Motivational machine for beginners

The big sports fan I've never been. In the summer from time to time to your mountain, rarely even a jog and swim a few meters on vacation, that's all. However, the reason commands just with age, specifically to do something for the personal fitness. With 40 I was now so late entrants in terms of regular running.
A mistake made by many beginners is too much to want to motivate and thus an inefficient because too heavy to tackle even injurious to health training at worst. The hear and read at least repeatedly. For this reason I wanted to monitor my training with a heart rate monitor. One hardly use Polar heart rate monitor I have for years - and the course did not work, probably because of a dead battery in the transmitter belt. What to do, submit to the Polar Service? (The transmitter can not be opened by the end user for the purpose of battery replacement) Or would you prefer to cool down Garmin Forerunner 305, which I had long been on the radar?
After a short cooling-off period, it was of course the latter. :-)

The Forerunner has been a while in the market, was recently reduced in price again and has now at about EUR 200, - a staggering amount of functions. Employment and 15 minutes with the device suffice to get you started: The operation is quite simple, the Quick Start leaflet read (Garmin encourages all products printed documentation in English + German in very commendable).. After entering a few personal information such as age and weight off you go.
On the spacious display can be an arbitrary selection from the many available data sources to live display to configure the training: heart rate, frequency zone regarding maximum heart rate, exercise time, lap times, speed, calories burned, etc. While running you can see the representation of fine and can even conduct accordingly.. There are optional audible warning signals about the running speed or compliance with specified pulse areas etc., what I have not yet used.

The highlight is the integration of position data via GPS, with devices made by Garmin -absolute veterans in the field of Navigation- course a compulsory exercise. The Forerunner records while running on the pulse and current position and to transfer to the PC to get everything vividly presented in tables and charts. Here then is an additional motivation: I have just been recorded half a dozen runs, always on the same round trip route, but can already see an improvement in the example tends to be lower lasting, steady-going pulse. It is really eager to collect more data to be better and more just to be on the road on the run track! This fact should not be underestimated, because it is precisely the permanent motivation is a problem, which is why many -after initial About Motivation, see Setting Up Your Training again.
Incidentally, the transfer to the computer is not a must. All recordings can be viewed on the Forerunner himself, there naturally without the comfort of a large monitor.

A couple of notes with respect to details that crop up in other reviews again and again:

1. GPS receiver: Is in the area Darmstadt properly, in the old neighborhood just like in Herrngarten (city park). I put the Forerunner turned on the balcony while I put sports equipment, thereby 5 min. Later started with bugs fixed satellite and do not need to wait for it.

2. Software: The included Garmin Training Center software is working fine and is sufficient for my needs just fine. One sees his training as a calendar and marks in a TreeView (tree view), receives maturities, pulse data, calorie consumption, etc. shown the way past course in the form of tables / graphs and in a simple basemap. I've been through my Garmin iQue (a PDA with GPS) City Navigator maps on the PC, which automatically integrates the training center, and thus a more detailed representation; Additionally, you can export its tracks to Google Earth, if you want to have a satellite view.

3. Alternative Software: The extensive and highly touted SportTracks application I found after a short test less intuitive than the Garmin Training Center. As you can see there, for example, the values ​​of individual rounds a training session? Spontaneous not recognizable. Simply by Garmin open the node in the TreeView! Whether sports tracks for demanding tasks the training plan on PC and Upload to ensure better services Forerunner (Garmin Training Center has such features as well), I can not say for lack of experience. Manage his running shoes and workout data from friends what SportTracks can go about my needs out definitely.

4. Accuracy of measurements: The pulse measurement is reliable, as far as I can tell, with me does not have any dropouts, implausible peaks up or the like. Because the Polar heart rate monitor was definitely moody that I have "the best" in memory. The GPS recording and measuring the length of the route is (5 meter GPS tolerance per measurement point plus or minus) with sufficient accuracy in the context of what is technically possible. The recorded round course 1.2 kilometers example corresponds to a few meters of the length of the route that I have clearly laid out on a map!

5. Size of the unit: It's quite clunky and a decent "lumps" on the wrist, but that did not disturb me while running, because it is surprisingly easy. The successor device Forerunner 405 is small, more like a normal clock, appears to me by but less comfortable to use and the display (at least on the corresponding video eg YouTube).

My conclusion: pure excitement! I am many years technology / gadget freak and have made so many negative experience. The Garmin Forerunner 305, however, clearly belongs to the delight charms. It is easy to understand, met from the start without any problems its purpose and constitutes a serious, contemporary training aid, even if one does not engage in competitive sports.

[Addendum, May 2009] Nearly 1 year, 509 km and 47 658 spilled Calorie later I am still trying. While I paused as arrant fair-weather sports last winter long, but now I trot back regularly through the area and the Forerunner is my trusty and reliable companion. "Never again without!", I can only say, and when I finally regards my dream of paragliding in the late summer, the Garmin is probably as record some additional route at a dizzy height GPS clock. :-)