Garmin Forerunner 310XT

Posted on 16 July 2009, at 3:32 pm, by Larry Greenberg

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This entry is part 2 of 5 in the series How It's Changed Over the Years

It’s time for another in my series of “how it’s changed over the years.”

In this post I showed you just how the helmet mounted flashlight has changed for firefighters and now it’s time to look at the Garmin Forerunner.

I’m a runner. This past May I completed my 10th marathon and I’m registered to try number 11 this November.

My Garmin Forerunner has become an essential training tool. It keeps track of my speed, distance, pace, heart rate etc. all while running and when I get home it allows me to wireless transfer the data back to my computer for analysis.

The great thing about the Garmin Forerunner is it’s GPS based. So it needs no foot pod, as some other running watches do, to track all of my stats, it does it all via satellite.

Just like the iPod the Garmin Forerunner seems to get an overhaul every year and each year brings a newer, slicker design.

The Garmin Forerunner started as a big, bulky device that although quite functional, was a little awkward on your wrist.

runner201

The second update to the watch was a major one.

Although still large, it more closely resembled a watch.

Garmin-Forerunner-305

Then came the 405 series which was the smallest yet and really did feel like you were wearing a digital sports watch.

And just released this month comes Garmin’s latest update to the line, the Forerunner 310XT.

As an upgrade to the 305 the 310XT is smaller and features some really cool add-ons.

First it’s the first watch of its type to be water proof. Perfect for triathletes who can wear it from the water, while running and on the bike. Even the HRM strap can be worn while swimming and wireless transmit to the watch.

The 310XT also features vibrating alerts.

One of the more comical occurrences during a marathon happens at each mile marker where several hundred Garmin watches all beep at the same time (the watch can be set to auto lap and auto alert for different intervals.) Hey, it’s 26.2 miles of running, you gotta take your laughs when you can. ;)

Now users can set their watches to silent and still be alerted when they’ve ticked off another mile.

The 405 series has also been upgraded by way of the 405CX.