Getting ready for race day

It's a big weekend for Porsche Carrera Cup Japan (PCCJ) fans.In case you weren't aware, Garmin sponsors Porsche Carrera Cup Japan car #88 with driver Sho Hanawa. This weekend, drivers will be at the Shanghai International Circuit, which features enough straight stretches to offer smooth rides, yet throws up some treacherous curves to set up tricky moments. Unique snail-like turns at two points of the track may also pose a special challenge to drivers, and prove to be sufficient opportunities for overtaking maneuvers. Go Garmin!

Jake's Journal: Live from New York, it's marathon week!

Any time a work trip begins with the best in the business telling you how much they love your products, you know it’s going to be a great week. That’s exactly what happened when, an hour after I’d landed in New York, I was listening to U.S record-holder Deena Kastor praising Garmin’s fitness watches to representatives from New York’s top retailers and the New York Road Runners who had gathered for Garmin’s running summit at Equinox Fitness on Broadway. The gathering of industry experts was just part of a busy marathon week in New York City, where Garmin is sponsoring Ryan Hall in his quest for victory in Sunday’s race and Edward Norton and his Maasai Marathon team’s fundraising efforts for African conservation (visit MaasaiMarathon.com to learn more or sponsor Edward and his team). Ryan and Edward have both been making headlines while training with Garmin Forerunners. You can see some of Edward’s training runs on Garmin Connect by going to http://connect.garmin.com/explore?owner=maasaimarathonteam

So what does Deena love about her Garmin? Depends on which one she’s wearing that day. When training with the GPS-enabled Forerunner 405, Deena appreciates the same information that benefits runners of all age and speed – knowing exactly how far and fast she’s going at any point during the run, no matter where she is in the world. And then there’s that flash of pink on her wrist at Chicago, the limited-edition Garmin FR60 that was launched along with its blue counterpart this week in New York. Deena told us how she showed her FR60 to a fellow Garmin user this week at a charity run, and the new fitness watch was quickly added to the woman’s wish list. She’s not alone. With FR60 joining the multisport Forerunner 310XT and calorie-counting 405CX in our booth at the expo, hundreds of Garmin gifts were purchased for (or by) runners from around the globe. Guess I’m not the only one having a great week.

Garmin teams with actor/conservationist Edward Norton to sponsor the Maasai Marathon benefitting African conservation

You're hearing it here first. We have more exciting news leading up to Sunday's ING New York City Marathon, where we've already announced that we'll be showing off brand-new colors of the FR60 as we support elite American distance runner Ryan Hall's quest for victory. And now we're working with another huge name on a mission that goes far beyond fitness: Garmin International, the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced its support of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust and its Maasai Marathon team, a group of 30 runners led by Edward Norton and three Maasai warriors, who will run in the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1st.

Norton, a pilot and longtime user of Garmin products for flying, recreation and travel, has used Garmin’s Forerunner 405CX GPS-enabled fitness watch in training and preparing with the Maasai runners for the race. Norton will be downloading his running data to Garmin Connect’s online community, where millions of activities are shared, compared, stored and explored. Garmin has also made a donation to the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust and will help promote the cause at the ING New York City Marathon expo and upcoming events.

“Garmin's technology has been instrumental in many aspects of MWCT's work, from aviation to wildlife surveys to creation of conservation databases. This partnership is particularly exciting for us because it's a company whose products are an integral part of the conservation mission” said Edward Norton.

Garmin in action: Your pictures are worth a thousand words

Among the many emails we get each day from delighted Garmin users, some just beg to let the pictures do the talking. So here are a few recent notes and images sent our way. The first comes from Runner's World favorite and Forerunner fan John "The Penguin Bingham, who travels long distances to run long distances. "Thought you’d get a kick out of this," John wrote. "We’re marking and measuring the course for the Antarctic Marathon on King George Island using a 205! We had others, all Garmins, but that little thing worked GREAT."

Then there's this one, from Ruane C in Waltham, MA, who caches under the screen name of Findit and showcases his Garmin pride everywhere he travels: "Hi there...I am the proud user/owner of a Garmin Vista HCX and a couple of other Garmin devices used on a regular basis while running, biking and just cruising around.....I use my Vista primarily for Geocaching, but also for occasional hike assistance. I thought I would send you this picture of my Massachusetts Geomobile...you may get a laugh out of it."

