I keep a copy of the Dec. 2006 issue of Runner’s World at my desk. It’s the annual “heroes of running” issue and one page is carefully marked so I can refer to it often. The story is on Molly Barker, who was honored as a hero for her role as founder and vision keeper of Girls on the Run, a program that instills self-confidence and educates young girls through a curriculum-based running program. This week, I had the pleasure of meeting Molly at a local conference for women involved with this organization. Molly confided that she’d been wanting to check out a Garmin fitness watch and I think I know which watch would fit this go-getter gal to a “T”.
My pick for Molly: our newest fitness watch, FR60 LTD, shown here gracing the wrist of U.S. record-holder Deena Kastor at this year's Chicago Marathon. FR60 just might be the hottest fitness watch on the streets, trails or even in the gym this winter, thanks to its ability to track and store your indoor or outdoor workouts. The pink and white colors and slim styling of the newest FR60 fit right in with Molly’s girl-powered personality. Or, she might like the lilac model or the sleek black FR60 with silver bezel, like my SoleMate and speed session friend Cheryl just bought. Styling aside, the next feature any girl on the run would love about FR60 is that you can literally take it out of the box and take off with it. Very easy to use, doesn’t need to be charged and it’s non-GPS, so you don’t have to wait for it to acquire satellites. Distance and pace data comes from a tiny, highly accurate foot pod that snaps on your shoe laces. The LTD version also comes with our premium soft strap heart rate monitor. For those who haven’t tried this one, soft strap = very comfy, even for long, sweltery runs.
I’m not much for bragging, but this post may be an exception, because … I’m going to Boston! Last Saturday, I ran my second marathon in 3:38:33, beating my time goal of 3:40 and comfortably meeting my qualifying time for the Boston Marathon. Weeks ago, Fred, one of my training partners, said he’d be my personal pacer and get me my Boston qualifying time. I’d run with Fred and Wilma through rainstorms, 4 a.m. “beat the heat” runs, long runs and some local 5ks. With Forerunner keeping me on pace and Fred lending just enough commentary to keep me engaged but not distracted, I ran a comfortably hard, but not excruciating race. See our run in Garmin Connect.
Jake, my partner in blogging and other adventures, is less than 2 days away from his marathon. This pic's from our first adventure, the KC half marathon in 2007. I still have a week … or roughly 183 hours … to go. But who’s counting? Me, that’s who. I’m not only counting the hours until my second marathon. I’m counting hours of sleep and trying to stockpile minutes. ‘Cause getting a good night’s sleep the night before the race will be, well, just a dream. I’m also meticulous about what I’m eating these days, while consuming lots of vitamin C on the side and drinking my Echinacea tea. Oh, the joys and the nerves and the second-guessing of taper-time. Can anyone relate?
From the looks of Garmin’s Learning Center — a repository of quick, topical videos on various product features — you can tell that Jake and I have spent plenty of time lately in our on-site video studio. While Jake’s busy telling folks about the hot features of nüvifone, I got to talk about how easy it is to hit your fitness goals with FR60. Check out the latest in the lineup of FR60 training videos to learn how it uses a tiny foot pod to track your distance and pace. Then watch the one on Garmin Connect to find out how to use this powerful online analysis tool. And lest you think Jake and I are the only ones cooking up these creations, we have a whole crew of folks here at Garmin, from videographers and sound technicians to web designers, animation artists, writers, engineers and others who help these productions all come together. Take a trip to our Learning Center and learn something new.
Following your heart with Garmin fitness devices is now more comfy than ever, thanks to our soft strap heart rate monitor accessory. I’ve been using this monitor for about 3 months now and I have to say, it’s so comfortable, I often forget I’m wearing it. If I’m getting ready for a race or a workout that I’ll drive to, I don’t stash it in my gym bag to put on at the last minute. I can put it on right away and keep on wearing it for hours because it’s just that comfortable.
