| Looking for a Garmin Forerunner? This
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| | Heart Rate Monitor: Only the Forerunner
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| article outlines each of the 5 choices
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| | 301 and 305 have a heart rate monitor
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| and some of their benefits and
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| | option. This allows you to display and
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| weaknesses. These are the main features
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| | track your heart rate and configure
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| of the models, but by no means is every
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| | audible alarms if your heart rate goes
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| feature covered!!
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| | above or below certain thresholds.
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| Rechargeable? The Garmin Forerunner 101
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| | Cool things: All 5 devices have AutoLap,
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| is the only one that is not rechargeable,
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| | AutoPause, Virtual Partner, Pace Alerts,
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| it uses 2 AAA batteries. All others have
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| | Time or Distance Alerts, and Interval
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| a rechargeable lithium ion battery that
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| | training options. AutoLap creates a lap
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| lasts between 10-15 hours depending on
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| | for you at an interval you define (1
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| usage.
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| | mile, 1 minute, 30 minutes, etc...). Auto
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| Waterproof? All the Forerunner units have
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| | pause will pause the timer if your pace
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| an IEC 60529 IPX7 rating, which means the
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| | falls below a threshold you specify. This
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| GPS case can withstand accidental
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| | is a nice feature if you have to cross a
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| immersion in one meter of water for up to
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| | lot of streets and are waiting a lot. The
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| 30 minutes. Notice it says
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| | Virtual Partner feature is for those of
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| ACCIDENTAL....do not use these devices
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| | us competitive types who have to have the
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| for the swimming leg in triathlons, they
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| | sense you are beating something!! You set
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| will not hold up for long!! Running or
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| | up a predefined time/pace and it shows
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| biking in the rain will not cause issues.
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| | this 2 little people on the screen, one
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| Computer downloadable logs? Again, the
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| | is you, one is the computer. It then
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| 101 is the only device which does not
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| | tells you who is ahead of who and by how
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| have a computer interface, so the
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| | much! Talk about motivation....can't let
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| information that is kept must be deleted
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| | a stinking computer beat you!!!
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| at some point. All the devices are
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| | Specific features for the Forerunner 301
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| capable of holding approximately 5000
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| | and 305: As already mentioned, the 301
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| laps, which equates to around 2 years of
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| | and 305 have a heart rate monitor
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| data.
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| | capabilities. They also have the ability
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| Size & Weight? The 101, 201, & 301 are
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| | to have multi-sport profiles (biking,
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| virtually identical in size and weight.
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| | running, one other sport) and advanced
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| The 101 is slightly larger at 3.3"W x
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| | workout features. The advanced workout
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| 1.7"H x .9"D compared to the 201 & 301 at
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| | features allow you to set up workouts
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| 3.3"W x 1.7"H x .7"D. Believe it or not
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| | with specific durations and targets
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| these are extremely lightweight. The 101
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| | (speed or heart rate) so you can follow
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| weighs in at 2.6 ounces with batteries,
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| | them. Things like 4 1 mile intervals at a
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| the 201 and 301 both weigh in at 2.75
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| | 8:30 pace with a 1 minute rest period
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| ounces. The 205 and 305 have a different
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| | between intervals. It then beeps to alert
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| design which looks more like a watch.
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| | you on your intervals.
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| They both have the same measurements at:
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| | Do they tell time? Believe it or not,
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| 2.1"W x 2.7"H x .7"D and 2.7 ounces in
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| | this is one of the most asked questions
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| weight. Both designs are very comfortable
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| | and yes, you can configure one of the
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| and lightweight. My opinion....there is
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| | screens with many different pieces of
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| not enough difference in weight or
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| | data. Time of Day is one of them.
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| designs to make a decision from.
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| | Foreign Language and Units of measure?
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| GPS Signal Strength The Forerunner 101,
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| | All units allow to change the language on
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| 201, and 301 all have the same antenna
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| | the console and the unit of measure to
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| and the 205 and 305 share a antenna
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| | meters if so desired. The manuals only
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| design. Between the 2 groups, the 205 and
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| | come in English however.
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| 305 have the stronger signal strength
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| | The Forerunner 305 also has an optional
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| with an improved antenna design which
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| | GSC 10 speed cadence sensor you can
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| points at the sky while running. The 101,
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| | purchase for bicycling.
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| 201, and 301 all will occasionally lose
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| | All 5 of the Forerunners are extremely
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| signal while running under dense tree
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| | valuable in your training and you can't
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| cover or around large buildings. The 205
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| | go wrong, no matter which one you choose.
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| and 305 don't seem to have this behavior.
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