Optimize Your Running Workouts With A GPS Running Watch

In the "old days", running was one of the most simple sports you could partake in. You could literally just walk out your front door and go running! No coordination with other people, no air pumps, no deflated balls: just run! As running gained popularity, of course the technology came along with it. Running shoes, wick-away under garments, and now the latest: GPS running watches.

A GPS running watch is a great addition to your training gear. These have evolved over the years and are even waterproof now for those multi-sport athletes that also enjoy swimming. And as the supply continues to grow, the prices come down as well! Whereas just a few years ago you would need to fork out $300+, you can now get some reliable older models (like the Garmin Forerunner 305) for under $150. As such a GPS watch is really a valuable tool you should consider having.

There are many ways a GPS running watch can help you improve your workouts! It can track where you are each moment in an effort to help you IN DETAIL track your workouts and your pace. No more guess work. Just put the watch on, let the satellite sync, and go! You can train at the intensity you planned to all along. You have the data to really quantify and track your training. You won't under train or over train.

Most GPS watches today also include software so that you can load your workouts and track your workouts. Some watches even have a "workout partner" you can program to keep pace with you. There are online sites available also where you can share your workouts with others (notably Nike+ and Garmin's Training Center Software).

Granted, this may take some of the fun out of the "old school" way of training, the romance in the "in-exactness" of it all. The best way for me to explain this is to use cooking as an analogy.

Some people really enjoy cooking by feel. Given a recipe, they may forego the measuring cups and spoons and estimate the amounts of the various ingredients they are putting in. This works alright if you are adventurous because heck, if you put in a little bit more salt than you should have, it's no big deal. But it really works well if you know your way around a kitchen and have experience cooking.

While others, especially those who may not be experienced chefs, will depend on the recipes and depend on exact measurements which include using measuring cups, measuring spoons, and timers. And those who are open to experimenting most likely started out with the measuring cups and spoons.

Think of those measuring cups and spoons as the GPS running watch. You set out your "recipe" a.k.a. your exercise program, and your GPS running watch helps you stick to it. Except in this case a "little extra salt" may mean a little more running than you planned which could mean overtraining and injury.

Lastly, one reason people forego using the GPS running watch is having to learn to use something new. While manufacturers are doing a much better job of making these easy to use, let's not lie: learning to use new gadgets always has a steep learning curve (just like learning to know your way around a kitchen when cooking). A GPS running watch can definitely help you with your workouts as long as you get the right one for you with the features you want and the ease of use you want.

Source: http://www.artipot.com/articles/1179306/optimize-your-running-workouts-with-a-gps-running-watch.htm

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