The entire strap is fabric and the sensors are like thin swatches of vinyl on the underside. The module that sends the data to your compatible Garmin fitness device snaps to the outside of the strap. For runners who get chaffed at the mere thought of an extra anything against their skin, this is the heart rate monitor they need to try. So, how do you get one? This premium heart rate monitor comes with the bundle versions of the Forerunner 310XT multisport trainer or you can buy it as a separate accessory for use with any Garmin fitness device with ANT+ technology, like the Forerunner 405 series, Forerunner 305 and Edge 705. In about a month, this new soft strap will hit the streets with the debut of our limited-edition FR60. These stylish fitness watches, in bold new colors, will be sold at the ING New York City Marathon expo, Oct. 29-Nov. 1.
Last Friday, Jake and I celebrated Patriot’s Day by running in a 9 hour 11 min relay with some of our running buddies at Garmin. It was the perfect setup for putting our latest and greatest fitness devices in motion. Like the Forerunner 310XT with its 20-hour battery life. This is the device for ultra-marathoners and there were several on this run. A little background on the event: it commemorates those who lost lives on 9.11.01 and those serving our country since. The race takes place at a local park practically in Garmin’s backyard in Olathe. Runners sign up to complete a marathon, ultramarathon or design their own team to run various distances over the 9 hour, 11 minute time period.
It was a hero’s welcome at Garmin headquarters Monday when the Team Garmin entourage rolled in. Following David Zabriskie’s big win at the Tour of Missouri, fans were lined up to greet DZ, Christian Vande Velde and several other team members. After an autograph session outdoors, we headed inside for a short team presentation and Q&A session. From my nearly front-row seat, I must say, the vibe was a bit different from a year ago, when the team made their Garmin visit a couple days before the Tour of Missouri kicked off. Then, the lean, lanky riders sat before a packed house, wide-eyed and full of banter. All but Christian, who was reserved, likely contemplating the upcoming race. His prerace strategizing obviously paid off since Christian took the ToM 2008 title.
For this year’s visit to Garmin HQ, the tables were turned. Fresh from their 612-mile journey through the hillacious Missouri countryside, the riders were understandably spent. All but Christian, who was well-rested since he'd had to bow out of the race early due to a fractured hand. An unfortunate event, but perhaps fortuitous for David Zabriskie, who’s had his share of time trial wins, but until Sunday, had yet to take the podium for a grand tour win. Class act by Christian that he was here for the final stage and got to hand David the trophy. Then, in true DZ style, he planted his presenter with a big smooch.
We keep our video crew very busy. And sometimes we even let these super-talented in-house filmmakers get out of the house. While they excel in doing instructional video tutorials with our blog team teaching about various products, the video team tends to have a little more fun on the run. So we sent them to St. Louis as Team Garmin's all-American roster prepared to tackle this year's Tour of Missouri. Defending champion Christian Vande Velde shares a few thoughts as our cameras captured the sights and sounds of Garmin's home-turf tour.
Peg's the perfect choice to walk you through the FR60. Like the FR60, Peg excels in cross-training with running and cycling, and she feels right at home both at the gym and on the trails. Both Peg and the FR60 have the endurance to stretch their workouts for hours, and both prove that big power can come in small sizes. They're both great training partners, as Peg pushed me to success at the Kansas City half and Hood to Coast the same way that FR60's virtual partner helps you reach your goals. They're both fashionable - the limited-edition pink FR60 perfectly matches Peg's Girls on the Run gear - and they're both easy to understand (FR60 with its intuitive interface, and Peg with her articulate blog posts). And while they're both sophisticated and smart, Peg leaves the automatic wireless data download to the FR60 (she still has to type the blog posts, at least until ANT+ learns to read her mind).
Jake, Peg and several other Garmin associates recently took part in an on-site study developed by Garmin engineers and our fitness partners to evaluate the calorie calculations in fitness devices and gain data that will ultimately help us continue to design accurate products for our customers.
