Garmin Forerunner 210 Review

This morning I went running with my new Garmin Forerunner 210 GPS watch, and I just wanted to share my initial thoughts. So far I really like it. First off, it picked up a satellite signal in well less than a minute, which was a recurring problem with my 205. In addition, it appears to be extremely accurate. The 210 measured my 2.5 mile loop around Hoboken (per Gmaps Pedometer) to a couple of hundredths of a mile--which I consider to be virtually spot on. It is also very simple and user friendly. The 205 definitely has more features and is more customizable, but for just running I am more than happy with the 210. Plus it actually looks like a normal watch, unlike the 205, which makes you look like you are wearing a brick on your wrist. Man, posts two days in a row--don't get used to it!

Killing It

This morning I decided to switch things up a bit and get my long run for the week out of the way first thing. After a bit of internal deliberating I decided to hit the treadmill as opposed to running outdoors. I brought along my iPod nano, so instead of watching television as I usually do on the treadmill I listened to music. I then locked in a 7:30 per mile pace and banged out eight miles. I must say, I was super pumped after this run--it just flew by, and at the end I felt like knocking out a few more miles at that pace would have been no problem whatsoever!

My legs felt a little banged up afterwards, but nothing major. I was also shocked at how quickly my heart rate settled down afterwards--no fighting sweat for the next hour like I sometimes do after even shorter runs. All in all, it was definitely a success, and really boosted my confidence even more. On a somewhat related note I picked up a new toy today--a Garmin Forerunner 210 GPS watch to replace the POS 205 I have had for the last five and a half years. I will definitely report back later this week after I have had a chance to use it a few times. One thing I can already see is the 210 picks up satellite signals much faster, which was one of my primary (but not only) complaints with the 205.

A Good First Week of Training, and a New Toy

On Thursday I lifted weights -- heavy chest and triceps. I will probably start to back off the heavy weights soon -- with my bad right shoulder, I do not think swimming and heavy weightlifting is such a great idea. Friday I did another half an hour run on the treadmill at 8:00 pace, which was pretty uneventful. Saturday morning I hit the weights again for back and biceps, followed by my first spinning class in almost two years at my gym. I forgot how much I enjoy spinning -- it is such an intense workout! I was surprised by how high my heart rate got during the class -- definitely a sign I am not in good shape. All in all, I was really pleased with my first week of training. Below are my training totals for last week:

• 2 runs (1 hour)
• 1 spinning class (45 minutes)
• 2 weightlifting sessions (2 hours)

This morning I ran outside, which I rarely do during the winter (I am a self-admitted wimp when it comes to cold weather). The main reason I decided to venture outdoors was to test out my new toy, the Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS watch. It is really cool -- I love the fact it can tell me exactly how far I have gone, which will be especially helpful when I am running in areas I am not familiar with. After a slow first mile, I gradually picked up the pace and ended up running four miles in 7:43 pace, which I am extremely happy with, given it is only my third run this year.