Go Garmin!

Popular Mechanics just concluded its first-ever consumer brand survey to determine what consumer brands their readers preferred. Twenty-nine different product categories were included, with a minimum of five brand choices in each category.  Over 7,000 readers voted, and thanks to you, we were chosen the favorite GPS brand. Thank You!

As most Garmin customers know, we serve a plethora of markets and we do our best to give each of these markets the specialized attention it deserves. We strive to develop revolutionary products with features that are specific to that market. One of the many ways we do this is by having employees design, create, build and market products for industries they're passionate about. Forerunners are developed by runners, Zumos by motorcycle riders, chartplotters by boaters, avionics by pilots -- I could keep going, but I'm sure you get the idea. This Popular Mechanics award helps reiterate that we're on the right path, but don't worry, we won't rest on our laurels. We're determined to continue building products that make life a little easier and more enjoyable for our customers.

Jenna on the road to recovery, training in Switzerland

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Jenna Shoemaker shares her training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and the new Forerunner 310XT.

I have now been back training in Davos, Switzerland for a week. I recovered really quickly from my concussion and spent last week building my training volume back up while also keeping a close eye on my neural function. Everything went really smoothly, and I found myself right back to the level of training from before D.C. within a matter of days, which meant that I was able to have a really massive weekend of training. The weekend not only got me back into shape, but it gave me a chance to bond with my new Forerunner 310XT! I believe it combines the best of both worlds. Being smaller than its predecessor, the 305, it still displays an incredible amount of information (HR, time, speed, altitude) while being small enough that I can comfortably wear it when running and cycling. An added bonus, for the triathletes out there, is that it is waterproof so you can time your swim!! It doesn't get much better than that! 

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.

20-year stories: eMap finds its way home

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

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

Gil L.

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!

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

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

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

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!

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??).

20-year stories: Garmin was his life preserver

In celebration of Garmin’s 20-year anniversary in 2009, we’re reaching back to the past to bring you stories from our younger years, including some memorable customer testimonials. This story comes from a couple of seamen whose Memorial Day 10 years ago was, well … more memorable than most. Here’s their story.

When Steve purchased his 29-foot sport fishing boat along with a business partner, he insisted that they spend a little more money on a GPS system. He chose a Garmin GPSMAP 230. Turns out that was a life-changing decision. Memorial Day weekend, 1999, Steve, Reese and four other friends spent a day fishing in the Gulf Stream off Charleston Harbor. As Reese walked to the boat's stern, he was pitched overboard, but no one heard his cries for help. Shirtless, and without a life jacket, he spent the longest 45 minutes of his life bobbing in the warm Gulf Stream waters.

It's a car. It's a plane. It's both.

We regularly receive testimonials from customers on how they use their Garmin products. All testimonials are interesting and fun for us to read, but every now and again one will appear that almost seems fictional because of how incredible it is. That's the case with this testimonial that we received from Terrafugia -- a new company that has made a flying car called the Transition. If you're wondering how this pertains to Garmin, it's because they're using our aviation products to help guide the plane while it's in the air and the car while it's on the ground. Their Garmin units of choice are the SL30 VHF nav/com, GTX 327 transponder, and GPSMAP 496. The GPSMAP 496 is the ultimate crossover product for them -- just like the Transition -- because it provides all the aviation-specific info for flying and comes preloaded with City Navigator street maps for navigating on the ground. If you're wondering how a vehicle can be both a car and plane, check out these videos. This is one you almost need to see to believe.

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.

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.

20-year stories: First day memories

In celebration of Garmin’s 20-year anniversary in 2009, we’re reaching back to the past to bring you stories from our younger years. Today you’ll hear from one of Garmin’s original employees who reflects on his first day, back in October 1989. When you start a company with just a handful of engineers, everybody has to pitch in. Even when it means going on a run for office supplies with the company co-founder. Learn more about Garmin’s history by viewing our interactive timeline and a video celebrating 20 years of innovation. Check back to the Garmin blog for more stories from our past, including some insight on the men who made Garmin — Gary Burrell and Dr. Min Kao.

Garmin in the Kayak

Today we feature a guest post from outdoor writer and expert kayak fisherman Ric Burnley.  Ric contacted us several years ago about rigging his kayak with Garmin gear before we knew such a thing was even possible!