Ben's race report from the LA Triathlon

We often hear from Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins as he shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 310XT. This week however, we thought we'd let Ben's race report from the LA Triathlon tell his story.

Two weeks after setting a course record in Kirkland, Washington, Ben Collins placed ninth at the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon presented by Herbalife against the most talented field ever to toe the line in the race's 10 year history. Collins posted the fastest bike split of the day, and led the race for over 20km. Swimming with a broken wrist, Collins was unable to lead the swim and instead exited the water at the back of a lead group of 15 athletes. So when he got on the bike and saw other athletes in front of him, he “put the hammer down”. Passing everyone in the first 10 km of the bike, Collins held the lead for about 20 km. At the turnaround a blistering fast Greg Bennett surged past Collins and lead to the end of the 40km bike. Of course he couldn’t stop a very determined Collins from posting the fastest bike split, reminiscent of his non-drafting career. After the race, Collins Garmin Edge 705 recorded an average speed of over 27 mph!

Getting out onto the run, Collins held on for a very impressive 9th place against a very competitive field.
This was a great race for Collins to see how far his fitness has come this year. A few injuries haven’t
stopped him from competing with the world’s best triathletes. Collins trained hard right up to the race, so
his performance in LA is a great indication for what is to come at the final of 2009 Toyota US Open in
Dallas after a week of recovery October 11, 2009.

Garmin announces sponsorship of U.S. record-holders Deena Kastor & Ryan Hall

We're excited to break the news here first, as Garmin today announces its sponsorship of American distance-running record-holders Deena Kastor and Ryan Hall as they prepare for marathons in Chicago and New York City, respectively. To honor these elite athletes’ pursuit of victory in these major world marathons, special limited-edition versions of Garmin’s new FR60 fitness watch will be available exclusively at the race expos and select retailers in those cities.

“Deena and Ryan have been training with Garmin devices for some time, and we are thrilled to see our relationship grow as they rely on Garmin technology to take on the world’s best,” said Stan Brajer, director of Garmin Fitness Sales and Marketing. “As our fitness division grows with products such as the innovative FR60, we have worked with top-tier runners, gold-medal coaches and Tour de France cyclists, and Deena and Ryan exemplify that excellence as true global ambassadors of the sport and our brand.”

Little eTrex plays a big role in peacekeepers' mission

From backyards to the Outback, Garmin's classic yellow eTrex has had more than its share of global adventures, and at $99 remains a favorite around the world. It's always amazing to us how such a small device with such a little price tag can have such a big impact on excursions as pertinent as military missions or as personal as family vacations. Here's just one of those stories.  

My name is Justin J. and I work with in many different countries throughout Africa, one of which was Sierra Leone. I was there to train the military for their upcoming peacekeeping mission to Darfur, Sudan. It is the first peacekeeping mission that the country has been involved in. One of my tasks while there was to teach a select number of soldiers how to use some of the new equipment that they would be deploying with. The one piece of equipment that they were most interested in was the Garmin GPS. Most of them had never seen one but had heard stories about them. When I started my class they were absolutely amazed that this technology existed and how easy it was for them to use. In only 5 days they were able to use the GPS with a high level of proficiency.

I was a soldier in the United States Army for 14 years before being medically discharged. I deployed overseas 4 separate times in my military career and each time I took a Garmin GPS with me. As you know Garmin has been helping soldiers in the war on terror for many years, but now you know that it is also going to play a very important role in the peacekeeping mission in Darfur.

Thanks, Justin, and keep up the great work. We're honored to be able to help.

eTrex survives 12' of mud and muck

Some people may think that our outdoor GPS devices are only for hiking, hunting and geocaching, but they can do so much more. And as you can tell from this recent customer testimonial, they're ruggedized so they'll go the distance:

I use the eTrex for my RC boat hobby, to check max speeds, just to see if I'm making the boat faster or not. About seven weeks back I was testing one of my boats, and I flipped it over and lost the GPS in about 12' of water. Today, I was trying to find a propeller that I lost by dragging a set of magnets and found the eTrex that I lost. After returning home, I open the unit, drained all of the water, cleaned out the mud and sprayed it down with WD40. I notice the spring inside that connect the battery line to the circuit broad was rusted off, but had enough to stretch to make contact. I put it all back together, installed new batteries, and turned it on. After sitting in 12' of water and mud, this thing still works! I went to the page that shows how fast it was traveling.  It still had my max speed and it showed that it ran under water for 3 hours and 53 minutes. I'm amazed and happy to say that Garmin makes a dang good product.
Thanks for your time
Harold M.

