<p>D2 wants a watch for running that keeps track of her distance. I have no clue and don’t want to question her too much as it is for Christmas. Any suggestions of brands or ones you like? Is it like a watch and pedometer together?</p>
<p>I’ve heard that Garmin makes some cool and useful stuff… I’m researching the same gift for my runner, so thank you for starting the thread!</p>
<p>her distance? I am an old guy that uses my running watch to measure the TIME of my run only… lol. Doesn’t Nike have a device that goes on your shoe and somehow talks to your ipod and loads all your data to the internet? A friend of mine - also an old guy - told me it was very cool. His son uses it too. That’s what I would get a running kid. Someone will be able to tell us what it is I am thinking of.</p>
<p>Now that I think of it, was pretty funny. It is definitely an iPod device, and my friend told me to get the device and he was surprised when I told him I didn’t have an iPod to use it with.</p>
<p>DH has a Garmin, it operates as a regular timer/stopwatch but also has gps built in. He uploads the statistics from his runs to my pc - you can see the route on screen with elevation, speed, distance, splits, etc. The model he has also hooks up to a HR monitor so he can track that too. This is his 3rd Garmin and he seems to be happy with it (he must be, since a new one isn’t on his Christmas list this year!!)</p>
<p>It is NOT like a watch and pedometer…it just has the part that is worn on the wrist, and a strap to wear around the chest (which you don’t need unless you want to monitor your HR)</p>
<p>I would suggest going to [Best</a> Top Brand Women’s & Men’s Running Shoes & Gear with Free Shipping | Road Runner Sports](<a href=“http://www.roadrunnersports.com%5DBest”>http://www.roadrunnersports.com) to look at what is available; you can also get a membership which includes free shipping–nice if you buy things like shoes, etc. They have great customer service and can advise you over the phone if you have questions.</p>
<p>Don’t bother with anything other than Garmin. The Nike stuff is inaccurate and worthless.
Garmin 305 comes with a heart rate monitor, Garmin 205 is the same watch without the HR monitor. The 310 is the newest Garmin, but I think for the price, the 205/305 series is the way to go. I know a lot about this subject, and it is a CONSTANT topic on my running forums. Check Amazon or Costco for deals on 205/305. 405 is a little smaller size, which some people like to avoid the “laptop on the wrist” look, but the touch bezel is a little sensitive and general consensus is that 205/305 is still the best out there.</p>
<p>If you get the Garmin 205 or 305, don’t freak out when you see it and can’t imagine your daughter running with that giant thing on her arm. Once you get it on and start running, it feels fine and you immediately get used to the size. It’s easy to read the screen (actually, you toggle between 2 screens so you have lots of data to read if you choose). I’m addicted to my Garmin.</p>
<p>Here’s another vote for the Garmin series. I have the Forerunner 305 and absolutely love it. I’ve run 500 miles in 5 months with this thing and wouldn’t go out the door without it. </p>
<p>You can use it for cycling as well, and the software is so easy, and will help you keep track of all of it. </p>
<p>The screen on the 205 and 305 is rectangular and larger surface area than the newer 405. If buying for someone over a “certain age” you might consider the larger screen, to be able to see the numbers. My friends with the 405 are not quite as excited about the smaller screen and less info visible on one screen. Best Buy had the best price in July for me, and lately in October for my friend.</p>
<p>H has both the 305 and 405 and prefers the 305 due to the aforementioned bezel issues.</p>
<p>WOW! Just looked at the Garmin website…who knew! I think she would like any of them, even the the little sport watch! So if she wanted to know the distance she runs does she need the foot pod accessory??? or do the 205/305 tell you without it? (clearly I am not a runner and way behind on this new technology!)</p>
<p>Garmin 205 for me. Nothing else will do. :o</p>
<p>Foot pod? 
I must be behind the times. My 205 doesn’t have one.</p>
<p>No- the food pod is for when you are running indoors without a GPS signal. I don’t have one, which means NO ONE needs one, since I have to have everything!</p>
<p>Get the 205 or 305- all 305 gives you over 205 is the HR monitor. </p>
<p>I forgot my Garmin the other day and almost couldn’t do my run. H let me carry his handheld Garmin that he was going to use while he walked…</p>
<p>Dear Runners - please consider this carefully. If you have any medical condition, please get a RoadID. The love of my life and best friend just collapsed while running his usual 3 mile route on Monday. By some miracle, a woman happened to be home and saw him from her window. She thought at first he had hurt his knee or ankle, but realized he stayed down for awhile and wasn’t moving. I won’t go into the details, but she took him to the ER where his heart was recorded at 248 (yes, I saw the graph)/minute. I have asked him to carry info about meds, but Mr. No Worries didn’t think it was necessary. Fortunately, he was able to supply medical history and tonight he is resting comfortably waiting for his defibrillator.</p>
<p>Check out the website for RoadID. I can tell you that he WILL be using it in the future - or I will be driving behind him at all times when he runs, bikes, or swims. </p>
<p>I am seriously considering asking Elin if I could borrow her golf club so I can use it when he is healthy enough for me to give him a good whack. </p>
<p>Get a RoadID.</p>
<p>workinprogress, what a terrifying story! I’m glad it had a happy ending of sorts, and I wish him a speedy recovery. There is a good reason I run with my husband; I’m his RoadID of sorts (and I always have my cell phone on me).</p>
<p>Thank you for posting this! Intil we all get microchipped, it is a smart idea to have some form of abbreviated medical history on you.</p>
<p>I just checked Costco - they have the 405 for $230 (that’s $70 off), but the runners here are not wild about this model. Hmmm…</p>
<p>Ok…looks like the 205 to start her on her way!</p>
<p>Glad things are improving worknprogress!!!</p>
<p>I always wear a RoadID. Thanks for the reminder. It should be on you whenever your running shoes are on.</p>
<p>One of my running friends made a custom label that sticks to the open space on his Garmin 205 beneath the top buttons and has all his information. It’s pretty cool.</p>
<p>Well, funny you should mention that, MoWC. I was thinking that a Garmin would be a really cool gift and if I could put info on that I know he would wear it. I do have some fear that the EMT’s might not notice. Maybe both, the Road ID and the engraved Garmin. Or, maybe I should have his health history printed on all of his running apparel. </p>
<p>I am joking, but truly it is a miracle he is alive. I have learned to live with the possibility that some day he might just drop over, but it isn’t easy AND I have to remind myself that both the ER doc and the cardiologist said had he not trained and eaten the way he has the last 14 years he never would have survived on Monday. So, I know he will be back on the road as soon as possible.</p>
<p>I agree with the Road ID (or some form of ID on a runner). About 20 years ago, my brother’s best friend was hit by a car and killed one evening while running. He was not carrying ID. The next morning, his father went to pick him up for their daily to carpool to work. When there was no answer at the door of the apartment, the dad became worried and called the local police, who asked if the son “was a runner”. The body had been unidentified all night. It still gives me the chills to think about it.</p>
<p>I think tonight, I will double/triple/quadruple check that DH carries ID on his runs…</p>
<p>BTW…just bought 2 RoadID’s, one for DH and one for DS. Awesome. Thanks for the xmas gift idea!!</p>
<p>Ordering roadIDs for my three-miler hubby and our half-marathoner… Thank you again!</p>