My New Friend Garmin

My wonderful wife Sarah gave me a Garmin Forerunner 310 XT as a wedding present, and I finally took it out of the package and tried it out this week. I have yet to access all of its features (it calculates pace, distance, calories burned, heart rate, and elevation gained/lost, among other things), but I can already tell that it's going to improve my workouts. How? Let me count the ways:

1) My average pace will increase - I'm a numbers guy, and as a numbers guy, I know how fast I should be able to run each kilometer, give or take a few seconds. If my easy pace becomes too easy, the Garmin will tell me immediately, which will force me to increase my efforts. Tonight's easy 5k was run much faster than usual because I was able to see when I was slowing down and adjust accordingly.

2) I will run further - I couldn't tell you how many times I dragged my feet during a 25 minute run and marked it down as a 5k. I guarantee that some of those runs were 4k at best, but I convinced myself ages ago that a five minute kilometer as about as slow as I could run, and have yet to shake that illusion. With the Garmin, a 5K run will actually be a 5k run, as the GPS will calculate the distance as I run.

3) I will run more often - I rarely write in my running diary, but I check my computer every day, and seeing an unused workout icon on my desktop will help spur me into action on lazy days. And, as a numbers junky, the pile of numbers that show up on my computer will lead to mileage goals that I'll inevitably try to hit. You might laugh, but it's true.

I'll stop before I become a spokesperson for the brand, but I have to admit the Garmin is a fun little gadget for people who like to keep track of their workouts. That being said, the only way I'll truly get better is if I am training diligently, so I will log off now and get another workout in before my behind becomes permanently attached to my computer chair.


Chuck is running Marathon By The Sea in support of the InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.