I love running watches. What is the best running watch for you to use? My favorite is a GPS running watch, but there are many others to choose from. Let’s talk about the two most popular types: GPS style and Pedometer style.
Running is more fun when you have a method of tracking your progress. It can be frustrating to plan runs when your only way of knowing how far you ran is by driving the route with your car and using the odometer to calculate the overall distance. I used to do this all the time.
At first it wasn’t a huge deal since I run through rural neighborhoods. It would be a little more difficult if you use running paths and the distances are not clearly marked, if they are even marked at all.
Another drawback with the “drive the route” method of measuring distance is that you have to drive every individual route. Every time you deviate from a measured route, you lose accuracy. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to run the same route every day. Changing your scenery often is a very good thing to do in order to avoid boredom which is a common problem among runners.
The “drive the route” method also removes any real time tracking of your run. Measuring your pace is crucial if you plan to run any races such as a marathon or a half-marathon.
If you are on a budget, there are many pedometer style watches out there. The pedometer style watch counts the number of times your feet hit the ground. It is able to do this by using a sensor that attaches to your shoes. The length of each stride is estimated by you (manual entry) or it is estimated by your body type.
The pedometer style watch is a good entry level method to use which will give you a good estimate of not only your distance but also your pace. Keep in mind that the feedback you get will be off by a measurable amount. This is not a big deal to many recreational runners.
If you want to take your running to another level (a much more fun level in my opinion), then you should consider a GPS style watch. They can be purchased for as little as $100 (or a little more, but not much), and are well worth it in my opinion. You can track your progress in real time. This includes: pace, heart rate, distance, total time, and much more depending on the model you choose.
Documenting your running progress is a good idea if you want to not only improve, but increase your enjoyment of the sport. Start small, or big if you prefer, and pick up a running watch. If you love running, you won’t regret it. For more information about GPS running watches, check out my website.
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