Garmin Forerunner GPS watches

I've been using the Garmin Forerunner 205 since May of 2007, and the Forerunner 201 before that, since March of 2004. I'd probably still regularly be using the 201 if it hadn't been lost for a while -- it is now found again, and I do sometimes use it still if the 205 isn't at hand.

I really enjoy these devices. Before I had them, I'd find myself running the same few routes over and over again. I like to know how far I've run, and if I just ran some random route, I'd have no convenient way of knowing the distance. There are ways; one of my favorites is the USATF Running Routes web site. This lets you plot your route on a map, and calculates your distance.

Now I can just put on the watch and go where the road takes me, and no matter where I run, it'll keep track. It really changed the way I run.

It comes with some software called Garmin Training Center, which I had always found to be a bit of a disappointment. The mapping function was really rudimentary, especially considering it was a Garmin product. They're a GPS company known for mapping, and the maps it would draw for local runs were laughably crude. It would only show three roads in the entire town, and then a line showing my run in relation to those roads.

I rarely run outside in the winter, so I haven't been using the watch lately. Thus, I also haven't been checking for new versions of Training Center. I'm happy to report that Garmin has improved the application. I've spent only a few minutes looking it over so far, but I can already tell they've put in some good work.

It was much harder than it should be to actually get the new version. The link to the current version on Garmin's web site is broken, and they don't link to prior versions. I took a few guesses on the web address where I might find an older version, and found v3.01. I downloaded and installed that, then used its built-in update feature to get 3.04. Not cool, Garmin!

Anyway, the mapping feature in v3 isn't all that much better, but there's an option to view any saved route on Google Earth. That's a lot of fun.

However, a locally-installed software application isn't my preference. I'd rather have this stuff live on the Internet, and, sure enough, Garmin has a solution for that as well. There's a web site called Garmin Connect that lets you upload your data from your watch. You do have to have a browser plugin installed locally for the actual upload, but the data is stored "in the cloud" and I can view it anywhere. I can also upload from either my desktop or laptop computer and have the data all go to the same place. Nice.

There's also a way to import the data into dailymile,  a sort of Facebook-meets-running-log, which I've only just started to explore. I may have more to say about that later.

This stuff makes my running life a little easier, and a lot more fun. I'm a computer nerd as well as a runner, so you can imagine that I really love these electronic running gizmos.

New: Vibram FiveFingers Bikila

Vibram has a new model coming out soon. This one's designed specifically for runners. More info at Runblogger.

Registered for a half marathon

The Brookings Marathon, Half Marathon, and Relay is about seven and a half weeks away. A short time ago I had all but decided to wait until later in the year to run a long race. I can't possibly be ready by the middle of May. My better judgment is telling me to just run a 5- or 6.2-mile leg in the relay like I have for the last ten or so years.

But I registered for the half anyway. I'm not sure what changed my mind. It's going to be a big challenge, which is something my running hasn't had for a number of years. I'm excited about it, and more than a little worried.

One hundred pushups: week one

I didn't think I was going to complete the first week*. My plan was to do the workouts on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. By Tuesday I was sure I was coming down with some sort if illness, and Wednesday there was no doubt. Sore throat, cough, headache, general listnesness. I also had some pretty severe delayed onset muscle soreness in my chest and arms from Monday's pushups. I did the second workout anyway, and only just completed it. By Friday I was getting better, but still felt very weak. I waited until today to do my last sets of the week. It was pretty challenging, but I managed 26 pushups on my last set. It was a good thing that this last workout called for 2-minute rest periods inbetween sets, or I'd not have completed it.

I barely ran this week, too. I did some hill repeats and a bit of treadmill, with socks. The weather forecast for the next week looks warmer, if a little windy, and I hope to get outside and put in some miles.

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* Actually week three of the plan, as I "tested out" of the first two weeks.

One hundred pushups

Here's another idea I found at Runblogger: a training program called "one hundred pushups" that aims to get you to (duh!) 100 consecutive pushups in about six weeks. This stretches plausibility for me, since 1) I'm kinda fat and 2) I have the upper-body strength of a kindergartner. I'm going to try it anyway.

It starts with an initial test to see how many you can do now. I surprised myself a little and managed 22, thanks to Tony at the Powershop Gym, who has been beating me like a rented mule once a week for the past several weeks.

Based on the initial test, you start in one of three different tracks. Some weeks you do another test, which again places you in one of three tracks to continue. Each week you train three times with at least one day of rest between. Each day you do five sets of pushups, with varying reps and rest time.

If your initial test is over 20 pushups, you can optionally start at week 3. This is what I've decided to do, though I may regret it. Looking ahead just to the third training day, which should be on Friday for me, two of my sets will be 21 or more pushups! Yikes!

I did my first workout this morning. It was challenging, with sets of 12, 17, 13, and 13 reps with 60 seconds rest, followed by a set to exhaustion. I made it to 20 on that final set -- maybe 21 on Friday won't be impossible after all.

I'll be reporting my progress and eventual triumph or failure here.

Running in socks

It turned a little colder again, so I stayed inside on the treadmill this morning. 20F (-7C) isn't so bad, but the wind chill was 9F (-13C), which is a little outside of my zone.

I've heard of people running in just socks, and decided to give that a try. I was a little concerned that it would be slippery on the treadmill, but that was countered by my fear that my treadmill might start smelling like feet if I run barefoot on it all the time!

It went pretty well. The socks I used* were a little thinner than average socks, but not so thin as my favorite Feetures Lights that I usually wear with shoes. It felt pretty good. I think my foot strike was close to what it is barefoot. I did slip a tiny bit, but no more that I do wearing shoes.

I'll probably try it outside some time when it's dry. I imagine wet socks wouldn't be fun to run in.

Here's an interesting thread about running in socks in the Runner's World forums. One runner describes making his own minimal shoes by applying some Shoe Goo to the bottom of his socks. I've thought while running in my Vibram FiveFingers that I'd like a version where the top is a sock -- it sounds like this guy had the same idea.

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*They're Starter brand, which is apparently owned by Nike. I'd link to them, but the Nike online store is a horrible Flash-based monstrosity, and I gave up after a frustrating and fruitless search.

Back in conventional shoes for today

Over my lunch hour I took a short run in conventional running shoes, a pair of Brooks Trance. I really don't expect ever to convert completely to just barefoot and minimal shoes. The Trance is a lot of shoe, and I imagine I've purchased my last pair of those. I have about 5 or 6 pair of them, and while I've had good results, I just don't know if I'll ever need that much shoe again.

Peter Larson at Runblogger has an approach to shoes that's a little different from most runners I know. Lots of runners will wear one or two different models for training, and maybe own a pair of racing flats for short races. Peter's a little different. He really likes shoes. I mean really. Anyway, he considers himself a minimalist when it comes to shoes, but he hasn't much interest in running barefoot, and isn't trying to switch over completely to, say, Vibram FiveFingers. He does run in FiveFingers from time to time, and once ran barefoot, with not much success. His approach to minimalism is to use a variety of shoes, and use for any given run the minimum shoes that he thinks appropriate. For him, FiveFingers aren't a goal, but a tool to help him train his legs in a different manner than he can in a conventional shoe.

Mind you, his idea of a "heavy" shoe is pretty light.

I can see myself eventually taking up this way of doing things myself.

Check out his blog. He's a much better writer and blogger (and runner) than I am.