PEG: When it comes to focus group or "field study" participation, there are generally two types I'll raise my hand for: ones involving food* or sweat. *Except for a recent lunch outing for Indian food, where I opted to skip the goat meat. So when Garmin engineers asked for volunteers to participate in a little on-site study to test the calorie crunching power of several fitness devices, I couldn't get my hand up fast enough.
JAKE: All I knew was that this “fitness testing” would involve a treadmill. I actually like treadmills, having trained for three of my four marathons almost exclusively indoors. But then I heard something about a mask. I don’t have anything against masks – on Halloween – but the last time I wore something that intentionally quarantined my nose and mouth was my Spider-Man ski mask in elementary school. And that thing had a funny smell and taste after awhile. But what the heck, I’m game.
PEG: I was one of several Garmin associates of various fitness levels and body types performing a VO2 test during a brief workout on a LeMond spin bike. The test was done through one of Garmin's training partners, New Leaf Fitness, and it would basically give a picture of how efficiently my body uses its resources during exercise. Like my calorie burn rate at different heart rates and the periods I'm burning fat vs. carbs.
JAKE: Our group was split in two – Peg and the cyclists, and me and the runners. If you do an online search for “VO2 treadmill test videos,” you see arms flailing and legs buckling in what look like near-death experiences. This thing just got more interesting. Making things more comforting – but a little less interesting – was knowing that we had a real pro administering our test and explaining every step. He was going to start us off slowly, gradually build our speed and resistance (which on a treadmill means more incline) and then stop us when we’ve maxed out. Sounds easy enough.
Like many of my running buddies and friends at Garmin, I’m currently training for a fall marathon. With my workouts and mileage ramping up, I’ve not been doing many races, but last weekend it was time to kick out the cobwebs at a 5k. Apparently, I was due, since I sliced a fat 40 seconds off my PR. Shortly after arriving at the race venue, I chatted with the day’s emcee, BJ the DJ, and he told me “it’s a day for a PR.” Why not? The temp was in the 60s, my legs felt fresh and the course included the hilly trail I’d been training on lately. After a thorough warm-up, I made sure my Forerunner 405 was set up the way I like it for race day, showing time, average pace and distance. To learn how to customize your Forerunner training pages to show average pace or other data, check out the training video titled “customizing screens”. Displaying average vs. current pace was helpful since this course started with some significant climbs. After churning through those hills, I kept an eye on pace through mile two so I could gradually make up the time difference and meet or beat my goal of 22:30. I crossed the finish line in 22:24. All credit to my 405 minding my pace plus the speed work I’ve being doing the last six weeks with Coach Eladio Valdez and his Runner’s Edge group. Read on to find out about my next adventure with the 405. Photo credit: See KC Run.
Runners’ wrists come in all sizes. There are the teeny ones belonging to some of my speedy running friends and there are the beefy ones belonging to powerhouse runners and triathletes. And there’s everything in between. To fit your wrist to a T, the new Forerunner 405CX comes with multiple band options, including the standard vinyl wristband and adjustable fabric straps in two lengths. The 405CX model differs from the 405 in that it offers heart rate-based calorie calculations. If you already have a Forerunner 405 and you like the idea of size options, check out the wrist strap accessory kit, which includes the adjustable straps. For help in changing out the band on either the 405 or 405CX, take a look at this video where a Garmin engineer and Jake step you through the process. It takes a bit of a steady hand to work in those pins, so don’t try to tackle the task after a double espresso. Oh, and beware of shag carpets. If one of those pins takes a flying leap, you’ll still be combing the carpet when you running partner shows up for your next workout. For more short training videos with Jake and the Forerunner 405, check out our Learning Center.