Think about the relationship between technology and sports.  Without key inventions, many sports would be impossible.  The invention of the wheel led to Formula 1 racing.  Who could have guessed that a pack of warriors fighting over a stuffed goat skin would end up playing soccer?  And football wouldn’t be as much fun without polypropylene for the helmet and pads. In fact, almost every sport owes its origins to a key invention. 

Kayak fishing is no different. Without the invention of the sit-on-top kayak, many anglers would not be able to fish out of these versatile boats.  And, without advancements in electronics, many kayak anglers would not be able to take their sport to the extreme. 

I started kayak fishing shortly after the dawn of the sport, when guys were still bastardizing existing boats into kayak fishing machines. Just like their boat-bound brothers, kayak fishermen won’t leave the dock without taking every advantage.  So, I pimped out an Ocean Kayak Prowler with rod holders, tackle boxes, and electronics and charged the waters around my hometown, Virginia Beach, VA.

At first I targeted speckled trout, flounder, and schoolie rockfish, but soon I turned my attention towards bigger game such at cobia, big red drum, and trophy rockfish.  As I set my sights higher and higher, it became more and more important to have high-quality gear that was reliable and accurate.  At first I burned through fishfinders and GPS units like a NASCAR team goes through tires.  Then I picked up a Garmin 250 fishfinder and 76Cx GPS and the same units are on the bow of my boat today.

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.

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.

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).

Blogging Boston: Send us your Forerunner stories

With the Boston Marathon less than a week away, we're hearing all sorts of inspiring tales of qualifying, training and overcoming obstacles. Throughout the year, as we work, run or visit various marathons around the world, one recurring theme is how a Garmin Forerunner helped in building toward one common goal: Boston. That's a big reason why we're excited to unveil the Forerunner 405CX at this weekend's expo. And if this expo is like all of the rest, there will be plenty of testimonials about GPS-enabled training. We want to hear them all.

So enter your comments below or send your stories to the Garmin blog's inbox and we'll share as many as we can right here on the Garmin blog. Tell us how and where your Forerunner helped you qualify, or how it helped you persevere after coming up just short. Tell us about the ways Forerunner's Virtual Partner pushed you through those long, lonely training runs - or how it kept pace for the masses during a group outing. Tell us about key moments during the race - or after, when you were reliving the run through Garmin Connect. Or tell us about how you just finished your first 5K with Forerunner and how someday, maybe a few years from now, you'll be pushing the "stop" button after finishing the best 26.2 miles you can imagine. We're listening, so take a minute and start writing.

In their words: Heart rate training sparks a running revival

The last time we saw Chris Hillyer, we overheard him giving a tutorial on his Forerunner 405 that could've doubled as one of our YouTube how-to videos. The funny thing was that this was in the Teva booth at Outdoor Retailer, where we've worked with Teva on demo days focusing on outdoor recreation and fitness. Chris embodies an active lifestyle, not only in his footwear, but also in the Garmin Forerunner and Edge that he uses to train for endurance events. In this guest blog post, Chris tells us how his training has evolved by leaps and bounds by using his 405 and heart rate monitor:

If you are anything like me, you appreciate the concept of monitoring your heart rate during exercise to maximize your workout. If you are like me, you have had a heart rate monitor for a while now and enjoy getting some data as to how your body is responding to a certain effort. When I began using my Forerunner, I especially liked being able to complete a workout and check out that wavy line on my computer screen that represented what my heart thought about my run or ride. I enjoyed analyzing trends, (accidently) discovering my max heart rate and getting a general knowledge for how my heart was reacting to my training and racing.

Peg’s Posts: Cycle for Heart heads up the East Coast

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.

A mistake Ben won't soon make again

Proving once again that you don't know what you've got until it's gone, Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405. But this time he forgot something.

I feel like I’ve been sent back to the stone ages! This week I have been in Australia preparing for a World Cup Triathlon in Mooloolaba (Southeast Queensland), and my training here has been completely unadventurous. You see, after using my Edge 705 to avoid ever doing out and back rides – no matter how unfamiliar the area - I am now in a continent where I don’t have street maps. This, of course, is a result of my lack of foresight. The maps are available for download on Garmin.com, or you purchase a fully loaded SD card that just plops right into the 705 (or any number of other Garmin navigation products). I just simply forgot that I needed to get those maps, and my Internet here is too slow to download them.