Have an interesting story to share about your Garmin GPS? Send it our way!

Ben’s advice on tracking calories with Forerunner and refueling right.

Garmin-sponsored triathlete Ben Collins shares his training and racing experiences with the Garmin Edge 705 and Forerunner 310XT.

Today I got a fortune cookie that told me, “treat yourself well, dessert three times a week is okay.” It was appropriate because the atmosphere here at the Olympic Training Center puts me on edge when it comes to diet. Food and triathlon go together hand-in-hand, but many triathletes think that when it comes to food, less is better, and when it comes to training hours, more is better. More people ask me about my diet than all other parts of training and racing, and the most common of those questions have to do with achieving weight loss. I have some simple principles to follow in order to be a healthy triathlete without an unhealthy eating disorder.

First, eat enough. Endurance athletes are type ‘A’ people. The most common problem I see in triathletes is what I call “situational anorexia” (not a clinical term). We have way more going on in our lives than the average people. With a full-time job, a family and even a moderate training schedule, there’s not much time to eat. We under-consume, which shocks our metabolism and causes the body to retain fat.

Jenna gets some down-time; heads to Interbike next week.

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

My season is now over!  After 7 months of racing, I am definitely ready for a little R&R before I start building back up towards the 2010 season. It was an immensely successful year with my first international win in April followed by 2nd place finishes at both the Pan American Championships and the US Pro Nationals. It was a year of learning and growing for me and I am really looking forward to what next year will bring. 

For the next few weeks I will be taking care of all my weak areas so that I can be injury-free and racing even faster next year. My Garmin devices (Edge 705 and Forerunner 310XT) won't get a complete break because I will still do a bit of riding and swimming, just enough to keep me moving and sane, but am going to try really hard to enjoy the break because it will be the last real "time off" I get from now until the London Olympics. 

In water and on bike, Oregon outlasts the worst of the great outdoors

Since we shared a few recent stories about the durability of our rugged outdoor handhelds and marine devices, more proud Garmin customers have been quick to share their experiences. Here's a note from Randy Clark of New Mexico, who knows a thing or two about great adventures.

Last November I took off on a nine month, 3,200 mile kayak/bicycle trip from Key West, Florida to San Diego, CA and back to my home in Rio Rancho, NM. For the first month the Oregon 400c was mounted on the deck of the kayak as I paddled up the coast of Florida. Despite numerous submersions in salt water, occasional bangs with the paddle and two bad squalls, the Oregon never failed me. After 30 days on the kayak I then mounted it on the handlebars of my touring bicycle. For the ensuing eight months it endured constant vibration and weather off all sorts 24/7 and even a misadventure where the bicycle tumbled head over heels down a 1,500 ravine in the Rocky Mountains. After dragging the bike back up the ravine with rope, the Garmin fired right up and I was back on my way!

Rare is the product that holds up to this sort of abuse, much less an electronic device. Well done! Next spring it's off to Canada and Alaska and the Garmin will lead the way.

Thanks, Randy, and we're glad that it's the Oregon and not you that's taken the brunt of the submersions, squalls, swats and spills!!

Ben takes his Edge from two wheels to three

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

This summer has been quite an adventure, and Garmin was there for every twist. In May I raced in Oklahoma City and Austin before being diagnosed with a stress fracture in my femur. This canceled about half the races on my schedule, but opened up some opportunity for non-competitive summertime fun.

Within hours of diagnosis, and before getting used to my new crutches, I grabbed a friend, unclipped the Garmin Edge 705 from my bike, and headed north from Seattle toward British Columbia. Our plan was to spend a day in Vancouver then visit a mutual friend on Vancouver Island (where I would encounter a bit more adventure than I had bargained for). I typed the Canadian address into my Edge 705 and within a few seconds I had directions for the first leg of our trip. We also used it to find professional-athlete approved food choices for the drive, a hotel, a great seafood dinner, and a brew house with 50+ beers on tap from all over the world. All without the roaming or data charges of a cell phone!