Ever get an urge to run away from home? I mean literally pack up your prized possessions, head off into the sunset, sleep in a bed not your own and then arise the next morning ready to run? I do it all the time. In fact, I think such longings are quite healthy and can keep your running routine from getting stale. My “run away from home” this past weekend was at Creve Coeur Lake outside of St. Louis. We were on a short family trip with a main goal of seeing a few attractions while getting away from work/home distractions. Within minutes of checking into our hotel on Friday, I browsed the map on nuvifone for a nearby park and found Creve Coeur Lake — about 3 miles from where we were staying. Then I pulled up our Garmin Connect site, hit the explore tab and searched for activities by keyword “Creve Coeur”. Found several listings and within seconds of exploring the posted data, I knew that there was a 4-mile loop around the lake that was fairly flat … and that it was frequented by many Forerunner fans.
After an afternoon and evening of standing in long lines and doing a little sightseeing in St. Louie, I was eager for my run Saturday morning. nuvifone got me there just as the lake was starting to come alive. Rowers were shaking off the morning chill, slicing through the lifting fog. Fishermen and women and children settled in for a solitary morning. Cyclists of all ages and on all sorts of bikes whirred along the mixed-use trail. Only saw a few runners and walkers at the outset of my run, but as I worked my way ‘round the 4-mile loop, I met lots of runners with Team in Training gear. I can’t help but check the wrists of all the runners, and I’m always amazed and impressed with how many Forerunners I see. I’d say 4 out of every 5 runners I saw had Forerunners. Here's a link to my run in Garmin Connect, recorded by my Forerunner 405.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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’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.
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.
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.
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.
With the Midwest's end-of-March snowstorm behind us, the weather had to be better for last weekend's rescheduled Olathe half marathon and 5k. The races started and finished at Garmin headquarters just outside of Kansas City. While the weather was better, "better" is a relative term. Since I was there to volunteer, not run, I stood at the finish line for awhile, cheering on runners I knew or didn't know, and snapping photos. Every runner heading to that finish line faced an unseen opponent. Wind ... better known as "the Garmin wind tunnel", created by the draft between our 8-story office building and parking garage. This force that wreaks havoc on hairdos and wrecks umbrellas during our windiest days made that final sprint to the finsh look more like running in slow mo.
Despite the blustery conditions, runners were in good spirits, grateful for a chance to put those weeks of winter training to the test. Spectators had spirit too, some sporting customized signs that appeared at several points along the course. Judging from the runners I viewed milling about before the race and passing my camera lens, this had to be one of the most Forerunner-bedecked fields I've ever seen. Saw them in all sizes and shapes, back to our original Forerunner design. The field's going to keep growing with our recent introductions of the Forerunner 405CX with heart rate-based calorie calculations and the Forerunner 310XT--our swim-proof device designed for multisport athletes. I've had a chance to take the 310XT for a couple of try-outs, including some pool running, as well as my first run in five weeks. After nursing an Achilles injury since January, I felt like I might like to keep going and see just how much of the 310XT's 20-hour battery life I could use. But my head overruled my legs and I stopped at 2 miles, hoping to survive to run another day.
About a year ago, I met a Garmin customer, Chris Figureida, who has taken his mission — to raise awareness of heart disease — on the road. By bike. His nonprofit venture, Cycle for Heart, benefits the American Heart Association. Chris travels unassisted, yet manages to document his travels through blog posts, video and photos. And to make sure he stays on track, he uses Garmin GPS as his guide. For his latest journey, a 2-month trek from Key West to Quebec, he’s using a Colorado 400T handheld with preloaded topo maps. He said he loves the bright, colorful display. Throughout his journey, Chris makes presentations at schools and civic groups to promote his message of fitness and health. The students love to see the GPS and ask lots of questions.
Here’s the latest update we received from Chris: I crossed into Georgia yesterday after 10 days and more than 600 miles of riding from Key West. New friends, heavy winds, and beautiful views. I spoke to Treasure Island Elementary and Landrum Middle Schools. Met the Mayor of South Miami. Presented for the South Miami and Miami Beach Rotary Clubs. And rode along some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Right now I am under threat of tornadoes and severe thunder storms, so I can only say hi and let everyone know that I am still heading north and am on schedule.
