Watch advise needed - confused re different pace options - Gear

Slowkoala

22/11/2012 at 22:40

I'm currently using the Nike plus GPS app on an iPhone and get on really well with this. However looking to get a GPS watch as I sometimes find wearing the phone a bit heavy on my arm. The must have features which I use on the app are: 1. Current running pace (minutes/seconds per mile) 2. Total distance covered and total time 3. Every 0.25 I am told what my average pace is for the total distance I have run so far. I like having average pace for the total distance rather than for specific splits as personally I find this easier when I am in a race to see if I am ahead or behind target. And I like having this info at regular intervals. Can I get all these features from a garmin watch like the 110? May seem like an obvious question to more experienced runners but after reading the rainmaker reviews I am really confused about what pace info is provided...!

TimR

22/11/2012 at 22:53

I've got the Garmin FR60 which isn't GPS, it has a footpod.

You can program training pages with three individual fields that update continuously. One of them is average pace so far. I suspect the GPS watches will be very similar.

You can download the manuals from Garmin.

runs-with-dogs

23/11/2012 at 00:01

I think *most* of the Garmin GPS watches can show current pace, overall average pace, total time and total distance. I have the 405 and it lets you select what info you want to see (out of loads of options) and how you want it displayed. I have mine set up to show time, distance and pace on the first screen and time, heart rate and average pace on the second. I think I could have four screens each with 3 bits of data on them if I wanted. Also it can be set to either constantly scroll through the screens, or to only change screens when you tap it. Very clever.

carterusm

23/11/2012 at 00:24

Run with dogs - I also have a 405. I have set up all 4 screens to display what I want on each screen. As you say it can automatically scroll through this info which is great. However, I didn't realise you could set the watch to show more than one screen ? Can you please advise me how I set the 405 to do this. ?
Cheers

Fit-Running-Cat

23/11/2012 at 00:40

Carter, how do you mean. You have 4 screens set up but you didnt realise how to show them?
on 405 options are the menu at middle, you can switch off/ on screen 2 & 3 if that's what you mean. the auto scroll I find irritating, I just tap between the 2 screens I have set.

Slowkoala, Garmin 110 doesn't have current pace, only lap pace. 210 does though.

runs-with-dogs

23/11/2012 at 00:48

Carter, I'm not sure what you mean. I have two screens set up and I swap between them by tapping the bezel. I can only see one of the two screens at any particular time. As far as I know, you can choose 12 different info options, but the max no. if options they can be displayed at any one time is three...

runs-with-dogs

23/11/2012 at 00:50

Gah. Big fingers and iPhone typing...

...max no. OF options THAT can be displayed...

carterusm

23/11/2012 at 08:30

Dogs - sorry, I dont think I've explained myself very well. Like you say, there are 4 screens each that can display 3 seperate bits of data. You say you can touch the bezel and swith between 2 of those screens. Is it possible to set up the watch so that it automatically scrolls through screen 1 then moves on to screen 2 then scrolls through that and then back to screen 1 and so on ?

runs-with-dogs

23/11/2012 at 08:42

You mean so that each bit of info is displayed on the screen on its own in big text? Well, you can set up your screens so that each displays just one data field, then you can scroll automatically through those. But then you'd only be getting four bits of info in total. I'm fairly sure you can't scroll through 12 bits of info one by one.

I really hope that was what you were meaning. I think I'm explaining it really badly as well. I'm also a bit of a tech-dunce so it's fairly possible that I'm misunderstanding what the Garmin is/isn't actually capable of....

carterusm

23/11/2012 at 08:52

We are as bad as each other (and I work in IT systems testing !!)

Lets say on screen 1 I set up so it displays Pace, Average Pace and Time. At the moment I can automatically scroll through that screen and display all those data items on one loop. I then set up screen 2 for Speed, Average HR and Max HR. Could I set the watch so it automatically scrolls through Pace, Average Pace, Time, Speed, Average HR and Max HR i.e. all 6 items over 2 screens ? Phew !

Slowkoala

23/11/2012 at 09:17

Thanks for all the advise, glad I'm not the only one baffled by the watches!! Run with dogs, Amazon are doing a good deal on the 410. I presume it offer the same pace functions as you 405, right?

stutyr

23/11/2012 at 10:21

Carterusm, you want to set the auto-scroll feature to ON. This will then display screen 1 for a few seconds, then screen 2 for a few seconds, etc.

runs-with-dogs

23/11/2012 at 10:47

Carter: LOL! I think I was thinking you were thinking of something more complicated than I now think you were really thinking about. As stutyr says, auto-scroll: on in the settings menu. That takes you through each of your screens one by one, with whatever data fields you have set them up with.

