin is completely tailored to you and your GPS, so take some time to explore and discover everything there is to know about your Garmin.

Jenna takes 2nd, Ben places 5th at Pan-Am Championships

Garmin-sponsored triathletes Jenna Shoemaker and Ben Collins share their training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405. Soon, they’ll get to put the new swim-proof Forerunner 310XT to the test.

From Ben’s press release:
It is rare that an athlete’s Plan ‘A’ works out perfectly, but for Ben Collins there was no need for a plan ‘B’ in Oklahoma City. Of the 65 men who started the race, Collins stayed with a select few who managed to create a gap in the swim. That break was dwindled further in a hectic first transition, and a breakaway group of seven athletes was formed, including Olympians Hunter Kemper and Matt Reed. Collins and his breakaway companions turned a 20 second lead out of transition into three minutes over a chase pack of 50 athletes by the end of the 40km cycling leg. Starting the 10km run, Matt Reed went off the front. Collins stayed strong and clocked his best run split to date to finish in 5th place. A 5th place is Collins’ highest ITU finish to date, and to score such a high place at the Continental Championships is a monumental step toward the goals of this young triathlete.

From Jenna:
After a very productive, but short, two+ weeks in Boulder, I headed to Oklahoma City for the ITU Pan American Championships. Based on the start list, and how I have been progressing, I was confident that I could have another strong result and perhaps a top 5 finish if everything went really well. It was only about 65 degrees out when the race commenced, a lot cooler than I thought it would be, and with the strong Midwestern wind in full force, blowing upwards of 38 mph, weather would certainly be a factor. I was excited for another race but a bit nervous to be back on home soil and racing in front of pretty much the entire USA Triathlon staff.

Peg’s Posts: Step by step with FR60 and foot pod

I never used to be a data geek. In fact, I’m not all that good with numbers and have a hard time recalling my PRs for particular race distances. Thank goodness Garmin Connect collects all my stats for me so I can go back and look up activities from last week, last month or even last year. Okay, so maybe I am a data geek. My latest fascination: spm, or steps per minute … also known as cadence. I even had a chance to share by data geekishness with a couple of 4th graders on a recent field trip.

Steps per minute is like a tasty side dish complementing the distance data you can get when using a Garmin foot pod with a compatible fitness watch. The foot pod is what measures your distance when used with a non-GPS watch like the FR60 or when used indoors with devices like the Forerunner 405 or the new Forerunner 405CX and Forerunner 310XT. I put my FR60 and foot pod into action on Wednesday, when I accompanied my daughter on a fourth-grade field trip to the Kansas City Zoo. To start our day, we walked to Africa. And it only took us 7 minutes, give or take a few seconds. While we could’ve taken a tram, we missed the first one and this group leader wasn’t about to wait another 15 minutes for the next ride. So we headed off, with the girls repeatedly asking “how far have we gone?” At the end of our safari, FR60 reported that we’d trekked 3.61 miles and taken 10,108 steps. The girls were thrilled. That data somehow justified all their sweat and their aching feet. I could totally relate. I think I may have some data geeks in the making.

What to get Dads and Grads

Dads and Grads season is here, and hardworking dads and graduates deserve something cool for their big day. Forget about the pen and pencil set, it's time to think high-tech. If you're not sure if you should get your dad or grad a GPS for their car, golf cart, dog, wrist, boat, plane, motorcycle or bike, you're in luck. Editors all over the world are compiling and publishing lists of their favorite devices so you can pick the perfect gift. So far, PC Mag has named the nüvi as a top pick for graduates that are bound to get lost as they travel between home and college. According to PC Mag, one of the great things about the nüvi is that even entry-level models "offers a lot of bang for the buck and are excellent choices for the budget conscious."  The Approach G5 has also been make making many Father's Day gift guide lists because it will help dad improve his golf game and give him the ultimate competitive edge. Check our site for more great gift ideas.

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.

Peg’s Posts: How to make mom’s day

While perfumeries, patisseries and other retail niches are advertising the perfect gifts for mom, Peg’s been thinking of some unique ways to show mom she’s the best. And some won’t even cost you a dime. After all, she probably just wants you to spend time with her.

