I've been using my forerunner regularly in the past two weeks.

I haven't used the Virtual Partner function, but have stored several of my regular routes in it's memory. I then compare all the data using the PC software and the Motion Based website.

I'm looking forward to running even more than usual, just so I can get home and upload the data to see if I'm getting faster.

Do you find that the distance is accurate? Have you used it on a known distance and estimated any degrees of error. I'm really anal about accuracy, so if it is not at least 99.9999% accurate then I'm not sure I will bother. Gimme the stats :P

Don't know about the stats, but pretty darned accurate, as in, looking at where the GPS readings put me on Google Earth, I'm running reliably alongside a canal, on the correct side, and not down the middle of the canal I've run races where mine beeps mile splits reliably, exactly when crossing the mile markers

Better than any pedometer in my opinion

it wont be 99.99999% ... maybe 98% ... 96 on a course with poor reception.

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It's by far the most reliable method of measuring a course you'll get without retracing your steps exactly with a proper measuring device.

As katten says, the fantastic thing it that the garmin measures (and shows you on google maps etc) EXACTLY where you ran, where you cross roads, cut corners etc and is therefore more accurate than tracing your routes online yourself.

I believe there's also another piece of software that allows you to click and drag the route the Garmin measured if there's an error (such as if you run through a tunnel/subway and it loses GPS signal) therefore ensuring accurate measurement. Not a clue what it called though!

I'd also say that every single run I've uploaded to motionbased has shown "GPS signal: Excellent" including sections of runs through wooded areas and a 20-30m section under a low bridge.

Same here.


Based on my usual training routes, I would say that the Garmin is pretty accurate.

I love mine and we did a time trial handicap tuesday and it was very very accurate.

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Are we there Yet

the footpod systems often return similarly accurate figures.

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My new Garmin 205 came yesterday but I picked it up today and took it out on a club run. I've had a 201 in the past and I can't get over the difference it picked up the satelites signals so quickly and didn't seem to drop out. I'll have to try some of the training tools I'm doing the Great North West run next month - eeek

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Aint no stopping me now I'm in the groove

Leece - how big is the 305 on a small female wrist, I am currently thinking about it but they look so big!

It's a fairly big unit regardless of what size wrist it's on, though I'd have thought as a runner you'd have given up worrying about how you look whilst running by now

bugger - you've seen me!!!

My concern was that the strap would be to big, i am built like an anorexic twiglet