Garmin FR60 Running Watch w/ Heart Rate Monitor

That's 2 Indian Ruppees for scale, because I couldn't find a quarter.  They're roughly the same size.

This is a review that I should have probably written over a year ago.  I've logged a ton of miles with this watch, and I love it!  Before I get anyone's hopes up of purchasing the Garmin FR60 I need to warn you that it's been discontinued and replaced by the nearly identical Garmin FR70.  As far as I know, the only real difference is that they replaced the band because there were complaints about the FR60 band breaking.  Fortunately, I have yet to encounter this problem after close to 1,000 miles with the watch.

After a lot of thinking, I opted to not purchase one of the popular Garmin GPS watches (Garmin Forerunner 310XT, Garmin Forerunner 910XT, Garmin Forerunner 610, Garmin Forerunner 110-U) about which many runners rave.  Instead, I went with the Garmin FR60  which wirelessly links to a foot pod accelerometer, heart rate monitor, and/or speed/cadence sensor (for cyclists and triathletes) to give you real-time data on your wrist.  The watch also connects wirelessly to the USB ANT+ to seamlessly upload data to your personalized profile on the Garmin website, Garmin Connect.

Close up view of the watch and foot pod.

The major difference between the GPS watches and the FR60 or FR70 is, well...GPS.  The other watches connect to satellites to track your position, then use that data to give you pertinent information like pace, distance traveled, speed, and in some models elevation.  The FR60 and FR70 models use information gathered from the foot pod, which weighs about 1 oz and laces into one of your shoes.  Don't confuse the foot pod accelerometer with your standard pedometer.  A pedometer only counts your steps.  The accelerometer actually measures the distance, direction, and time your foot is in motion with each step.  If calibrated correctly, this will tend to be more accurate than the GPS watches.

Ultimately, the major decision factor for me was that I don't ever want to deal with waiting for my watch to connect to satellites.  Although the general feedback for the Garmin GPS watches is very positive, I've also heard many frustrating stories about losing GPS signal during a run in the woods/mountains/remote areas, or spending anywhere from 5 mins to 30 mins waiting to start a run because your watch won't track the satellites.  Given the fact that I knew I was moving to India soon after purchasing a watch, I didn't want to arrive at our new house only to find out my watch couldn't find any satellites.  A few minor decision factors were:
     1) The Garmin FR60 and FR70 use a standard watch battery so there is no charging.  (GPS watches are charged via USB cable and the charges last anywhere from 4hrs-8hrs)
     2) The FR60 and FR70 models are quite a bit cheaper than the GPS models.  (I purchased the watch, foot pod, heart rate monitor, and ANT+ stick for around $150 at my local running store)

My watch and foot pod on my current running shoes

Here is a list of some of the capabilities of the Garmin FR60 and Garmin FR70 watches:

• Tracks time, pace, heart rate, distance, mile splits (programmable to different distance splits), and calories burned
• You can program a virtual partner
• You can program interval workouts
• Stores up to 16 previous workouts (I believe, maybe a few more or less) in the watch, and you can store an endless number of workouts on Garmin Connect
• Tracks time stopped during a run, to give you total pace, distance, time, or give you moving pace, distance, time
• Easily switch between miles and kilometers

Here are some of the things that people may be upset if they bought this watch only to find out it can't do what they want:

• You can't display 'current pace' or 'instantaneous pace', but you can view your overall pace and/or your split pace (programmable from 1/4 mile to a mile, or in km splits)
• You can't upload maps or routes to the watch
• You can't compete with or track other runners who have Garmins

Overall, I am very happy with the Garmin FR60, and if I need to purchase another running watch in the future it will likely be the FR70, or whatever the current GPS-less model that has replaced the FR70.  I love not having to worry about my watch tracking satellites, not having to worry about charging my watch, and this watch tells me everything I care to know about running.  Ultimately, I enjoy the simplicity, and I would definitely recommend this watch to runners of all skill levels.

Happy Running!

Journey Through the Wilderness

I had a great time rowing and running last week.  I opted for rowing on the machine two days because my wife had to go into work early, and I couldn't convince myself to get up and run while it was still dark outside.  I have enough 'close calls' with cars, tuk-tuks, stray dogs, and motorcycles running in the daylight, that I imagine it's terrifying running here when the sun goes down.

I got an awesome surprise when a friend from the consulate offered to show me around some of the trails near his house.  He took me on a network of trails that lead us past several temples, through some livestock grazing areas, and around a 'lake'.  I say 'lake' because in other parts of the world it may be called sewage dump, trash-mud slurry, rotten mosquito breading ground, or any other name you can think of that conjures images of the grossest 'lake' you can think of.  Throughout the run I found myself hyper-aware of the things around me, just waiting to see a flash of movement or hear a rustling in the leaves and be greeted by a giant Indian Cobra.  I don't know what the hell I'll do if I ever run into one here.  Luckily all we saw were some peacocks and buffalo on our little journey through the wilderness.  We finished the run with a Tuk-Tuk ride to the bottom of the hill near his house, and ran the last kilometer or so home.

