So the spare tire on the back of the car is never a good place to put a Garmin. I think that every time I do it. Usually it is for getting reception, and then I go run, and risk is fairly low. Last night it was after a run to take out the trash. And the 4am airport ride this morning was the end of the backup Garmin. I found it near the side of the road a couple hours later on my way to work.
I am trying to decide if I'm more sad that it was the final (of 3) Forerunner 301 watches that have been in my house since I started tris way back in the day, or the 2 weeks of run training that was not yet downloaded. I am definitely glad I got my 27 mile adventure run off there already!
But I'm fortunate... my regular training watch has been a 310xt for a while... and it is safe in Garmin's hands for a repair and should be on its way back tomorrow and in time for my next race. The 301s had been handed down to my husband... so I guess he is finally going to have to replace the battery in his Polar. Or run watchless as he has done for a month or so since the 310xt went loopy.
Makes me think though how I really don't want to know my speed, distance, etc the whole time I run. But I do like to have the data for training logs and because I'm a map geek and all that good stuff... and I am not good at "just not looking" if I have a Garmin. Any one know of a device that will record everything but not show me the info while I'm out running? Like a Forerunner, but with no screen? Or with GPS, but just not an advanced display, so it only shows time like a "real watch."Just curious.
And the records stands....
- First Garmin 301 -- finally got dropped too many times and now only powers on if attached to a computer.
- 2nd Garmin 301 -- I think that might be today's casualty (or else that was 3rd)
- 3rd Garmin 301 -- Got swam with in a reverse order sprint (I should have figured if my husband didn't see the hospital over 2-3 years of racing past it, going by 6 times each year, a watch wouldn't be safe from the water)
- 1st 310xt - pin came out on a run, screen cracked, and later it stopped recording distance (although it showed time). Warrantied.
- Replacement 310xt -- quit receiving satellite signals and is currently with Garmin to be warrantied.
it's a sign.... that garmin
it's a sign....
that garmin must be coming out with new gear soon
can't you just set up the
can't you just set up the screens not to include pace / speed info? i've done exactly this - i go by heart rate always, although it is good to be able to analyze speed info afterwards (the geek in me).
garmin 310xt rocks - it is the best bit of kit i have bought (perhaps except my iphone, but i wouldn't take that where i go with my garmin)
tri-ac wrote:it's a
[quote=tri-ac]it's a sign....
that garmin must be coming out with new gear soon[/quote]
It seems that you are correct.
[url]http://jennyfletchertri.blogspot.com/2011/01/garmin-photo-shoot.html[/url]
I seem to remember reading somewhere that is another tri specific product.
teticio -- but then I end up
teticio -- but then I end up quickly flipping screens and peeking because curiosity almost always wins me over, and unfortunately I always remember how to get to other screens ;)
And Bad big 3!!! Don't you know I will probably want it no matter how much I don't need it??
I can always just use my phone... I recently made a Windows Phone app that turns my phone into a Garmin, which is kinda fun. Unfortunately its battery life when used as a GPS is even worse than a Garmin!
You could do what I did on
You could do what I did on my HIM and forget your wrist strap in T2 forcing you to stash the garmin in your jersey pocket. I only looked at my 305 3 times during the run.
I tried using my smart phone as a gps/hrm and, like you, found the battery life was horrendous. I couldn't get through an entire 4hr long ride. Not to mention, the only reason I bring my phone with me is in case of a catastrophic failure. A drained battery due to GPS usage, basically makes the phone a paperweight.
Just as a giggle, send it
Just as a giggle, send it Garmin and see if they can repair it.
Sounds like a warranty issue
Sounds like a warranty issue to me! ;)
Gosh. I'm gonna make a fool
Gosh. I'm gonna make a fool of myself but what the heck is that a picture of. That can't be Garmin pieces OR IS IT.
Maybe it's the stuff McGyver would need to make a new Garmin? I'm freaking out man.
Talking of Pins snapping,
Talking of Pins snapping, the pin in my 310xt strap, broke the other morning whilst putting it on the bike mount, luckily I was on my driveway and found all of the pieces. I wasn't over keen on the plastic strap and I am going to take it to a jewelers and change the strap for a velcro one.
kylie wrote:teticio -- but
[quote=kylie]teticio -- but then I end up quickly flipping screens and peeking because curiosity almost always wins me over, and unfortunately I always remember how to get to other screens ;)
And Bad big 3!!! Don't you know I will probably want it no matter how much I don't need it??
I can always just use my phone... I recently made a Windows Phone app that turns my phone into a Garmin, which is kinda fun. Unfortunately its battery life when used as a GPS is even worse than a Garmin![/quote]
Umm Kylie? You're asking us for ways for you to WEAR a garmin without allowing you to LOOK at your Garmin, while also admitting that you're such an addict that you "made a Windows Phone app that turns my phone into a Garmin"?
The first step is to admit that you are powerless...
I could come up with clever ways for you to use and not look at your devices, but I know you'll just pull a McGyver and figure out a way around it!
And here I was thinking
And here I was thinking you've decided to to go old school and stop using it! Oh well..
Stick with Garmin. There
Stick with Garmin. There might be others, but nobody has been doing what they do for as long as them. I'm not just saying that because I want to work for them.
i love my garmin. i changed
i love my garmin. i changed over to the quick release version 2 which has stronger, new pins and retains the original strap. it does sit a little higher on the wrist but you do adapt.
I still have a 301 and a 305
I still have a 301 and a 305 but I'll tell you, I think I finally found out how to enjoy my long runs (I never have really enjoyed them before). I leave the Garmin at home, forget about any pacing, and go out on a trail run. I don't worry about the mileage, just the amount of time I need to be moving forward. I just head out on the trail and when I get to half the time I need, I turn back around and head back down the trail. I've just found that in terms of building up an aerobic base and getting my body used to the long pounding, I'm better off enjoying myself for two hours at a 10:30 paced trail run (and actually doing it) rather than dreading another long road run. As an added plus, I'm convinced that the trails help me be more disciplined in terms of making a long slow run truly long and slow.
I couldn't tell what it was
I couldn't tell what it was either! It is always sad when a good piece of technology becomes road kill. At least you have an excuse to buy a new one!
Doesn't one of the smaller
Doesn't one of the smaller ones like the 110 have very limited display space but still do GPS? I love my 305s. My first one quit working after I dropped it a few too many times way outside the warranty. Wally World had them on sale around Black Friday for basically the Garmin repair fee. Of course, it popped out of my bike mount during the second ride with it. It's fine other than a small chip in the casing. Can't say I have quite had that level of catastrophic damage to any electronic gadget before. Bravo!
Someone pointed out that
Someone pointed out that Nike has a GPS watch now.
http://www.wired.com/playbook/2011/04/first-look-nike-sportwatch-gps
I still stick by my statement of getting a Garmin.
My 310xt arrived repaired
My 310xt arrived repaired the next day. I did one run without a Garmin... and my training partner had one ;)
I think my real problem is that I'm a map geek. I like to look at where I was. Maybe some day I'll start "running nude" more, but the maps I would be missing!! ;)
Oh and I totally admit I have a problem.