Koala: I think the 410 was the new version of the 405 so I'd assume it does pretty much the same stuff. Like FRC said, the most basic Garmin doesn't have the option to show instantaneous pace or speed but the others all do. So for the basic info you're wanting, I think any of them would suit you. Only other thing I would think about is battery life and how long you might be running for in longer races. My 405 was originally 8 hours but now at 3+ years old it struggles to get me round a 4:30 marathon, beeping low power at me from about the halfway mark. If you run a lot of marathons and aren't the fastest I'd maybe recommend going for a GPS with a 12 hour battery, just so when it starts to decline it'll still be good enough to get you round. If you mostly run shorter distances then that wouldn't really be a consideration though.

carterusm

23/11/2012 at 10:57

Hmm. I have auto-scroll ON but it only scrolls through the data fields on screen 1 (or whichever screen I have set it to) but it doesnt scroll on to screen 2, 3 or 4...bloomin thing !

runs-with-dogs

23/11/2012 at 11:19

I didn't actually think that was possible. Hence my non-comprehension of your question! So you have two screens set up, each with three data fields, and your watch scrolls through the three data fields on screen one but not through anything on screen two? So it shows each of the screen one data fields separately in big text? Weird... Though after nearly four years of ownership I still haven't figured out how to upload a workout or set mine to beep if I go too fast or too slow, so I'm probably not the best person to ask about techy matters!

stutyr

23/11/2012 at 12:16

Carter, that is weird. I haven't enabled the auto-scroll, but the manual does say it "automatically cycle through all of the training data pages" rather than fields. I think you'd need to ask Garmin directly about that one.

Slowkoala, I had a look at the manual for the 110 and it is very basic functions where the pace setting isn't configurable. So I'm not sure if it displays current pace (which isn't the best as it can fluctuate a lot) or over the whole run. Assuming the 410 is the same as the 405 you can pick pace for total distance, current lap, current and previous lap. So you could auto lap every 0.25 miles and show pace for total distance and current lap on the same screen, plus the stopwatch as the third display field.

If you can get the 405 or 410 for a little bit more than the 110, it'll be worth it. Looking on Amazone they have the 110 for £110 and the 405 for £130 - you get a lot of additional features for the extra £20

carterusm

23/11/2012 at 12:35

Dogs - the last thing I need is for it to start beeping at me

Stutyr - I think you're right although it will end up being user error !

Slowkoala

23/11/2012 at 14:31

Thanks again for the recommendations. Stutyr, is it worth going for the 410 over the 405 as have heard the bezel is better? Run with dogs, the longest I have run is 14 miles but doing a marathon next year so battery life definitely worth considering. Don't currently use a HRM but may be a nice gadget to play with in the future and amazon offer it with the 410. Other option is the Nike gps watch as I'm used to the Nike website but everyone says that garmins are better.

stutyr

23/11/2012 at 15:02

Not sure about the improvements in the 410, as I have a 405CX (and only got the CX as it was cheaper than the standard 405 when I bought).

I've had a quick look on the DC Rainmaker web site and I think there's three things that would make the 410 a better buy than the 405:

1. The Bezel is improved

2. You get the "premium" heart rate strap thats more comfortable than the one supplied with the 405

3. Its a current model, so any 405 you are buying is old stock that has probably been in a warehouse for a couple of years.

The bezel on the 405 is a bit fiddly, and I can understand why it irritates people. However, I don't find it a huge problem - I just make sure I lock it when I'm raining, and accept that it won't be very responsive if my hands are really wet/sweaty. So the improved bezel on the 410 is a bonus. The other two benefits don't have a direct impact on the performance of the watch.

So the 410 is probably worth spending a little more on if you can afford it, but I wouldn't pay a lot more for it over the 405.

TBH, I dont think you'll be diappointed with either model.

Fit-Running-Cat

23/11/2012 at 15:24

mine definitely scrolls through the 2 pages I use - if set.

405 is the original model. Dont buy it. Can come without a HR strap.

405cx is still a good buy, and a lot better than the 210 IMO. Always comes with a HR strap.

410 is better, but depends what you're paying. 405cx has been £125-130. 410 varies between £150-175 or more.

runs with dogs, you need to set a pace alert workout on the 405.. messy and not as it was on previous garmins. Better to use the virtual partner function. This doesnt beep though.