I felt great last week, although I'm still nowhere near the mileage I was putting up in the States.  It was really nice to run somewhere other than the usual park trail where I log most of my time.  One of the best parts about running out on the trails, was that there was hardly anyone else around.  It doesn't normally bother me too much that I'm this crazy oddity running down the street here, and many people literally stop their cars to watch me pass, but a break from the spotlight and being able to just run felt good.  I'd love to find more areas of open trail close by, but I think the 'close' part is going to be difficult.  I'll keep running and, hopefully, I'll manage to find some hidden gems in Hyderabad.

Training Summary for Last Week:

Monday:       Rowing 3.0 km; 14:17; avg. pace 4:46/km
Tuesday:       Rowing 4.0 km; 19:15; avg. pace 4:49/km
Wednesday:  6.29 km; 34:18; avg. pace 5:27/km
Thursday:      Off
Friday:          6.31 km; 35:12; avg. pace 5:35/km
Saturday:      7.78 km; 43:23; avg. pace 5:35/km
Sunday:        Off

Total Kilometers: 20.38 km
Total Time:          1:52:53
Average Pace:     5:32/km

Happy Running!

My First Solid Week

Like I said before, it's been difficult to find a rhythm that works for me in our new life.  Last week I was able to get in some solid runs, and I'm already starting to feel like my old self again.  It wasn't a mileage busting week or anything like that, but I was consistent with getting my workouts in.  Right now, that's all I could hope for.  To be honest, I felt like I was at a tipping point as to whether I would make myself continue running religiously here, or I would convert back to my past life of recreational fitness with a little motivational burst every 6 months or so.

I'm happy to say that I'm back to running, and I've still got my eye on an ultra.  It's definitely going to take some work and planning on my part to dedicate enough time to training for an ultramarathon, but I'm already beginning to put the pieces together.

One helpful tool in finding the motivation to keep running has been running books.  Over a year ago I read 'Born to Run,' 'Once a Runner,' 'Running on Empty,' 'Ultramarathon Man,' and several more books, but, ultimately, that is what changed my life.  After reading about other people accomplishing some amazing physical feats, I decided that I was going to do something amazing too.  I went back to what started it all and I'm currently reading a book by Adharanand Finn, 'Running With the Kenyans.'  I think I've connected with this book because I think I share some commonalities with the author.  He sites 'Born to Run' several times, and he also gives his saga of ditching his shoes and trying barefoot running just like me and most everyone else that read it.  The thing I love most about the book is the author's courage to pursue a dream.  To be a moderately well-off European man with a family, and move to Kenya to turn himself into an athlete.  Risking failure simply to try something new is such a bold statement in life.

I still hope that this is only the beginning of my 'running story.'  Slowly but surely, I'll continue racking up the miles and working toward clearing my next big hurdle.  Completing an ultramarathon.

Training Summary:

Monday:       5.12km; 29:40; avg. pace 5:48/km
Tuesday:       5.09km; 29:10; avg. pace 5:44/km
Wednesday:  5.10km; 29:02; avg. pace 5:42/km
Thursday:      Off
Friday:          3km rowing
Saturday:      Off
Sunday:        Off

(Running Only)
Total Km:         15.31km
Total Time:       1:27:52
Average Pace:  5:44 per km

Happy Running!

Adjusting to India

It's sort of a recurring event in my life, that once I get comfortable with a routine, and it seems like I'm on a roll with running, or work, or some project, or anything really, I do something that flips my life into a state of flux and I find myself struggling to make all of the pieces fit into place again.  Luckily for me, I've done this so many times that I think I'm getting better at putting that puzzle back together.  It's been hard to adjust to life in India while holding on to the things that are important to me.  Running is one of those things now, and I've been trying different ways to incorporate running into my daily life here in Hyderabad.  I think I've finally figured out that I just need to get up early and run in the morning.

I've been running mostly on a treadmill since I moved to India last month, and, to put it mildly, I hate running on a treadmill.  It's not that I hate running on the treadmill, it's that I don't get to enjoy the parts of running that I normally enjoy.  I like to feel the wind on my face.  I like to hear the things around me.  I like to take in some scene that no one else gets to.  There's something about being tired, or better yet exhausted, and watching a sunrise, or seeing a wild animal off some trail, or splashing water on your face from a mountain stream.  Putting your body through physical stress and then encountering those things allows you to see a beauty in them that you don't otherwise get.  It gives you perspective on life.

I haven't exactly established a solid running routine yet, but I'm optimistic that I'll find ways to enjoy running here.  Of course it's more difficult to make time to run with a family, and balance running with the other important things in my life, but I decided awhile back that running isn't just important to me.  It's a necessity.  I'll continue to explore new trails, parks, and roads until I get back to a point where I feel free.  If I have any chance at completing the Bangalore Ultra 50K later this year, I need to start training.

Happy Running!