Adventure-seeking moms: Take her to find some cache … go geocaching. If you already own a GPS, that’s all the equipment you need. This high-tech version of a scavenger hunt can be played with just about any Garmin GPS—basic handhelds to nüvis to units like Oregon 400t with special geocaching features. Look up nearby geocache locations online and transfer the GPS coordinates to your unit, then head out to seek. As of today, there are 794, 655 active geocaches around the world. That oughta keep you and mom busy. If you’re caching with kids, be sure to bring swag to swap in the standard caches. Got piles of kids’ meal toys looking for a new home? Bring it.

Moms on the run: Find a new scenic trail or route that she’s never been on and take her for a run. To search for new routes in your area or a nearby town, go to our Garmin Connect site and click the “Explore” tab. Here, you can search from millions of activities uploaded by Garmin users around the world. Get detailed data on the route, including distance, mapping, elevation and more. There's even a map player feature to replay the activity. If you have a compatible Garmin fitness device (like Edge 705 or Forerunner 405), you can send the course file to your device. Just click the “send to device” button under the summary box.

Team Garmin unveils roster for Giro d'Italia

Team Garmin-Slipstream, defending Team Time Trial champion of the 2008 Giro d’Italia, today announced its much-anticipated line-up for the 2009 edition of the race. Christian Vande Velde (far left), the first American rider to wear the Maglia Rosa since 1988, will be joined by Bradley Wiggins, Cameron Meyer, Danny Pate, David Millar, David Zabriskie, Julian Dean, Tom Danielson and Tyler Farrar.

“We are bringing an incredible group of riders to the Giro d’Italia, and we have some big goals we want to achieve,” said Matt White, Director. “The team has been training hard for this race and we’d of course love to get the Maglia Rosa again, but we will be happy with a few strong performances.”

When asked about the difficulty of choosing the list, White added: “Narrowing down a Grand Tour list is always difficult, especially when guys like Ryder Hesjedal have been having a tremendous season. But we need to keep our goal of helping Christian at the Tour de France in mind, and preserving someone like Ryder now could be a huge benefit to us later.” The team will look to defend last year’s Team Time Trial victory on Saturday.

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.

Boston’s greatest hits

What better place to showcase Garmin’s newest fitness devices than the Boston Marathon. The oldest, most storied marathon in the world. A race where an age- and gender-graded qualifying time gets you in while a mix of mental and physical strength get you through the hilly course in one piece. Boston marathoners are serious about their training, so it’s no surprise they came in droves to get their hands on our new Forerunners. Our new spring lineup includes the swim-proof Forerunner 310XT, Forerunner 405CX with advanced heart rate-based calorie computation and the FR60 fitness watches for indoor/outdoor training. While the 310XT is ideal for triathletes, it drew a lot of attention from runners of all walks due to its rugged, swim-proof design, long battery life and large display. Garmin product trainers Kiata and John served a steady stream of customers wanting to know which product was right for them, where they could buy it and when.

They did take time out to talk to Adam, Garmin associate and athlete who’d earned his Boston spot at last fall’s Marine Corps Marathon. Adam, a Forerunner 405 devotee, said he loves traveling to races and representing Garmin. “Boston was a great race and the hardest race I have run to date. The hills were more difficult than I ever expected and there was a tough headwind.  Heartbreak Hill did not break my heart, but it about broke my legs!” Adam’s official finish time was 3:11:30 and he’s already plotting for a sub-3:00 marathon someday in the future. He said with some intense training, directed by his Forerunner 405, he’ll get there. Congrats to all who made it to Boston in ’09 and best of luck to all who will be cranking out the mileage and training time to qualify in 2010.

Peg’s Posts: Garmin’s all-star lineup for Boston Marathon

As 25,000 runners swarm the streets of Boston to run the world’s oldest annual marathon, we’ll be there showcasing our newest members of the fitness family. Boston marathoners and spectators will be the first with a chance to purchase the new Forerunner 405CX with advanced heart rate-based calorie computation and multiple band options to fit any size wrist. They’ll also have a chance to get their hands on the new swim-proof Forerunner 310XT that's ideal for multisport athletes and the sleek FR60 fitness watches for indoor/outdoor training. If you’re Boston-bound, stop by our booth and find out which watch can help you get to the starting line again in 2010 … maybe even with a faster qualifying time. I’ll be following the race coverage Monday to see if my fav elites—Ryan Hall (a Forerunner user) and Kara Goucher pull off big wins for the U.S. And I’ll be tuned in to live runner tracking for friend and Garmin associate Adam, who qualified at last fall’s Marine Corps Marathon with a time of 3:10:40.

