A runners training essential

I started running about 18 months ago training for a half marathon - and as I live in a rural location I was finding it dificult to track the distances I was running as there is only so far a car can go! So I started using website such as mapmyrun.com to plot routes and this appeared pretty successful at the time - however come the big race and there was no way I had run the distances I thought I had and had to have a major rethink of how I was going to train for the full marathon I had signed up for.

So I chose to buy the GPS from www.heartratemonitor.co.uk at a cost of £119 which included next day delivery - which was fab as I was so eager to get my hands on it! I have had a look on the internet and you can now get them for a bit less from some website but this one looked reputable to me and it has proven correct I would recommend this site for the purchase.

The unit is worn like a watch on the wrist and held with velcro - there is an extension piece that can be added so it is suitable for all wrist sizes. Even though it is quite a chunky unit, not so big that it looks daft, it is quite light and you do not notice you are wearing it after a while. Before its first use you will need to charge it, be warned the charger is quite bulky, and the Garmin clips into it - the display clearly shows when it is charging and when charging is complete. When charged the unit is supposed to be ready for action for 15 hours - I have found 14 is a more accurate amount, the unit clearly displays how many hours of charge are remaining as soon as you switch it on so you can judge if you need to recharge before you run.
The first time you switch it on you need to place it outdoors with a clear view of the sky for about 30 minutes for it to locate your global position via the satellites- if you travel with it, as I do, you will need to do this before use as it needs to readjust your position on the earth. I have found from one end of Britain to the other is ok, but when I took it Portugal it did take a while to readjust. Then you will add your own personal details in order to get a rough guide of your calorific burn during the run.

The features I find I use regularly are the stopwatch and lap times, the distance tracker and the running history oh and of course the calories I have burned! I have found looking back at previous runs helps to show and record your progress and is a real boost to your confidence. You can download all your info onto your computer which I have - but I haven't really used it to be honest. There is also a virtual trainer that you can set up to be you race partner to help spur you along if you are trying to achieve set times- another thing I haven't yet used! I think like most people I personally use the unit to track my distance and speeds and to keep a record of my runs. But for others there is so much more to be got out of this unit!