My second option would be to carry a paper map. This seems like a great alternative, except that I’m already struggling with riding on the left side of the road (I lack the number of fingers and toes to count the number of times I’ve been honked at this week), and I feel that struggling with a paper map would just further endanger my life. I prefer the 705’s little screen, and the ability to get turn by turn directions back to where I started. It makes me far more willing to leave the main drag and explore that country road to nowhere!

Spring snowstorm doesn’t dampen runners' spirits

When a forecast of snow, sleet and high winds caused race organizers for the Olathe Marathon to cancel the race set for last Saturday, some out-of-towners got inventive. Probably wasn’t feasible these folks would make the trip to our fair city the following Saturday to compete in the rescheduled half marathon or 5k distances. So they went about creating their own race day—a good 18 hours before the nasty weather would roll in. While running a marathon course with no official support isn’t for everyone, we have to give these guys credit for their determination and spirit. And from the looks of things, these runners were well-prepared with their night-time running gear. Read on for their story and check out their data recorded by one runner’s Forerunner 305.

We wanted to let you know that we ran the actual race last night (Friday). It took us a bit longer because it was more of an adventure race and we have never been to Olathe before and the map did not have all the streets marked. Most of the public was nice to us, but we had to wait for traffic a few times. We realize that this was not an official race, however in the spirit of Garmin and of Olathe, we are submitting our Garmin download as our race results.

Navigation helps Ben to relax and recover

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

Last week I was beginning my recovery for the Mooloolaba World Cup so I was able to do a few easy rides around Honolulu with the express purpose of finding great views and sharing time with other athletes around the area. I rode Tantalus with Courtenay Brown, and found out that she is fully capable of making my recovery workout into a not-so-easy tempo session. She dropped me about two thirds of the way up the 8km climb and didn’t even give the courtesy of acknowledging my plea of, “wait for me at the top!”

A few of my more adventurous outings include a run around the endless maze of cane fields on the North Shore of Oahu, and a swim with dolphins at Waimea Bay. And by “with” I mean I could hear them, but never did get close enough to see them despite 20m visibility in the crisp ocean waters. Riding new routes and running through unknown neighborhoods was extremely fun and helped me relax and recover.  I relished in the exploratory opportunities granted to me by my Edge 705 and Forerunner 405 by taking new roads and never having to worry about finding my way home. It was fun.

20-year stories: Airport fire brigade in Austria uses Garmin GPS

In celebration of Garmin’s 20-year anniversary in 2009, we’re bringing you stories from across the globe of Garmin devices in action. Today’s story comes from Austria where an airport fire brigade relies on Garmin marine chartplotters in their emergency preparedness operations.

At the Airport in Graz, Austria, Garmin devices are used in an unusual, yet extremely important way. The airport fire brigade equipped their commando vehicles and some fire trucks with Garmin marine chartplotters. The reason for using the marine plotters is the size and the good readability of the screen. The entire area of the airport was divided in geographical sectors with dedicated names based on the coordinates. In case of emergency, a message with the exact position of the accident is sent to the vehicle from the tower. Due to this technique, the task force is able to save time — time that can be the difference between life and death. 

To learn more about Garmin’s history, including interviews from our cofounders and other associates around the world, view our video. And if you didn’t get a chance to see our last story in the 20-year anniversary series, check out “Preserving pieces of Garmin history.” This story includes a video tour of one Garmin associate’s private collection of Garmin memorabilia.

U23 cyclist Kyle Torres has the Edge

Kyle Torres has a long way to go before he can race pro, so if this U23 cyclist is “one to watch,” he’ll be on the radar for many miles. At just 14, Kyle was the youngest amateur to ride the Solvang Time Trial course at the Tour of California just before Team Garmin’s Dave Zabriskie and other pros raced the 15-mile course. Like any good gearhead, Kyle’s had his eye on the Edge 705, so he’s now training with our top-of-the-line cycle computer. Read on to find out how Kyle uses the 705 to fine-tune his training … and even find tacos. Be sure to check out the YouTube video of his Solvang start.