Team Garmin video: Behind the scenes in Tuscany

If you're not checking the Team Garmin blog, you're missing out on great updates, cyclist profiles and race recaps. You can even buy the Paris-Roubaix jersey off Steve Cozza's back! And in this video, you get an exclusive look at Team Garmin-Slipstream "behind the scenes" during the recent Eroica Toscana cycling race in Tuscany. Catch a ride inside the support car with director sportif Matt White as he details team tactics for the race. See Ryder Hesjedal animated off the front, finishing 10th with the support of a strong squad that rode confidently on the strade bianche.

Montepaschi Eroica - Behind the Scenes with GARMIN Slipstream from Media One Multimedia on Vimeo.

Jenna stays on track with Garmin

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

Almost 7 months after packing up and leaving the US, I am packing up and preparing to leave the Gold Coast of Australia. From here I will fly back to LA, spend a few weeks in the US, do a few more ITU races and then move on again to Davos, Switzerland for our next training camp. My time here has been very productive and after only 2 races this season I have moved up to 61st in the World and 6th American.

Training camp here has been an amazing roller coaster. I have learned so much about myself as both an athlete and as a person and I now recognize the sacrifices and dedication required to be a world class triathlete. It has been fantastic to be able to track my progress by means of not only race results but also through my daily training sessions using my Garmin Edge and Forerunner devices. My resting heart rate is now about 5 beats lower than when I arrived to camp and my ability to train at an elevated heart rate for an extended period of time has also increased. My speeds, cycling and running, as calculated by my GPS positioning, are faster and I can reach them more efficiently expending less energy. Having this data has been so helpful for me and for my coach as it lets us know that I am on the right track. Stay tuned this summer for training uploads from my adventures training and racing around the US and Europe!

Team Garmin: How Edge 705 helped Cozza's Paris-Roubaix debut

VeloNews caught up with Team Garmin's Steve Cozza this week after Cozza's dazzling debut in the Queen of the Classics, Paris-Roubaix. Undaunted by the famous cobblestones, known for ruining bikes and crushing dreams, Cozza vaulted himself into the day's main breakaway and led the group through the cobbles of Arenberg. Only a late-race crash dampened the day as Cozza was still to finish the race. In the interview with VeloNews, Cozza talks about two things vital to the argyle armada's success: teamwork and technology. You can read the whole interview at VeloNews.com, but we wanted to share his thoughts on the Edge 705's role in the race:

The cool thing that really helped me in the race is the Garmin computers were programmed for the entire race. The 27 sectors of cobblestones were programmed into the unit, so my Garmin would tell me all the details about each sector: how long before I arrived, how long each sector was. It was such a huge advantage. I could rely on my Garmin because you could not remember the entire course.... It’s all done with GPS, so it’s exact. It scrolled through automatically.

Next up for the team: Sunday's Amstel Gold Race, and you can bet Edge 705 will be ready.

Ben makes World Cup debut, wins at South Beach

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405. This week, we're letting the press release below tell Ben's story of winning his first title since turning pro.

Colins Debuts in Mooloolaba World Cup & Wins at South Beach - In back to back races Ben Collins showed excellent strength, racing his first ever World Cup in Mooloolaba Australia, then winning the Nautica South Beach Triathlon just one week later.

In Mooloolaba, Collins showed no fear for the most talented professional field he has ever raced. After a great swim in the Mooloolaba River, he found himself comfortably in the main pack on the bike. Collins followed every attack (and lead several of his own) during the 40km draft-legal bike leg of the race. Although he never did establish a breakaway, he did show his competitors that he is strong and willing to work hard for a lead.

Those attacks had a price, but Collins was still able to run his way to a 17th place finish, which is the second best World Cup debut of any American triathlete (Andy Potts and Ethan Brown were 19th and 15th, respectively, in their debuts).