GPS Watches With Heart Rate Monitors

So now that the weather is finally starting to warm up, I decided that it was time to start running again outside. I tolerate running on a treadmill during the winter months. Treadmills just don't do it for me. I feel that they don't give me the true work out that I would get when running outdoors. I do have to say that it is nice that they do keep track of distance, time, calories, heart rate and etc. Anyway, as I was saying, I decided to go run a trail out by my house. It felt great and I was able to run for an hour. When I had finished I felt great, but the only problem was I had a lot of questions after. For example, I wondered how far I had run. Usually I could get into my car and drive the route that I had just run to see how far I had gone, but this time I couldn't because of it being on a trail. I also wondered what my hear rate was at times when I really pushed myself up some of the steep sections. I really didn't have an answer to any of these questions, nor did I know how to get them.

A few weeks passed and out of the blue I found the solution to my problem. I was out to lunch with a friend when I had casually mentioned that I had been running on the trail by my house and wished that I knew how far it was. To my surprise, she told me about GPS watches. She told me that GPS watches could tell me exactly how far I had run. She had a GPS watch and agreed to come over and run the trail with me. GPS watches have increased my desire to run.

GPS watches can do a number of things to help you during your run. Of course, it depends on which GPS watch you have on what it can monitor. But in general, here are a few things that GPS watches can do. They can tell you how far you have run. GPS watches can also tell you how fast you are currently running and your pace. There are also many GPS watches with a heart rate monitor included. All you have to do is strap it on around your chest and it wirelessly transmits your heart rate to the GPS watch. There are other functions that you can get as well.

TheTimex Ironman Global Trainer GPS Fitness Watch with heart rate monitor is a great all around GPS watch. It might be on the higher end price wise but is worth it for the avid outdoor runner or one who truly desires to improve their running. It has awesome features that will excite and help anyone who uses it. As mentioned before, it can tell you the distance, speed, pace and heart rate. The cool thing about this watch is that it does it all with a four way split screen. It is customizable so that it can show you all four at once just as if you were on a treadmill. It also has online training log software that analyzes the data that you upload onto your computer. So with this information you can measure, review and improve your performance. It is also waterproof and has a long lasting rechargeable battery.

Now if you don't need something as fancy, the Garmin Forerunner 305 and 405are great options. These are reasonably priced and include a heart rate monitor as well. Like the Timex Ironman Global Trainer GPS watch, the Garmin Forerunner come with computer software to analyze your running, showing you areas where you can improve. It also comes with an additional feature called the "Foot Pod" accessory. The Foot Pod accessory is used when GPS reception is not available, for example when indoors. You just attach a wireless sensor to your running shoe and it transmits the distance and pace data back to the watch.

GPS watches are great for any outdoor person. You can use them for hiking, road and mountain biking as well. So go out and find the perfect GPS watch and improve you health.

Here is some more info on Polar heart rate monitors or a Polar Heart Rate Monitor Battery