With fair weather and sunshine the last two days, a few of my coworkers and I left the jobs we love to pursue our two-wheeled passion. So while commuters were slogging through traffic lights, we were sailing down lesser-traveled roads in southern Johnson County. Since all of us are Edge-equipped, we could technically consider our rides overtime, product testing or some sort of group therapy at the very least. Monday’s ride took us to a park and marina in Olathe. As we approached Garmin headquarters, about three-quarters of a mile out, my husband said “Aahh … the mothership.” To a band of road-weary cyclists, Garmin’s 8-story building (that’s really high for Olathe, Kansas, by the way) was a welcome sight.
This weekend, runners ‘round the globe are coming out of hibernation and lacing up for what might be their first road race of the season. This year, I won’t be joining the festivities at one of my favorite 4-milers, the Westport St. Patrick’s Day Run, but I’ll be with you all in thought. As you’re getting your spring running gear in order, now’s a great time to update the software on your Forerunner 405. Recent software versions do a better job of handling your data once it gets to Garmin Connect. It essentially compresses your data, which means quicker uploads to the site and faster access to your activities. Thanks to the 405’s ANT+ wireless technology, you don’t even have to connect a cable to do the download. Just go the software update page for the 405, accept the legal stuff, then make sure your USB ANT stick is plugged in and your Forerunner is nearby. Before you can repeat “run like the wind” or your favorite pre-race mantra, your computer will find your Forerunner and give you the option to upload. Click the button and you’re off to the races. For more tips and tricks on updating software and other features of the 405, check out these quick videos with Jake.
For the past 6 weeks, my workouts have been mostly confined to indoor cardio, strength training and anything that puts minimum strain on a cranky Achilles. When the weather warmed enough to tease us and I’d felt some progress on my injury, I was primed for some outdoor exposure. Then came the bait: an offer to do an orienteering race put on by no less than the Possum Trot Orienteering Club of KC. The offer grew tastier with the promise of companionship from three fellow teammates from last summer’s Hood to Coast relay: Amy, Steve and Paul. That sealed the deal. So I dug out my thermal layers, hydration belt and bottle, which hadn’t seen action since late December in my training for Disney marathon and my Forerunner 405, which hadn’t seen much outdoor action since the marathon. Now I was set to trot through unfamiliar terrain in search of scattered points.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Two weeks ago, as I was anxiously preparing to run my first marathon, our faithful blog readers sent their predictions for my finish time. Surprisingly, I beat ‘em all, finishing in 3:47:28. Not surprisingly, the closest prediction of 3:50 came from a Garmin coworker, Steve. Perhaps Steve had some insider information, considering we’ve done trail runs (this pic's from a training run we did last winter), bike rides, 5ks, relays and, most recently, a half marathon together. Had I slipped and told Steve that I was going to try for a Boston qualifying time? Or is he just good with numbers? Considering he’s a software engineer, probably the latter. Knowing he had an inside track, Steve graciously offered his Garmin prize winnings to the next closest bidder, which happened to be a blog reader from the KC area. Al predicted, in his words, an aggressive time of 3:52. I’ll be sending Al some Garmin gear soon and a thanks for playing along. Thanks to all the others who made predictions and sent good luck wishes my way. It was just what I needed to help carry me through the miles.
It’s been 5 days since I completed my first marathon and I’ve been thinking a lot about all the number crunching that went into it. My Forerunner 405 and Garmin Connect played a big part in planning my training and analyzing my runs. Check out my Disney Marathon activity in Garmin Connect. You can even replay the activity with the new map player feature. For me, the number crunching started well before race day. How many days a week can I train? How many days will I rest or cross-train? How far will I go for my longest run? How many weeks out will I start training? What’s my finish time goal? What pace? And somewhere along the way, you add up all the training miles you’ve put in and wonder: a) Am I crazy? b) Have I trained enough? c) Am I training too much?
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!