Kyle: Last month I had the opportunity of a lifetime when I got to ride in the amateur category of the Amgen Tour of California time trial. There were 31 people in the amateur category and we went just minutes before the pros. It was very cool because I felt just like a pro going out of the same start ramp and having the commentators talk all about me in front of thousands of spectators.

Two years later, eTrex was waiting to be found

At Garmin, we make our devices to be durable and withstand the demands of the outdoors. But abandoned for two years in the wild, will our outdoor handheld survive? Dan Stubblefield of Oregon sent in this story:

I hike with a group of codgers every Wednesday and on 1/31/07 we were bush whacking between two trails down a steep, heavily wooded slope above Lost Creek Lake, Oregon. At some point, my eTrex Legend came off my pack and was lost. Truthfully, I wasn’t all that upset since I had been wanting to buy a newer unit with a color screen and a better antenna. So this gave me the perfect justification for buying my 60CSx.

We decided to do the same hike this week but I didn’t even think about looking for the lost unit. The forest floor where it was lost is completely covered with a very thick layer of decomposing leaves and needles and lots of downed brush. As in 2007, each of us took quite different lines down the slope, and probably were spread out over 100 yards or more as we worked our way down. Anyway, one of the guys noticed the blue edge of the unit at the foot of a tree.

So, after 770 days out in the elements the unit was found.

Geocacher goes "Above the Clouds" on Kilimanjaro

Maybe it's spring fever, but great stories about amazing adventures with Garmin are coming out of the woodwork. Jay told us her story at last month's Gasparilla Expo, and we're excited to pass it along.

I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in January 2006, for both the adventure and to raise funds for the Climb for Cancer Foundation. It was a fantastic journey! Being on the mountain felt like being in another world (to me).

Almost every type of climate is represented along with a wide variety of unique vegetation and geology. We hiked through bush rainforest with mild temperatures up into semi-desert conditions, onto steep ridges with some very intense boulder scrambling. Every day we average a 3000’ gain in elevation with temperatures dropping dramatically in the evening and through out the night. Summit day, around midnight we left icy tents behind to struggle up rough lava rock and loose scree. The light wind and temps of around -20˚C kept us moving slow and steady.

"Amazing" tale goes from the outdoors to the inbox

Another exciting adventure, and another satisfied customer, that made its way to the Garmin inbox.

My name is Robert Barber and I just wanted to say that the Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx is an amazing piece of technology. I was first skeptical on buying it because of what "waterproof" really meant. I was fishing today in the Youghiogheny River and slipped off a rock into it. I didn't go in too deep, only to about my neck. Everything was soaked including the GPS. My phone was totally wet and seemed broken; I thought the same fate occurred to the GPS. After almost drowning in the current, I crawled back onto the rock and immediately turned on the Garmin. I was amazed that it still worked even after taking a big drink of the Yough. I bought the Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx mainly because it said "waterproof." If by any chance I floated down the river in the current, at least I know my GPS would still work. You guys really know how to make them, don't change a thing! -- Robert Barber

Thanks, Robert. For the record, the GPSMAP 60 series is waterproof to an IPX7 standard, which means the GPS case can withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Even in the mighty Yough.

Ben uses his Edge 705 to ride the wind

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

Recently I was in Laie on the windward side of the North Shore of Oahu. Living up to its name, it was quite windy. I went for a ride toward Haleiwa and was amazed that I made it there in about 40 minutes without really trying. What I should have realized is that if I was going nearly 30 mph without effort, I really should be turning around well before halfway through my ride. It took about 50% longer to back, and there was no “easy” riding involved in it; just crouching over and taking a windy beating.

So I started thinking what if my Garmin Edge 705 gave me some clue as to how much assistance I was getting from the wind? It could tell me my coefficient of environmental assistance, which I would like to name the ‘Collins Coefficient,’ and it would basically take my power output, my speed, the percent grade and some estimate of aerodynamics (or lack there of) for a big-shouldered swimmer type like myself. Basically, when I’m flying down the road with a tail wind, or drafting off a school bus, it would be a large positive coefficient and the screen would read something like, “don’t be too proud," or “going the other way is not going to be fun." Whereas when I’m fighting a 20 mph headwind uphill, the coefficient would be negative and the screen could read, "I told you this wasn’t going to be fun.” Okay, so enough dreaming. I'll stick to my training and let Garmin come up with great product features. Here's my ride in Garmin Connect.