Approach G5: Perfect for your short game - and a long weekend

With a long holiday weekend ahead of us, we're sure that golfers will be hitting the links in great numbers. And one golfer who will be getting great numbers -- and accurate measurements -- is Jerry Spencer. Jerry sent us this email after falling in love with his new Garmin Approach G5 golf-specific GPS, which now has more than 10,000 courses available as a free download. He also owns a nuvi 255W that recently helped him navigate in New York, and he uses a Forerunner while he's cycling. Here are Jerry's first impressions of his Approach, in his own words.

I just purchased an Approach G5 and love it after one round. It helps in so many ways, esp. when I hit the ball off the fairway right or left. It gave me the exact measurement. What an improvement for me!

I also played at a course that has GPS on the carts and found that the distances on my Garmin and the cart were with in 1 -- yes 1 -- yard of each other. Gave me great confidence in my club selection. Also removed any doubt about the G5’s accuracy. Thank you so much - a great purchase.

I was deciding between another product and my G5 - man did I make a good decision. The competitor's product is not water- or shockproof – good job Garmin. Thank you so much, my golf buddies will soon be in the market as well.

Thanks, Jerry. Be sure to check out our online video learning center for tips on how to get the most out of your new Approach, and we hope you get in a few rounds this weekend!

Jenna places 5th in Chicago Triathlon

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

I had a fantastic weekend in Chicago. It was the end of my 6-week racing block and I was eager to just enjoy the day. I did a few appearances during the weekend including an autograph session for at the Garmin Store on Michigan Avenue, where I was greeted by a number of very enthusiastic fans. I was also able to meet and chat with a whole number of age groupers which was really wonderful and always a good reminder of why I love this sport so much.

This was the first time that I got to break out my Felt AR TT bike setup and got to wear an aero helmet since last year. It being a different kind of racing from ITU, I was not sure exactly how hard to push myself on the bike (and it took me longer to get my helmet on in transition!). I had a decent swim, not fantastic but solid, and came out of the water in 6th place. I had a good run to transition and got on my bike still in 6th place. It was a very gusty strong head wind on the way out and a fabulous tailwind coming back. I tried to build through the bike leg so as to keep something in the tank for the run.

Ask Garmin: Just how durable are Garmin's outdoor handhelds?

In the 20 years that we've been building rugged GPS devices, they've survived explosions in Iraq, snowbanks in Michigan winters and sharp teeth in a bear's mouth. In a less extreme situation - and one that might hit closer to home - Dario Sartori sent us a testimonial earlier this month to share with anyone wondering about Garmin's legendary reputation for durability.

This past May I took part in a dualsport ride from Stoneyford, CA to Ft. Bragg, Ca. I rode with a group of friends and I had a Garmin Legend HCx on my bike. Part of the ride went through some tight singletrack. Partway in the singletrack one of my buddies who was on a KLR650 had his engine seize up on him.

About 2 miles farther on the trail I tipped over my bike and landed on a bush. I got back on however when I arrived at the end of the trail roughly 2 miles later I noticed that I had lost my GPS unit on the fall. I chose not to retrieve it as the ride had over 500 riders, a lot of whom were coming down the same trail, so to go back would be dangerous as I would be going against the flow of traffic.

Two weeks ago I convinced a friend to go back with me to where I thought the unit was. We failed to find the entrance to the singletrack. So I called the owner of the KLR as he had a Garmin nuvi 500 on that fateful day and he was able to give me the coordinates of where his bike had died. I then proceeded to input these coordinates into my new GPS, a Garmin GPSmap 60Cx. With that and mapsource I was able to figure out where I needed to go, made a waypoint in mapsource and uploaded it to my 60cx. Myself and 2 others went back today, 3 months after the loss of the GPS, and I was able to find it. Believe it or not it was there and it actually started up, not for too long as the batteries were drained, but with new batteries it works fine!!!!

Thanks, Dario, for the great letter. Anyone with great Garmin adventures to share should send us an email, and you just might see your story on the Garmin blog.

Jenna takes 2nd at USA Pro Nationals; preps for Chicago Triathlon on 8/30

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

This past weekend, I competed in the 2009 USA Pro Nationals in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It was my last ITU event for the year and another chance to showcase all of my hard work over the last nine months. It has already been an incredible season for me, so I was simply excited to cap off the year with another solid race.

