A few years ago, I told my husband I wanted an Apple Watch for my birthday and he asked me why. "You don't need it", he said. Truth. But I wanted one. I do love my gadgets and the Apple Watch was no different. I had high hopes for the Apple Watch. I thought it could be my every watch, my all-in-one running gadget. Well, not so much. While I love my Apple Watch for its functionality, I still rely on my Garmin to keep my running stats. I've got a few other gadgets that I don't hit the road without as well.
This post is all about my 3 favorite running gadgets. Because even if I tried to hit the road without clothes, I couldn't leave home without my gear.
Naked running? No one wants to see that.
I don't always have the latest and the greatest but I do use my gadgets to make my runs better. Here are some of my favorite gadgets--and why I can't run without them.
Garmin Forerunner 230
When I first started running, I did run naked. That was back in the late 1980s when most of us were just running for fun and fitness and before social media gave us FOMO about stats. When I did start wearing a watch, it was a Timex Ironman. Basically, I hit start when I left my driveway and stop when I finished. I didn't get a lot of data from that watch, but that is what I ran with for years. I didn't go big time until a couple of years ago when I bought my first Garmin, the Forerunner 10. With that GPS enabled watch, I got mile splits and that made me very excited! I trained for all my marathons using my Forerunner 10. Last year, I upgraded to the 230. The amount of data I get from this watch is amazing! How did I ever run without it?
I never hit the road without it. |
I reviewed these Bluetooth sound conducting headphones last month and I haven't stopped using them since. I love running to music, but safety while running with headphones is becoming a growing concern. Now I can rock and roll but still hear ambient noise around me. It's nice not having wires running down the front of my shirt too.
I'm always amazed when I hear other runners say they don't run with their phones. Besides the facts that I run to music and that I need to document my runs with a selfie, I feel safer having my phone on me. Even if I didn't take pictures with my phone, I'd still carry it along. You just never know what you're going to encounter on the run, be it an injury, a thunderstorm, a bicyclist who has been hit by a car, or a weirdo on the path. I've used my phone-a-friend for all of these things.
I do love my gadgets! But even if I didn't, even if I chose to run naked, I don't think I'd be hitting the road without my clothes. First of all, ewww! No one wants to see that. Plus, I do love my running clothes. Currently, I'm having a love affair with Inknburn. But that's a topic for another post...
Do you run naked? I've got 3 reasons why I don't (and it's not what you think!) https://goo.gl/NTncAo
Do you run naked? What is your favorite gadget? Do you have a "can't leave home without it" gadget?
I'm linking up with Tuesdays on the Run--Marcia, Erika, and Patti as well as Coaches' Corner--Debbie, Susie, Lora, and Rachel!
I could easily run sans Garmin and before I got the Fenix I often did, because I rarely care about pace anymore. But I do love the health stats I get from the Fenix. I'm obsessed with my VO2max, cadence, and the feature that tells me if I'm gaining/losing/maintaining fitness or over-reaching.
ReplyDeleteI'd love the Fenix. But do I need it? No....
DeleteI'm that runner who has to convince herself to run if her #$()#$ Garmin wasn't on the charged correctly. I'm still using my Yurbuds and even replaced my smashed phone with the iPhone 6SE so I wouldn't have to switch to bluetooth ....
ReplyDeleteI just gave up my Yurbuds for those AfterShokz. That's what convinced me to upgrade to the iPhone 7...it's a slippery slope.
DeleteUsually I gotta have my music with me...but I have only taken it with me for two of my numerous walks in the past (almost) two months. And, those were long walks that lasted for 90ish minutes. Strangely, I'm alright without it, but I also have been out in the wee hours when it's a bit dark, so I'm probably better off without it. The Garmin, though, usually stays at home unless it's a race (ha! not recently) or a long run and I want to assess my splits when I finish.
ReplyDeleteWhen I have to walk, I always listen to my running playlist. Psychologically, it gives me a boost.
DeleteI never run without my phone. For races I need my Garmin. I want those stats.
ReplyDeleteYou and me both!
DeleteI love my Garmin for the distance stats - I rarely pay attention to my pace, but I like to know how far I've gone. Other than that, I don't run with anything else; I'm usually with someone, so no music is necessary, and I don't like carrying my iPhone, so I don't. Yep, I live on the edge of danger, but so far so good!
ReplyDeleteYou're almost naked...