20-year stories: Preserving pieces of Garmin history

In celebration of Garmin’s 20-year anniversary in 2009, we’re reaching back to the past to bring you stories from our younger years. Today you’ll get a peek inside a garage-turned-Garmin museum. The caretaker and archivist is Frank, a long-time Garmin employee who “likes to collect history he can hold in his hands.” He started collecting antique radios in the mid-70s. Before he started his job in aviation engineering for Garmin in October 1995, Frank worked for another avionics manufacturer where he shared a lab with Garmin co-founders Gary Burrell, Min Kao and two of their business partners.

Frank’s passion for preservation sent him digging through dumpsters in his early days at Garmin.  “When we moved from Lenexa, there was a lot of stuff thrown away and my collecting instincts just took over. Over the years, people have given me stuff that they wanted to get rid of, so I had a lot of help,” Frank said.

Ben offers tips for finding exercise on the road

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

Training on the island of Oahu has been a nice change of pace from a Seattle winter and the monotony of routes and routines of home. The struggle is that whenever I’m training away from home it takes some time to adjust; time to adjust to new roads for riding and running, new pool times for swimming etc. For short trips it’s easy to make due. If the pool times are not ideal, or if it’s hard to find a good running route on soft surfaces and away from traffic, I can manage for a few days. But this trip is not short. I will be in Hawaii for a total of six weeks, which means finding a nice pool and nice running and riding routes is quintessential.

To find a pool and lap swim times, I use the Swimmers Guide, a great resource to find pool times for all over the world. When I was in Hamburg, I was able to find lap swim times and fees before I went to the pool, and there were comments left by previous patrons which gave me an idea of German pool etiquette. Unfortunately, riding and running can be tough to figure out, so I’ve come up with my own method of finding my way in a new place...

Ben has the Edge while training in Hawaii

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

Over the weekend I set off for a three hour tour of Oahu. My plan was to meet up with a local training group called Boca, but unfortunately I found my front tire was flat before I even left. I changed it as quickly as I could, but ended up missing the group by about 5 minutes. I was a little nervous because the tube I used to change my flat was my only spare, and if I was going to ride alone, I was certainly taking a risk. Luckily, I had my Garmin 705 and a cell phone, so I could see a map of where I was and call a friend if something happened. Had I still been in Brazil, I likely would have ridden the trainer rather than risking a 15-mile walk home in bike shoes.

Ben shows great early season fitness in Santos, Brazil

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

I had a strong race at my first Santos International Triathlon. The swim was a beach start with two 750m laps, requiring us to come out of the water and to go back in twice. Beach starts are not my forte, and I ended up spending the entire swim trying to regain the positions I had lost while running into the water. Regardless, I came out of the water in front of all but the two that had broken away, Benjamin Sanson and Paulo Miyashiro of France and Brazil, respectively.

Search and rescue with Garmin

We all know that Garmin devices can be used to have plenty of fun - road trips, day hikes, bike rides, golf outings, fishing excursions, etc. - but a recent video we posted on our YouTube channel reminds us of our serious side. Testimonials pour in from the military about how our GPS devices helped maximize a mission. We're reminded by search teams about how our Rino two-way radios and Astro dog-trackers, both GPS-enabled, make their jobs more efficient. Even a random geocache came in handy last year when two climbers who were lost on Mount Hood used the GPS coordinates to help rescuers. So grab your Garmin, get out there and have a good time - with added peace of mind.

Ben's race report: Team USA Takes Second in Brazil

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

This weekend I started off the 2009 season with one of the most fun races in Triathlon. It was the 2009 Fast Triathlon in Brazil. The field consists of six three-man teams, each from separate countries. The countries invited were Brazil, France, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Our US Team of Victor Plata, Matt Chrabot and myself moved up one podium step from last year, claiming second, just 20 points behind the winning Brazilian Team.