I had a good start, choosing to swim closest to shore because the current in the river was really strong. However, I missed the "train" and struggled over the last 700 meters. Exiting the water I was 2:30 down over the leader and knew I had a lot of work to do. I put my head down and by the end of the first lap of the bike (1 of 6) I had ridden through three of the four women ahead of me and was making huge strides at shutting down the gap to the leader. But, with little help from the other girls I was riding with, I eventually made the decision to focus on hydrating and eating and to wait on the fast closing chase group behind us.

Edge 705 helps champion break record in triathlon's wheelchair division

Sifting through our inbox recently, we came across yet another great example of people using Garmin products to reach extraordinary achievements. Renzo Martinez sent us a brief email (of which we get many) with a marketing suggestion (of which we also get many) but Renzo's letter stood out for the way he wanted to help us help others excel.

I use a Garmin EDGE 705 and I think is a great product and excellent companion out on the road and during races. It even gets me back to my car when I am out there testing new training routes =). I am a triathlete and marathoner that competes in the wheelchair division. Besides the many advantages of this product, I find it very convenient because before I started to use the Garmin I had to keep two separate cycling computers, one for my racing chair and the other for the racing handcycle. Now I have a united source to track all my training metrics. I think you could market it more to wheelchair athletes, because I don’t see many of them out there.

I included a picture when I was doing the Nautica Triathlon in Miami. You can see the Garmin right by the brake handle on top of the Achilles sticker. I broke the course record for my division that day.

Thanks -- Renzo

Thanks for the great testimonial, Renzo, and good luck in your upcoming events! Click here to see the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's photo gallery of Renzo's inspirational day at the Nautica South Beach Triathlon.

K9 Search & Rescue No Longer Searches For Their Dogs

We typically market the Astro Dog Tracking System to hunters, but we've discovered that K9 search and rescue teams are using the system to keep tabs on their animal companions, too.  Here's a story we recently received:

I just purchased the Garmin Astro to use with my search and rescue K9 partner Sula (Redbone Coonhound) and wanted to share a story and my thanks for such a great product!

Yesterday was the first day that I used it on a real search.  We were searching some very thick brush along a river bank and could not see Sula (which is common and one reason I purchased the Astro).  However, I could see where she was in relation to me on the GPS screen - several hundred yards away.  I could also see that she was not moving so I waited a moment and then called her - no movement - called her again and this time I heard her bark so I began to work my way through the thick brush to where she was (really nice to basically just follow the screen and walk right to your dog).

When I got to her I thought maybe she had located what we were searching for but no....she was actually totally wound up in a thick vine all figure-eighted around her hind quarters.  She was just standing there looking at me, not moving, waiting for some help to get out of her mess.  It was wrapped pretty tightly from where she must have tried to get herself out, and would have been nearly impossible for her to get out on her own.

I think the Astro basically paid for itself and then some in one single use!  There is no price to put on my K9 partner, and although I would likely have eventually found her, the Astro made it MUCH easier, quicker, and gave me tremendous peace of mind to be able to see where she was and what she was doing (moving or not).   Thank you for such a wonderful product, I can't imagine going out on a search without it ever again!

Regards,

Joan Brehm and K9 Sula

Jenna wraps up Euro racing at London World Championship Series

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

This past weekend, I got my first taste of the London Olympic venue. Although the course will likely be changed to something similar to the bike route used in the prologue of the Tour a few years ago, it was still really exciting to swim in the Serpentine and to race around Hyde Park. I took my Edge 705 on my training ride allowing me to capture some data from this year’s course while I was riding it the day before. See my ride in Garmin Connect. 
 

Garmin Foretrex catches a record wave, makes it official

For those of us at Garmin's landlocked U.S. headquarters in the Midwest, the only surfing we do is online. So you can imagine how thrilled we were to hear from our Brazilian colleagues that our Foretrex 201 was used to document and certify a new world record in one of the northernmost points in Brazil in the State of Amapa which borders French Guiana. According to World Surfing News, "Professional surfer Serginho Laus broke the world record for surfing the Pororoca in the Araguari River, State of Amapá for the second time on June 8, 2009. ...The specialist in tidal waves reached the distance of 11.8 km in 36 minutes of an uninterrupted wave that varied from one-half to one-meter high."

Congratulations to Serginho and to the engineers behind the Foretrex family, which just added two new models, the Foretrex 401 and Foretrex 301, both with high-sensitivity GPS receivers. Maybe we should have Serginho try it again, this time with the Garmin blog team there to chronicle his efforts.