Wow. It’s the shortest summation of my 26.2-mile first marathon experience I can muster even now, 2 days later. Wow is for the realization that I completed the race with no major injuries (except a clenched Achilles that feels like I ran the last 20 miles wearing a binder clip on it). Wow is for coming within 1 minute and 27 seconds of my qualifying time for Boston Marathon. My official chip time was 3:47.27 and my Forerunner 405 clocked me at 3:47.34. Wow is for having great weather, a beautiful course with entertainment and amazing crowd and volunteer support along the way. Wow is for having my family there, cheering me on in the final stretch. And even though I couldn’t pick them out of the crowds, I knew they were there and met up with them soon after finishing. Wow is for scoring a hole in one later that day! And I didn’t even have our new Approach G5 along for support. In fact, I don’t even think Pirate Pete’s Mini Golf is in the Approach database of preloaded courses. But mostly, wow is for how my body felt yesterday. And I don’t mean basking in the glory of having run my first marathon.
24 hours from now, I’ll be well on my way to my first marathon experience. The pre-race prep has consisted of pretty much what I’d do for a race back home. First, we hit the packet pickup and expo to retrieve bib number, timing chip and goodie bag. At the expo, I stopped by the Garmin booth and chatted with John, our regional sales manager from Florida. He said they’d had nonstop traffic all day and were selling Garmin Forerunners left and right. Making sure my own Forerunner 405 was charged and ready for the big day was one of the next task on my list. I’ll also double check that my training pages are customized the way I like for a race. For example, I like to view my average pace versus current pace during a race. Another pre-race ritual: laying out everything I’ll need for race morning, from clothing and shoes to shades, ID bracelet, bib number and even a couple gel packs for consuming calories on the go.
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.
If there’s one global New Year’s resolution that could make us all a teeny bit better, I’d say it’s this: take time to play. Preferably outdoors. At my home, we recently came to the conclusion that life’s too short to not go sledding at night. After our first real snowfall of the year, my husband came home after 9 and our youngest started chattering about sledding. No matter that he was freshly bathed and pj’d. Next thing I know, dad and son are donning snow pants and boots and heading outdoors. After several swift trips up and down the sidewalks, they returned—red-cheeked and jolly as the big guy from the north.
If you’re pondering your goals for the new year, keep the play thing in mind. Here’s an idea: organize a group of friends, neighbors or coworkers to run a local 5k. Be sure and take a fun pic at the finish. The fun-loving folks here are members of Garmin’s product support team — the ones who answer the call when you have a question about your Garmin device. Whatever your resolutions for the new year, just remember that life’s too short to not go sledding after sunset. Leave a comment and let me know what your resolutions are for 2009.
Here’s an entry for the “did you ever wonder” files. A Garmin Forerunner devotee recently posed this query on Twitter: When using a Garmin on a cruise ship, does it measure the ship's movement or your movement if you run laps on deck?
Hmm — that’s a point I’ve never pondered before, but I posed the question to a couple of our engineers on the fitness team, and they did more than suggest the customer stick to the below-deck treadmill. My head was swimming after reading the first couple lines of explanation. I’m just glad that our engineers obsess over details. That’s a good thing when they’re the ones designing the software for our devices and making sure they perform above and beyond expectations. If you’re cruising to warmer latitudes over the holidays and Forerunner will be there to help you stay in shape and run off the effects of the midnight buffet … read on.
I’ll admit it — I am addicted to running and all the sweaty socks, training time, injuries and ice packs my passion entails. It all started about 4 years ago, shortly after Garmin launched its first GPS-enabled fitness device, the Forerunner 101. Wasn’t much point in me writing ads for something I’d never used. So I ran with it. And I spent time with the engineers who developed it — runners themselves who were intent on perfecting a training device like none other. We ran together, raced together, compared data. And the days I didn't have a running partner, I had Forerunner and its virtual partner to keep me on pace. The addiction grew stronger. Having a device that instantly showed my distance, pace and tons more data was a rookie runner’s dream.
