Using a GPS Running Watch In Training

We constantly strive to push ourselves in our weekly training schedules in order to achieve faster times in races. Those of us who have taken the sport to a serious level know that in order to improve, it is crucial to track and measure our performances and to log them on a regular basis so that at a convenient time, we can analyze our training regiment and assess how effectively our training measures up. High performance athletes all over the world are constantly looking for training tools that are sophisticated to measure their vital training statistics, one such tool that can offer exactly this is a high-end GPS running watch, a tool that is becoming increasingly more popular. A GPS watch can do a lot more than simply measure your speed and distance during a run or plot your courses, although these are certainly handy features to have at your disposal. The most sophisticated GPS running watches are computer watches in their own right that typically can store a large quantity of training data, support advanced training modes and come with computer software packages allowing you to upload your training data to a PC or Mac for post-session analysis on a computer. A GPS running watch is not just a watch that can measure speed, distance and position, but a complete pre and post-training analysis package in its own right! Here are some of the advanced features offered in the leading GPS watches: Auto-Pause: The ability to start or stop the stopwatch based on your current speed. This enables you to take a break in the middle of a run without needing to manually stop and start the running stopwatch and without worry of registering inaccurate times. Auto-Lap: Automatically records a split based on the distance you have covered during an event or training run. This allows you to record every kilometer or mile split during a long training run. Later you can review your splits in a software package. Wireless Uploads: Not all GPS watches feature this, but many support the wireless ANT+ protocol that can wirelessly transfer your training data from your wrist watch to a USB stick ANT+ receiver. Thus with many watches you do not need to worry about annoying cables, your data is simply transferred the moment you enter the room. Alerts: Many watches allow you to set up alerts that can notify you when you have run for a certain time, covered a certain distance, bunt a certain amount of calories or when your heart rate is outside of your target zone (yes most GPS watches are heart rate monitor watches too!) Customized Screens: You have the full ability to set up customized data screens that include the data fields that you choose with many of the leading GPS watches. The above-mentioned features merely scratch the surface of the full range of features that are available in a typical high-end GPS running watch. Watches such as the Garmin Forerunner contain specialized training modes such as Virtual Partner, which challenges you to run at a certain pace throughout a training run or race. When the Virtual Partner feature is active, the Forerunner will display how far you are leading or lagging your "virtual partner". There many other advanced modes included, so whether you are training for a major marathon, or trying to run a faster time in a local 5k fun run, a GPS running watch has all you need to go that extra mile.