Last January Garmin launched its latest GPS-enabled wristwatch, the Forerunner 405. Like its predecessors, it tracks and records your training logs. Unlike them, it allows you to upload the data to your computer without the need for wires. This is a useful feature if you want to maintain records of your runs for months, like to share them with friends, and you hate wires crawling like tiny snakes around you.

The Forerunner 405 not only monitors and records your pace, time, distance, calories used, and heart rate so you can analyze them to see if you are improving as a runner. Using its Virtual Partner feature, it also allows you to download previously recorded workouts and compete against them. These could be your own records, or records received from other sources. Its data screen can even be customized to display the data you want. Moving from one feature to another is easily accomplished with a tap on a touch bezel. This Forerunner comes in a package that looks more like an ordinary than a high performance GPS-enabled watch. You can wear it in your workplace without fear of attracting too much attention. At the moment, there are two colors available —black and green.

Once the data are in the watch, all you need to do to upload them to your personal computer is to take your Forerunner within range. ANT+, a wireless personal network protocol, automatically takes care of the transfer. You can analyze your data on your computer, or share them with your running buddies online.

You can even share your data with other runners using Forerunner 405 while still in the field. You can transmit your location so they know where you are. You can also send out your workout courses for them to try out, or compete against. Of course, you can receive their records and compete with them too.

A heart rate monitor may be incorporated with a Forerunner 405 for an additional cost. This monitor continually records heart beats per minute, allowing a runner to see if he is exercising within the safe percentage of his maximum heart rate, or if he is running too slowly to give him any real exercise. The records stored will also allow you to compare your current heart rates with previous data. With this, you can see if your heart muscles are getting stronger.
A slower heart beat at the same pace indicates a stronger heart.

A Garmin Forerunner 405 currently sells at US$299.99 at Amazon.com. For all the benefits a serious runner can get from it, it may well be worth the price.

The technology for the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) has been around since the 1960s although it was as yet in a rudimentary and primitive stage relative to the system’s capabilities today. After long years of research and development, the United States Department of Defense finally launched the NAVSTAR GPS (Global Positioning System) which became fully operational in 1993.

GPS uses a minimum of 24 satellites to transmit microwave signals to GPS receivers all over the globe, which could be used to calculate the latter’s location, time, and velocity.

This system is now a very useful aid in worldwide navigation, map-making, land surveying, geosciences studies, and even in sports.

Initially, the use of NAVSTAR GPS was intended to be for military use only, but with the shooting of Korean Air Flight 007 by a Russian interceptor aircraft after it strayed into Russian airspace, then President Ronald Reagan issued a directive allowing civilians to use the GPS once operational. At the start of its operations, the best signals were still reserved for the military but this practice, called Selective Availability (SA), was ended in 2000. Civilian GPS then became more accurate in determining locations up to a radius of 1 meter. This provided the impetus for the development of GPS receivers that are more civilian user-friendly.

GPS watches are among these developments for civilians. As the name implies, a GPS watch is a wristwatch that incorporates GPS technology, which provides an accurate determination of location, time used to move from one point to another, and speed of travel. These data are important to serious runners, hikers, mountain climbers, bikers, and boaters.

Serious runners need to closely monitor their pace and distance covered especially when training for a race. Training programs for races ranging from a 5K to a marathon normally prescribe precise increments in both areas. A GPS watch gives the runner exact measurements. Hikers, bikers, and mountain climbers certainly do not want to lose their way in the wilderness or trails. A GPS watch is much better than a trace of bread crumbs when finding your way back. Although boaters now have navigational tools other than GPS watches, it is always a good idea to have multiple systems backing each other up especially when navigating without landmarks or in the dark.

In addition to GPS navigational tools, these watches also include other features such as a chronograph, barometer, altimeter, compass, thermometer, calorie counter, and heart rate monitor, thus making them a must have for true blue athletes and sportsmen.