this is a part of runner’s lounge take it and run thursdays. this week’s theme is running technology tips. calling all garmin, nike plus, ipod, iphone and all other running gadget junkies. share your tips for selecting, buying, and using your favorite running toys that also make your running more enjoyable.
i still remember my first run with g the garmin. i was so excited for this new giant watch and although we have had a couple fights, overall its been a very positive relationship. our first anniversary of our first run is coming up – april 17th! i have the 205 and love it. i didn’t think i would use a heart rate monitor much, so i just went for the one without it, plus its cheaper and i bought 2 at the same time (one for chris, i got more of a discount by buying another one!). i am highly addicted and dependent on this watch. i always run with it unless i forget to charge it and it dies on me mid run and makes me cry. i know the fastest spot to locate satellites on all my running routes, and although i pretty much know the mile markers by heart, i still love to hear the beep of the auto lap. i have started using the garmin software since i got my new computer for christmas, so as soon as i get home, g gets plugged in and my stats are uploaded so i can go over them second by second, mile by mile. yes i love analyzing the numbers, admit it, you do too!
i had the older ipod mini when i started running and it took up a lot of space, so it wasn’t too much later i bought my little purple shuffle. this thing is perfect for running, you don’t even know its there. i have play lists set up in itunes for long runs, tempo runs, races, and everything in between. depending on what run i have that day, i update my shuffle for the play list that goes with it. some days, like today, i have it with me but won’t use it until later miles, or sometimes on easy runs like monday i don’t use it at all. when i have my dogs with me i never bring it, and if its dark i won’t turn it on until the sun comes up. i always have it in races, although there have been many races, mostly the good ones, where i have no idea what it was playing.
although my iphone doesn’t really get used at all for running, i always have it with me for the phone purpose in case of emergency. i have installed the map my run app on it, also in case of a different emergency. the last time my garmin died mid-run, i was really irritated i didn’t think about using my phone as my gps system. i haven’t needed to use it yet, but its on there just in case.
my iphone does keep me connected to all my running friends though… between texts, email, blogging, facebook and twitter, my run stats are known to anyone i am connected to pretty quickly after i am done, especially the big runs. i just think of it like they are keeping me accountable, plus its fun to have cheerleaders after every run!
before i had my garmin, i used a basic stop watch i got at target, along with the map my run website to know how far i had gone. it works pretty well, and i still use the site to map runs before i go out sometimes.
so that’s my running technology, i technically could run without it. it’s not like running shoes, that you just can’t go without them. i just choose to use technology 99% of the time for the number girl inside me.
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this morning i dragged my butt out of bed for the first time in a long time (besides shorter runs). i was exhausted on wed night, so i was asleep before 9:00, which made it a little easier to get up when the alarm went off at 5:05 am. one snooze later i was up drinking coffee and getting ready.
i headed out into the dark and was bummed to see that the skies were completely overcast. i was hoping to get to see the full moon out, but it was completely covered. i started off kind of slow and stiff but definitely sped up as the run went along and enjoyed the peace of the morning.
10.0 miles/1:26:52/8:41 avg pace
25 miles down for the week, 25 to go!
I’m with you, Aron. I COULD run without my Garmin (and sometimes I do for easy workouts because I get annoyed seeing slower splits) but it makes so many workouts, particularly LT workouts so much easier!
Also, try downloading the imapymyrun app for your iphone– it’s a good emergency garmin backup if you’re traveling and forget yours or it dies!!
I know you love your Garmin! I am the same. I love how you said you love to hear the beep of your autolap… so true!! I know the best place to stand and places where it might drop the signal and all that. Too funny.
Great post!
I also love my garmin, and my garmin software, and mapmyrun, and my spreadsheets (and yes, I have a problem with analyzing numbers)…I’m sad when I miss the autolap beep!
The only thing I don’t love about Leo the Garmin is that he doesn’t work well on the trails – and I love the trails!
Okay, obviously I need to break down and get one. I am making myself wait until I have been running for a year though. I have such a bad tendency to get on kicks and buy stuff and then forget about it and never use it again. I obviously don’t want to do that with something so expensive!! I’ve already asked the hubby for one for Christmas…now I just have 8 more months of running with my cheapo Timex. Maybe it will make me appreciate it more?
great post! I am hoping to get a garmin soon- right now mapmyrun is okay, but it’s just not as good! I love numbers too.
Great summary of “stuff”!!!
i forgot to put blogging and twitter in my post, but those two things– being connected to other runners– are def HUGE! 
your running is such an inspiration– great 10 mile run! so glad you are getting yoru sleep, you need it you are really putting those miles in!!!!!!!!1
You got the clouds there, while we had the full moon here! I really want an iphone but I feel like I would never do anything but be on the internet and checking my email!!
great job on the running!
I could run without my garmin, but why would I?! It just makes everything so much better…I too love the autolap beep and the autostop so I can’t cheat myself. I am also lost without my shuffle, it has gotten me through many a tough run.
Great post, Aron. The full moon was awesome last night but we are overcast now. I’m still holding out hope that my Sweetheart will let me buy a Garmin, soon.
i missed my iphone the other day when i got finished running and couldn’t recall what street i had parked on!
I coudln’t get up at 5:05 to leave a burning house. No idea how to get up to actually run.
)
I’m the same way with the garmin. I got mine with the heart rate monitor (my husband picked it out), but I’ve never used the heart rate monitor piece of it.