The format of this race is unique. It consists of three individual triathlons, each with a 250m swim, 4km bike, and 1300m run. Each round took approximately 10 to 12 minutes, and we were given about equal rest between rounds. The Fast Triathlon is a huge spectator event in Brazil, and is broadcast live on national television. Before the race the media conducted interviews of the athletes, and for the past two days we have seen ourselves on television during the commercial breaks. It’s amazing to be treated like a star with fans asking for an autograph, pictures, or any kind of proof that they indeed stood next to us. I drew the line when I was begged for one of my K-Swiss water bottles. “No, I need those!” 

You can see my Garmin Connect race activity here, and more details from the race on the jump.

USA Triathlon Team puts Garmin to the test

We love getting product feedback from everyone who uses our devices. The following kudos especially caught our eye, considering they come from some of the top triathletes in the world.

"This product (Forerunner 405) is fantastic and a great tool for training," said Justine Whipple (left), who won the Armed Forces National Championship in 2008. "As a reliable piece of equipment I find the display easy to read in terms of paces and it is not too bulky to do track workouts with. The many functions are not overwhelming and provide just enough information for workout feedback."

20-year stories: Garmin goes to the Gulf

In celebration of Garmin’s 20-year anniversary in 2009, we’re reaching back to the past to bring you stories from our younger years. Some stories are retold by the individuals who were here on the first day, working in rented office space among card tables and folding chairs. Space was limited, but the ideas weren’t. And here are their stories.

In 1991, when Garmin’s first prototype GPS navigators were just rolling off the production line, U.S. troops and planes were rolling out for Gulf War deployment. Major George Nemeyer, a navigator for the U.S. Air Force, determined there was one piece of equipment his plane had to have. Military issue wasn’t going to cut it. There were only a couple companies doing GPS at the time. And only one who answered the call.

Cycling in Seattle, training for Brazil

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

Cold weather has kept me indoors for over a month, but recently I decided that frigid fingers are better than a frigid mind. I’ve watched every DVD in my collection while riding my bike on a trainer, and I even managed to set up my laptop next to my bike so that I could study Spanish while riding. Nothing, however, is as much fun as the open road, so I’m back outside (every once in a while anyways). It’s my last week in Seattle before I head to Brazil for two races. My body is getting used to riding in 34 degree “freezing fog,” but in 10 days I’ll be racing in the middle of a Brazilian summer!

Jenna continues her training “down under”

While Team Garmin cyclists are nearing the end of their Tour Down Under, we recently got an update from Garmin-sponsored triathlete Jenna Shoemaker, who’s been training in Australia since last October. Read on as Jenna shares her training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

I've become quite reliant on my Garmin Edge and Forerunner over the past few months. I finally started using my heart rate monitor with both devices, as my new coach likes to have heart rate readings readily available. The setup was so quick and easy and it works seamlessly all of the time. Unlike with my old heart rate devices, I don't have to wet the strap or even wait a few minutes for it to register. As soon as I put the strap on and turn on my Edge or Forerunner, it immediately detects and accurately reads my heart rate. Since the sensor is so strong, I also don't have to wear the monitor really tight around my chest. This has eliminated all of the old blistering I used to get wearing other models.

Ben leads the way with an Edge

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

Last weekend I did the Rocket Ride, a local “drop ride” that starts from the north end of Lake Washington and goes for a loop about 50 miles around to the northeast of Seattle. There’s been a great deal of flooding in Washington, thanks to some unusually cold and wet weather, so when we saw water flowing over the road in front of us it was not a huge surprise. We stopped and assessed the situation, and about five of the fifteen cyclists decided to try riding slowly through the water, which only covered about 200 meters of roadway. The rest of us watched as the water steadily made its way up their wheels. When they could no longer take full pedal strokes and the water kept getting deeper the crusade was declared a failure and the five returned to the group.

Meanwhile, I was looking at a map on my Garmin Edge 705, so as soon as the group leaders showed they had no idea how to make a detour of this road I chimed in: “If we follow this road back about two miles we can connect with the same highway we were riding towards; it’s a little more traffic, but probably no water.”

We set off in the direction we had come, and every time we came to an intersection the people in front would say, “which way does the Garmin say to go?”