Garmin runners take on the Wild West

A team of 12 Garmin runners headed westward last Thursday, bound for Ft. Collins, Colorado, starting point of the 195-mile Wild West Relay. About 27 hours, 34 minutes later, our rugged runners hit Steamboat Springs, placing 17th among well over 100 teams. In the “flatlanders” category (consisting of team members who dwell at 2,500’ and below), the Garmin team was near the top. Our team, “Armed and Dangerous,” was aptly named for the legal weapons these Garminites wear — various styles of our Forerunner training devices. One Garmin runner and triathlete, Adam, said he shared his new Forerunner 310XT with another runner on the team. Despite running for 6 relay legs between them, Adam said the 310XT had at least 50% of its battery life left at the end of the race. A big bonus of the 310XT for ultrarunners and multisport athletes is that it carries a full 20 hours of battery life. Congrats to all the runners who finished in one piece. May your quads and calves quickly recover.

Jenna places 6th in London Triathlon

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

Last weekend I raced in the London Triathlon. It is one of the biggest triathlons in the world so it was a great atmosphere and, surprisingly enough, we had fantastic weather! The race is held at the Docklands and the ride takes you along the Thames to a spectacular turn around point right in front of Big Ben. Unfortunately, I didn’t have too much time to really take in the sites of London: the London Eye, the Tower of London and London Bridge, because we sped by them all quite quickly!
 

Half marathon training tips from Terrence Mahon

Terrence Mahon is a member of the Garmin Advisory Board and coach to Olympians Ryan Hall and Deena Kastor. He is the head coach and founder of the Mammoth Track Club. Terrance (on left) is pictured here with Stan, Garmin's director of fitness sales and marketing.

Numerous articles, books and magazine stories have been written on how to prepare for a marathon, however, there is far less information available in regard to half marathon training. In this article I would like to give you some insight as to how we (Mammoth Track Club) train our athletes for the half marathon and show how it can be applicable to your own training the next time you venture out to run this 13.1 mile race. We’ll also cover some specific tips on using a Garmin Forerunner 405 device in your training.

The most challenging aspect of half marathon training is determining what type of event it will be for each runner. For the more fleet of foot, the half marathon is looked at as an extended 10k, as it will take less than 70 minutes to finish for the best women and often under 1 hour for world-class men. For this crowd, the only concern in regard to energy management is that the runner starts off well-hydrated and with a full tank of fuel. Everything after that in the race is more about avoiding dehydration and has very little to do with conserving fuel.

Jenna is third American finisher at Hamburg World Championships

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

Wow, that was an incredible adventure Saturday! The weather was cool and since the water was "borderline," they called it a wetsuit-legal swim. My start number was 37, so I didn't have the best selection of start position, but managed to link myself up next to one of the Australians who I know is a great swimmer. We exchanged some words and agreed we'd do everything we could to work together to get away from the chaos. I wasn't sure how I was doing when we hit the first turn buoy and had a few people grabbing at me, but I put my head down and pressed onward as hard as I could. It wasn't until I was about to get out at the end of the first lap that I realized I was at the front of the race, at the tail end of the front pack. I dove back in and tried everything I could to stay in the group, but I was at my limit and lost about 10 seconds over the course of the next 500 meters. I knew I was still in a good spot though, so I focused on what would come next, a very wet and wild bike ride.

Jenna readies for Hamburg World Championships

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

Race time is upon me again (finally)!! With my crash in Washington, D.C. in June, it has now been over two months since my last full triathlon. So it comes as no surprise that I am itching and ready to race again! Training has been going really well and I am feeling fitter and faster than ever. Tomorrow, I head north to Germany for the Hamburg World Championships Series race. It is the fourth race in the series and a race that I have heard great things about but have yet to compete in. In past years, spectator attendance has been enormous, as the city really gets behind the event, so it should be a great atmosphere to race in.

The women's race starts at 15:30 (CET) on Saturday. You can follow the women's race LIVE, starting at 15:30 on Saturday July 25, either online at www.triathlon.org or on TV in most of Europe (check your local listings). This will be the first in a series of races for me. After this, I will compete in the London Triathlon on Aug. 2 and then the London World Championship Series event on Aug. 15 before heading back to the USA for two more races before the end of August.

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.