DeleteMy Garmin 235. But I wear it more because I'm a pre-dawn runner and I need to keep track of time in case I decide to run just one more mile. Of course by wearing it I get all sorts of stats that I probably don't appreciate as much as I would have back when I trained for racing all the time. I also carry my phone again because I run in the dark and in case of emergency I want to be able to call home for rescue. I wouldn't dream of wearing earbuds or listening to music at that time of day.
ReplyDeleteI have to sadly admit that I run with my music, even pre-dawn...
DeleteI use my Garmin 220 as my daily watch LOL, so I rarely run without it. And I always have my phone, but that's just because I'm often running while my kids are home by themselves. I never listen to music. So, I guess I could run naked, but I probably won't. ;)
ReplyDeleteSee, you get me...
DeleteI only run with my garmin 1 maybe 2 days a week these days! My fitbit can give me stats after and I'm not hard core training for anything anymore so don't necessarily care about stats for my easy runs. I always have my phone on me though, even if I am not listening to anything I like it for safety reasons like you said.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if once I stop training for stuff, I'll give up the Garmin? Probably not. I still love the numbers.
DeleteI'm that way with my phone too. I've run without my watch before and without headphone (though I usually have those as well) but always have my phone with me. I just don't feel comfortable without it.
ReplyDeleteI know I can always keep track of my runs on my phone too. I used to do that before I got the Garmin.
DeleteI love my Suunto Ambit2, never run or ride without it. I'm a numbers geek for sure and even when I'm not training I want to know that after today's ride I am at 199.36 miles for the month of August! I always have my phone with me, too. No music on the bike, but I love my Bluetooth earbuds for running.
ReplyDeleteRight? But I think you need to ride an extra .64, just to get to 200!
DeleteI didn't feel like riding circles on my street! I crossed the 200 mile mark today instead.
DeleteI always need my Garmin, even if i'm not running for time or worried about pace. I guess I just need that proof that run actually happened!
ReplyDeleteWell, there is that too!
DeleteI have the 230 as well, and I'm loving the extra info I get from it. I'm also loving the battery life. I got this at the end of July, and that's the only time I had to charge it.
ReplyDeleteI charge mine once/week. It's usually down to 30% by then.
DeleteI run with the same stuff!! I love my 230. I had the 15 and the 620. I loved the 15 but I wanted more. The 620 was really great but the touchscreen drove me crazy. So now I have the 230.
ReplyDeleteI also love my Trekz but I can't seem to wear them for more than about 5 miles before they start making my head hot. But they ARE amazing!!!
I haven't had that hot head thing from the Trekz. I wonder why that's happening to you?
DeleteI dunno. It's right in front of my ears, like right where they rest. I get super hot and antsy. Haha.
DeleteI always run with my phone and watch. I usually don't bring headphones unless Im listening to a podcast on the weekend. Even though I don't care about my pace lately, my watch helps me to keep track of how long/far Ive run for. I wear my Garmin all the time (it tracks steps, sleep, etc).
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how the Garmin knows when you're sleeping...
DeleteI agree that it just seems smart to have your phone with you for safety and emergencies. You might as well go ahead and take those selfies if you have it there anyway :)
ReplyDeleteExactly!
DeleteLol! I rarely run naked, as in I almost always run with my garmin and my music... the headphones you mentioned see interesting... I try my best to still be aware of my surroundings despite having music on
ReplyDeleteI just love those headphones! I'm always surprised how I can hear all the noise around me and listen to my music at the same time. It's quite amazing.
DeleteI definitely started my running career with only an Ironman Timex!!! Those were the days, right? Now I have the Garmin fenix and I pretty much never, ever, ever take it off. Never. I love it more than most of my possessions. However, I DO NOT run with my phone! I wish I could so I could take more interesting photos (like I do on my bike rides) but I have the 6 plus and it's HUGE! Love this post - such a great idea :-)
ReplyDeleteFrom the Ironman to the Fenix. How far technology has come, right?
DeleteI'm the same way - I cannot run naked. In addition to the items you named, I also bring my iPod. I use my iPod for music, especially on my long runs because I'm always fearful of my phone dying during a run.
ReplyDeleteI have a waterproof iPod shuffle for the pool. But all my other iPods have died...
DeleteI totally agree that every runner should have their phone -- just in case. And unless I'm having a senior moment, I always do.
ReplyDeleteI love my Garmin Vivoactive. I have many runs where it's going and I don't look at it -- it's almost naked but gathering the data still. :)
We need the data!