Forerunner leads to faster times, then faster recovery

Injuries happen to everyone, from the world's best athletes to every-other-weekend warriors. And having the proper training and tools is vital for proper recovery. Garmin user Paul Tyler recently shared his story of bouncing back from an Achilles injury. At 43, Paul lives in New York and has used his Forerunner 305 or Forerunner 405 in completing 8 marathons and several multi-sport races in the last three years. After doing two Ironman 70.3 events in 2008, he plans to do Ironman Lake Placid this summer.

The running season ended on a high note in October at the Hartford Half Marathon.  With the help of the Forerunner 405 virtual partner, I time-qualified for the ING New York Marathon – with three minutes to spare! Of course, the celebration lasted only a few short days because of my next goal in mind – Ironman Lake Placid.  Two of my buddies and I secured three coveted spots for this race to be held in July 2009.

Garmin comes through for couple lost in the woods

We often talk about how Garmin employees embrace the activities in which our products are used. Most of the time, this is a pretty easy assignment - go golfing, ride your bike, run a few miles, catch some fish - but what started as recreation Monday night turned into the rescue of a lost couple in the California woods. Here's the story as told by Clark, one of our online gurus at Garmin Connect and MotionBased. This link shows the adventure as captured in Garmin Connect and reminds us why Garmin devices have "Back to start".

So random... I'm just cruisin' through the woods on a trail run testing some Garmin GPS devices, and I come upon this couple clearly out of sorts and freaking out. They thought I was part of the rescue crew looking for them. It was pitch black outside, and they were a few miles from their car with no map and no light. They had parked at the Muir Woods main lot and hiked up a good portion of Mt Tam near Pantoll. (If you click on my Garmin Connect link, I found them where you can see my path end and turn around.) I just had them follow me with my headlamp as we hiked back to my car. Talked to the park rangers afterward who were thankful that I found them. They were bumming hard on the prospect of spending the entire night searching all of Mt Tam looking for these guys.

nüvi 755T: GPSMagazine's Editor's Choice

After taking the nüvi 755T through its paces, the guys at GPS Magazine are touting it, "the GPS I tell my friends to buy," and have awarded it Editor's Choice. With features like lane assist with junction view, 3-D building view, free lifetime traffic, route planning and more, the devices from the 705T series are topping the listsof gadget gurus everywhere. GPSMag also had this to say: "The 755T is easy to use, chooses smart, logical routes, is equipped with a very high performance GPS receiver, has the best map screen of any GPS available today, and is reasonably priced. The 755T is an evolutionary, incremental upgrade to what was already a class-leading GPS."

If you'd like to see and hear more about what these powerful navigators can do, check out our interactive nuvi 765T demo, and take the 765T for a test drive today!

Runner "skywrites" with her Forerunner for charity

During the past 20 years, we've come up with some very creative uses for Garmin's GPS technology - tracking hunting dogs, measuring golf shots, racing bikes professionally - but Runner's World has introduced us to someone that deserves a pat on the back. If you can catch her.

Jenny Rice, a student at Kingston University in the U.K., sent an e-mail recently to Runner's World: "Hello, I produced this short movie as part of my Graphic Design course at Kingston University. I used a Garmin Forerunner 205 to map my run to spell out a message that would raise awareness of my London Marathon fundraising." Essentially, she ran for more than an hour in carefully planned patterns to spell out her charitable plea. It's like those old creative exercises in which you're not allowed to take the pen off the paper. Take a look at the video and try it for yourself by downloading your data to MotionBased.com or Garmin Connect. It won't be easy, but you'll get a good workout regardless.

Ben pedals through snow, winter training

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 405.

Last weekend Seattle dried up for a day. At least it looked that way from my house, so I decided to dress up in everything warm I had – polar fleece bike tights, two jerseys, a polar fleece cycling jacket, gloves,  wool socks beanie and massive, wind shielding sunglasses – to protect myself from the arctic weather (it was about 35 degrees).

Better yet, I decided to drag my friend Courtenay along with me. The road was not as dry as I had thought, and at points we were trying to keep our bikes upright while riding through two inch deep snow (it’s not easy). Courtenay was anything but thrilled. The first hour of the ride consisted of me trying to crack jokes to get the frown off her face, only to hear her mutter “I can’t feel my feet. Tell me again why riding trainers indoors was such a bad idea?” This made me feel like a real jerk, which I dealt with by telling dumber and dumber jokes and talking about warm things, like hot chocolate.