Garmin 405cx--the only downside is if the aliens can track me now

Went running this morning in the Garmin 405cx. It is pretty nifty. I am not a technology guru, and I've never been one to jump at the newest gadget, but I am impressed by the feedback the watch provides while running. I only ran about 30 minutes, but it gave me a good idea of how beneficial the watch could be when training, especially at longer distances, tempo runs, while running unfamiliar routes, or if you are just curious. If I had used the heart rate monitor with the watch, it would have provided even more detailed information. All of which, I'm sure, would confirm that I am a finely tuned athletic machine (ha!)

I had to tinker with the watch for a bit before I felt like I got a hang of how to control the functions and navigate the menu. The most common complaint I have heard at the store is that the watch is complicated and not entirely intuitvive. I think a lot of that comes with the watch using a touch sensitve bezel to select options and scroll through lists, as well as having so many different functions which you can choose. I had to learn when to press and hold parts of the bezel and when to just tap it. The good news in all of this is that Garmin offers training videos at Garmin Training that are really helpful for learning how to use it, and in the end it wasn't that hard to figure out.

The 405cx gave me real time feedback as I ran, information including current pace and cumulative pace (8:33/mile), predicted finish time of my 3 mile run, calories burned (357), and distance (3.12) The 405cx is also complemented by Garmin Connect,a website that you can wirelessly upload all of your training information to via your personal computer. The website maps the route that you ran whether on roads or trails, and breaks down the training information pairing heart rate and pace data with map locations.

Overall, I think the 405cx is pretty cool, and I may add more about it after I use the Garmin Connect website or HR monitor more. If you don't think you need all of the do dads the 405cx offers, check out the Garmin 110, a slimmed down, just the basics GPS-enabled watch. Check out these Watch Comparisons to get a better idea about the differences between the Garmin watches.

Off and running,
Michael