DeleteWhen I started running 4 and a half years ago, I just used MapMyWalk on my phone. Once I finished the Couch to 5k, I bought my first Garmin! I've had a few since then and I lost one of my watches at a mud run. Oops. I didn't know you had to swim at a "mud" run, took my watch off and it fell into the water, never to be seen again. I was really sad about that but it wasn't water proof. Definitely run naked at a mud run! I just ordered the Aftershokz headphones! I am so excited to try them out. I am walking a good bit but no running for awhile!
ReplyDeleteI didn't even think about an OCR, but yes--naked running is a must!
DeleteI never use a Garmin, but I also know all of the distances around me, lol.
ReplyDeleteIt's helpful to know all the distances--I plan my running routes for the day that way, but I want to know paces. Plus I love having the documentation all in one place.
DeleteI'm a gadget lover too and I have all of the ones you mentioned (except an android rather than iphone). I remember the days of running with just a timex (I also had a Nike watch at some point). I was still data driven even before GPS, so I knew where all the mile markers were and would hit the lap button! Then I'd record them in my little training notebook. I was on my first Garmin pretty much as soon as they came out with them. I've since been through a couple and I love my 235. Give me all the data!
ReplyDeleteIt took me a long time to get my first Garmin. And then I kicked myself for taking so long! Being low tech is really overrated.
DeleteThe Garmin 235 is finally growing on me, though I really really loved my Nike+ watch. And I'm a huge fan of the Aftershokz!!
ReplyDeleteI tried NIke+ on my Apple Watch and I just couldn't embrace it. So back to the Garmin it was.
DeleteLove this - I try to run naked every so often, just to enjoy the nature/sound of my breathing. But I prefer to use my Garmin and/or iPhone!!
ReplyDeleteI don't like to hear the sound of my breathing! LOL
DeleteI do not run naked. I use my Garmin 235, love it! WHen I want to be free from it I turn the face to watch so I can still track my run, but not see what I am running. I rarely wear earphones, I run without music 95% of the time. I do carry my phone for bothe selfies and safety.
ReplyDeleteI used to turn my watch around, but I've become so used to looking at it that I don't bother any more.
DeleteI just HAVE to run with music. If I'm running in the neighborhood, I'll leave the phone at home, unless I'm using wireless earbuds. Any running or cycling away from the neighborhood, I have music, phone, pepper spray and my wearsafe tag. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't have to run with music, but I sure enjoy it!
DeleteI've got a Garmin 230 I usually wear. I usually have a camera for trail runs or headphones and an ipod for the track, but just me and the Garmin for everyday road running. I still haven't joined the cell phone world so I never have a phone and don't think it really affects my safety. Many of the places I run don't have service anyways. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so impressed that you don't have a cell phone! How do you survive?
DeleteHa! There is no way I run naked! My top three are the same as yours, except I upgraded from a 220 to a 735, which I love more than anything. Granted, none of it really makes me a better runner, but I like having my data, and the wireless aftershokz and the phone are for safety purposes.
ReplyDeleteHa--100% agree that none of this gear makes us a better runner. It's just so fun to have, right?
DeleteEven though I'm not running any more, when I did and now with my walks I use the same things, basically, that you do: Still have my original Garmin forerunner 10, music, and phone. When I ran I also carried a water bottle but I don't need it anymore.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine not having my phone, in case anything happened to me, or even if I'm delayed I'm able to let my better half know. Carrying my i-pod and phone in my hip-sister (Listed are all the gadgets I own!) I am able to travel hands free. Yes!
I use the Garmin mostly to measure distance. I walk between two miles and 10K. And I will freely admit that I'm still checking pace!
DeleteWhen I run/walk, I look at my walk pace! I like to keep it under 15 min/mile. It's not always easy since my walk intervals are for recovery.
DeleteI've run "naked" before and enjoy the break... but lately I've been using my phone and earbuds with no watch. I NEED those headphones!
ReplyDeleteYes you do! I love my AfterShokz!
DeleteFor sure I run with my watch and phone. I could do without music/headphones.
ReplyDeleteI could do without tunes, but do I want to? No.
DeleteI don't run with headphones unless I'm on the treadmill instead of running with my BRF. I enjoy listening to the birds and just getting lost in the sounds around me. I take my phone on any solo run, but not always when we run together. Finally, I always wear my Apple Watch and Garmin (which looks ridiculous, but I must.get.credit. in the Activity App on my watch--even though the data is not as accurate) on runs!
ReplyDeleteI've been known to wear my Apple Watch and Garmin together--I'll use my Apple Watch for the HR feature. So nerdy, right?
DeleteIf so, then I'm right there with you! LOL
Delete