Is there a rookie runner, weekend warrior or a slightly addicted athlete on your Christmas list? Give your runner a high this holiday with a Forerunner 405. It's the only all-in-one fitness watch that calculates position, pace, heart rate and more and wirelessly sends data to your PC. If you’re the one with the healthy habit, give a hint and maybe your stocking will be stuffed with more than candy canes. Find more ideas for giving a Garmin at our online gift guide.
When the forecast calls for snow showers and temps in the 20s, do you bundle up and head out or hit the gym? It may all depend on your tolerance for a little wind chap vs. a sacrifice in scenery. While my friend and fellow blogger Jake can knock out a 21-miler on the treadmill for marathon training, I’d rather go the distance outdoors … bundled up like Ralphie’s kid brother in A Christmas Story if need be. Speaking of bundled up, check out the video recap of a recent season-ending race for one of my favorite organizations—Girls on the Run. Nearly 40 girls braved below-freezing wind chills to run that day. If you prefer to run indoors on a treadmill when the temps dip, read on to find out how Forerunner 405 can still be your training partner.
Garmin is excited to announce its partnership with FOX’s awarding-winning drama, "24," in anticipation of the Day 7 premiere. The two-night, four-hour event airs Sunday, Jan. 11 and Monday, Jan. 12 8/7C on FOX. Leading up to the season premiere, weekly webisodes will go live where fans can see Garmin navigation (a GPSMAP 396, Oregon 400t, Foretrex 201, Rino 530HCx, Garmin Mobile XT and a nüvi 265WT to be exact) being used in 24 Dossier.
In addition to watching the webisodes, "24" fans have the opportunity to see a sneak preview of "24" Day 7 on Thursday Jan. 8, from 6-8pm at the Garmin retail store on Michigan Avenue. Those fans will also have the chance to meet Carlos Bernard who plays the character of Tony Almeida, enjoy refreshments and leave with an exclusive Garmin/24 gift bag. How can you be part of this extraordinary event? You have to win it!
A few weeks ago, my last conversation with Jake before he headed east to join nearly 40,000 runners in the New York City Marathon went something like this: “Huge favor — could you get autographs from Ryan and Deena for me?” I even apologized for sounding like a groupie, but no matter. Jake understood and was prepped to spend most of his last waking hours before the marathon working in the Garmin booth at the expo. That’s where Ryan Hall and Deena Kastor made brief appearances and signed autographs for a never-ending line of fans. I’d handed off a couple issues of Runner’s World for them to sign: December 2006, with Deena gracing the cover as one of the Runner’s World “Heroes of Running”. She was highlighted as an American record holder and bronze medalist in the marathon in 2004. Ryan’s cover shot was the September 2008 issue, containing a prelude to Hall’s performance in Beijing and a feature story on where he derives motivation.
Jake returned from NY with my autographed magazines, a poster, and one more reason I can call Ryan and Deena my heroes: they use the Forerunner 405. Check out these YouTube videos to hear what they had to say about their favorite Forerunner features: Deena digs "back to start" while Ryan raves about having data on hand, from accurate mile splits to pace, when and where he wants it. Nice to know the same GPS-enabled sport watch used by some of the top athletes in the world can be on hand for your runs too. Now that's motivation for mortals. Speaking of motivation, if yours is lagging with the colder temps, check out the Runner’s World Heroes of Running 2008. Exceptional athletes and inspiring causes abound.
Ever finished a ride or run and wished you could hit replay? Well, now you can. Garmin Connect — our online community for storing, analyzing and sharing activities recorded with your Garmin device — just added a map player function yesterday. This interactive feature lets you replay your activity, view it on street, topo or hybrid maps and see your stats at any point, including time, distance, speed, elevation and heart rate. Fans of our former data analysis site, MotionBased, have used and loved map player. The version on Garmin Connect has even more features to crave, including a luscious full-screen view. Check it out. The site is now compatible with Forerunner 405 and 50 (both featuring wireless data uploads) and Edge 705 and 605. We’ll keep you posted on more enhancements to the site in the coming months, including compatibility with additional Garmin devices.
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