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Running Equipment Archives

Sport Watches for Runners – Which one is for you?

Thursday, May 24th, 2012 at 9:44 am

Depending on the kind of runner you are will determine what sports watch you will need. No matter whether you race, do speed workouts or run just to burn calories, we all are interested and also benefit from checking our progress once in a while.

There are many brands of Sport Watches for runners to choose from when looking for the appropriate watch for you. From your basic sports watches and up, both Nike and Timex Ironman offer great choices in running watches.

My personal choice is the Timex Ironman Triathlon Sleek 50 Lap. It comes in a variety of colors. It a very fashionable running watch with all the features needed for your run or triathlon. I mostly use the chrono and lap features for my run, but when I take it travelling, I also use the alarm feature. And if you are a traveller, the timex sleek also has 2 different time zones that you can set.

Buyer’s Choice – If you are looking to buy a sports watch online, then I would definitely check out Holabird Sports. They have the best prices that I have found. They also have a great online store for running gear and running shoes – all at really good prices. Read the rest of this post

What is P90X?

Friday, May 4th, 2012 at 4:26 am

P90X, short for Power 90 Extreme, is a training system developed by fitness guru Tony Horton. It’s an intense series of exercises designed to improve your strength, endurance, coordination and flexibility that can be done in your own home. The P90X schedule includes a combination of resistance training, cardiovascular workouts, flexibility work, yoga and plyometrics. It also comes with a nutritional and supplement plan to help you lose weight and build muscle.

The program comes with a DVD series, workout plans and a nutrition plan. Those that purchase the program will then need to also purchase a chin up bar, resistance bands or dumbbells. You don’t have to travel to a gym to get your workouts in which is a major advantage in terms of expense and convenience. Read the rest of this post

Changing the Battery on the Garmin Forerunner Watch

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012 at 3:01 pm

After 3-1/2 years of great use of my Garmin 305, the battery power on the watchpiece is starting to fade. After a charge, I’m lucky to get 9 km out of it before it dies. I did alot of research into changing out the battery.

Some recommend saving money and buying a battery on eBay and changing it yourself, then sticking it back together with silicone.

Manufacturer’s recommendation is to send it back into Garmin for battery replacement. But, this does not come at a low price. It costs $79 for replacing the battery, plus your postage to send it in.

Please note that these instructions are for all Garmin products including the Garmin Forerunner 405. Read the rest of this post

A Heart Rate Monitor or a GPS Sports Watch – Which should you Choose?

Sunday, March 25th, 2012 at 1:19 pm

Athletes who are interested in monitoring their exercise intensity have a choice between using a heart rate monitor or a GPS sports watch. Each option has its pros and cons and at the end of the day, it comes down to a personal choice based on each runner’s individual preferences.

With this posting I’d like to look at each of these two options and give you the advantages of each device to allow you to make the most informed decision possible.

First we’ll look at the standard heart rate monitor. Read the rest of this post

Garmin Forerunner 305 vs 405

Friday, December 23rd, 2011 at 9:28 am

My husband and I decided to buy the Garmin Forerunner 305 for ourselves for Christmas. We found such a cheap price for the Garmin Forerunner 305 that we just didn’t want to pass up on the opportunity. It’s been too many too many years since my old heart rate monitor, the Polar Beat has been fully functioning and with my quest to qualify for the Boston Marathon, we thought that it was time to take the plunge.

When I started researching and reading reviews for the heart rate monitors, I came across the best price for the Garmin 305 at Amazon. This was a couple years ago and the Garmin Forerunner 305 was cheaper than it is today. I couldn’t believe that I could get a heart rate monitor and a GPS system (and more) for the same price as what I would pay for a decent heart rate monitor. Just for curiosity , I dug out my old Polar Beat heart rate monitor (that was year’s old) and on the box it had a price of $139.99. The Beat never had any features – no target heart rate, average heart rate or upper and lower limits. Just a plain and simple heart rate monitor which was actually very useful to my training in it’s day. Read the rest of this post

Avoid These 9 Common Mistakes When Buying Home Fitness Equipment

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 at 2:28 am

The right home fitness equipment can add variety, convenience and consistency to your workouts. But after a typically expensive purchase, you don’t want to come home realizing that you’ve made a mistake. Here are 9 common mistakes to be wary of when buying your home fitness equipment. Read the rest of this post

Treadmill Buyers Guide

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011 at 10:56 am

Purchasing the Best Treadmills

Once you’ve decided to purchase a treadmill, now what? Time to get educated about treadmills and the terminology that goes along with them! Then it’s time shop around, test them out, and compare various models to find the best treadmill for you. Here are some things to look at:

Frame: Look for a high alloy steel frame which is usually more durable than aluminum; however high alloy is also heavier and must be coated to protect the treadmill from rust. Get on the treadmill , if it feels wobbly and flimsy, then it is. Also, selecting a treadmill with a welded frame is a better choice over a bolted one and don’t even consider a treadmill with a plastic frame.

Read the rest of this post

Treadmill: The Most Popular Piece of Home Exercise Equipment

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011 at 8:58 pm

Regardless of the new gadgets and gizmos hitting the home running equipment market these days, the treadmill continues to hold onto its popularity. Why? Simply put, the treadmill is one of the most superior pieces of equipment for a cardiovascular workout. Plus, folding treadmills in particular are a great piece of home exercise equipment due to their versatility of being stored easily.

Studies have shown treadmills to rank number one in burning calories. When a runner exercises on a treadmill for a full 60 minutes, on average, they will burn between 705 and 865 calories.