Garmin Forerunner 205 or 305? (Read 894 times)

Hi Steve! Well, like you, I've been going back and forth about the Forerunner. In my case, it was due to cost, as it's quite a bit of money to spend on something you wear about 4-6 times a week. today, I just bought mine and am liking what I'm seeing/doing so far. I was always going to go for the 305, as I think having the HR option to use at any given time is better than not having it at all (because those are the times when you would want it). for the difference in cost, it's not a bad deal. the basic Polar HR watches, the ones that will record and download to your PC I should add, are well over $100. I'm not a slave to HR, but, after training for two Ironman triathlons (uh, I should say that was a long time ago...) and basing most of my training on my HR for recovery purposes, it's a very useful tool to have access to. My main reason for wanting/purchasing the 305 was the amount of traveling I have to do for work. I'm constantly trying to map out courses before heading out on a run and, when in a foreign country or new state, it's a bit hard to remember all the twists and turns I would need to make. Now I just need to head out the door, mark my starting point and start running. I'm familier enough with the areas I visit to know the general area, but at least I won't have to remember street names and can see just how far I've run. That all said, I wish I could utilize this website for downloading the information, as the ones that come with it (Motion Based and Garmin Training Software) are OK, but nothing fancy. You need to subscribe to get all the neat features. As other members here have done, it's just a matter of uploading the data into the Garmin version and then just typing it all in here. sorry for the long reply! Darrin

Hi Steve, I have the 305 and have had no problems using it without the HRM. I agree with the others, if you're spending the money on a Forerunner and think you'll use the HRM occasionally, it's probably worth getting the HRM. As for your more philosophical question, I agree that it's important sometimes to run "free", just for the love of it. That makes a lot of sense to me. When I run free, though, I'd rather not wear any watch at all, so I not only leave the HRM, but the whole thing behind. But it's also essential for me to have those strict days (most days) and then I like to have ALL the data I can get to understand my progress.. the Forerunner is pretty complicated (probably a little too much for the beginning runner) but it will give you LOTS of data! I love my Forerunner 305, but I have to say the only downside to the device is that it's a little bulky. It's VERY light-weight, and, yes, I know it's a lot smaller than the previous version, but it still really sticks out on my wrist. This is really more of an aesthetic complaint than a functional one: sometimes when I'm going for a run with some friends I wish I could wear the HRM but not the big GPS watch so I don't look like the big geek on the running trail! Anyone else have 'Forerunner shame'? In any case, I think there are lots good reasons to buy (and wear) a Forerunner. I bought mine for a combination of reasons: 1) Helps me know my mileage/pace when I travel, 2) HRM function will help me run better Lac Threshold and VO2Max runs for marathon training, 3) new toys like this help me keep motivated on those days I don't feel like runnning. Good luck on your decision! Happy 41st B-day!

FYI, I've started a user group specifically for GPS training. I thought this would make it easier to have all the info on these devices in one place. It's called 'GPS Running', under training groups.