Good job on the early morning run!
Wow I love that auto lap beep.
I’m still way too garmintarded to know all this stuff. Got the 305 but I like heart rate training. I like to get a warning, BEFORE I actually blow up:) What is autolap…I have so much to learn!
I just recently turned the “lap” feature ON on my Garmin, so behind. now I’m addicted to the beep as well.
I signed up in October for the First Half-gotta run across the Golden gate Bridge!!! But waited until now to book a flight and a hotel…now I’m super excited!!! SF is one of my favorite cities!!
ah – great post! Reminds me that I need to run with a phone. I try to remember it and seem to always forget. . . although I never forget my iPod.
I’ve been running after work because my gym membership expired and I’m not renewing it because we’re moving this weekend. I miss my 5am runs!!
having the iphone for instant support is the best. During my half I could feel it vibrate every few minutes and just knew that I was getting words of encouragement!
I love my Garmin. It helped me become a faster runner. I have the 305 as well, but am thinking about upgrading to the 305 and starting to pay attention to my heart rate. Ana-Maria
I have the 101 garmin. My mom bought it for me like soph. yr of high school??? ANyways, Its big, bulky and way to freakin big for my wrists. PLus it dosent hold a charge AND gets aweful signal. I got some birthday money and was considering upgrading to the 405 that Julianne has. Its expensive but i need to figure out how well it works before i spend that much money.
I love all of your technology. I LOVE my electronics and would be lost without them. I dont have an iphone but i would like a blackberry. The instinct from sprint isnt cutting it anymore.
Good luck with the rest of your 25 miles– seems you have ROCKED the first 25!!!! Great job girl!
Yay, 25 to go! You’re such a trooper, lady!
I sometimes feel like I should use my garmin to “explore,” but instead I just do the same routes over and over again, waiting for the “beep!” around the same spot every time.
I agree I “could” run without my Garmin, but it just makes things so much easier!
I’ve got the 205 as well and love it. I can’t run without it unless I’m at the gym or doing a recovery run. Like you, my favorite part of the Garmin is analyzing the data after the run and seeing all the mile splits and the # of calories burned! (So I can pig out later guilt-free!)
Nice list, Aron. Although the garmin’s been telling me I’ve slipped a lot since I’ve been sick…I still can’t get myself to go running without it.
I just upgraded to 205 from 201. Gotta love the Garmin!
5am is soooo early. nice job getting out the door!
i have the 205 and a silver shuffle. and like you i could run w/out them but why would i want to at this point? some days it is nice to leave garmy home and just my legs do their thing.
I really love this post! It is funny because I have never considered myself an electronics kind of person, but getting ready for runs am guilty of having my phone, ipod, and Garmin all set out to go…I can’t imagine running without a GPS watch now and think it is funny that I used to drive my running routes trying to figure out mileage
I’ve become gadgety lately. I CAN’T run without my i-Pod, I absolutely love my “G”. I just bought a crackberry and I think googleanaytics is awesome.
I was just telling “raulgonemobile” that i need to run just for the sake of running. I call it the “freedom run.”
What would we do without the garmin?!? Great idea putting map my run on the iphone. There is so much fun technology out there. I think I could spend all day between facebook and reading blogs!
Nice job getting 10 miles in nice and early.
I’d so be using that iPhone for everything.. LOL. (I guess it’s probably a good thing I don’t have one)
Nice job on the 10.. and the overall mileage.. wow!
When I first got my Garmin, I hated it. Then it grew on me. Then I became dependent on it. Then I detached myself from it because recently I hated watching the digits get slower and slower. I’m sure though that once I’ve had the baby, I’ll return to my former dependency.
Nice job getting up early and out the door to get your run done. As much as it sucks getting up super early it is nice when your workout is done before the day even begins.
I COULD run without all of it and sometimes I’ll ditch iphone but I NEVER run without Geoff =). He keeps me on pace and tells me how far I’ve gone and how far I need to go.
One of my favorite features is the virtual running partner! I love having someone to “run with” or “beat.”
Great job on the long AM run. Once the rain subsides I might do more AM runs…just hard to drag myself out of bed first thing and confront my dreaded enemy =).
Sometimes I can run without all of it for a nice leisurely run, but I agree with you – without this stuff, it would be hard!
Just last night, I decided to try running without my garmin . . . and my poor boyfriend (who had worn his) had to listen to me constantly question him regarding pace/time/distance/etc. I like to tell myself I’m not, but I guess I am pretty darn dependent on that little guy!
Great job on that 10-miler so early in the morning. You are one strong girl!
It is amazing how much stuff we runners carry for such a simple sport. Having run for so long without technology I’m still getting used to the idea of knowing my pace and HR, etc. But cell phone and pepper spray are a MUST for safety for me.
Great post! As Eugene gets closer, lets start planning for a meetup prior to the race.
Keep up the great training. We’re almost there.
I’m with you, 100% addicted to my 205.
Good job getting up! Soon enough it will be daylight at that time!
I am with you, I MUST know the numbers. I have backup plans as well for the occasions that my Garmin has PMS.
Christ, you already had 25 miles in on Thursday?! Beast!
as my nike+ continues to annoy me most days, i am being more and more sucked in to getting a garmin! maybe one day…
nice job on the 10 miler!
I have all your same gadgets, save the mapmyrun app…maybe I should get it, since Gloria is hating on me lately.
Great job on your runs in!!!!!!!!!! You rock!