I got the Garmin Forerunner 305 for my birthday, and to a lesser extent for completing the half marathon and as a motivation for the next.

I’ve been eyeing the Forerunner since the 205 except I couldn’t justify spending that kind of money on a tool that’s supposed to help me run better. I debated getting the newly released and much smaller 405 but again the price was prohibitive. After a few days of shopping around online I got it from the second cheapest source (because Amazon won’t ship it to Canada and I didn’t have the patience to have it shipped to WA and then cross the border to pick it up).

I love it!

It’s usable right out of the box with no configurations required. I did a test run the first morning on my walk to work – It found a satellite within 30 seconds and just went to work.

It shows the time, distance, pace, average & best pace, calories burned, elevation, etc

I’ve covered about 45miles since I stated using it a week ago. It’s very helpful during my early morning runs – I mostly have an hour to spare and it’s a great tool to rate� and help me improve my performance.

It has an easily� customizable training feature and a virtual partner you can compete against.

On Monday, I overdid it and went for a rather long run, when it became clear that I was too exhausted to run back all the way, I switch to the training feature and set it up so that I’d run for a mile and rest for 5mins…

It comes with a training software which I haven’t used much. I use Motion Based, Garmin’s online training/analyzing/mapping application. One of the coolest features is that it overlays your run route over Google maps, it also has a player that simulates your run.

I haven’t used the heart monitor yet because I can’t seem to connect it to the unit, from what I’ve read online it’s a common problem – which is rather disappointing, I’ll be calling Garmin if all else fails.

That’s thus far the only con, oh and last Saturday it took a good minute for it to get a signal.

It’s (way) larger than a regular watch but I don’t mind as I’m a fan of large time pieces.

I love it because it makes me want to go out and run/walk.

View Larger Map – 14 mile scenic run last Saturday, I walked the last 7

http://elsbro.motionbased.com – to follow my running activities

I picked up my race packet last night still debating whether to run.

At this point it’s a test to see if I can run 21km (13.1 miles) without training.

I’ve slacked off so badly it’s shaming! I don’t have any excuses, no one to blame but myself.

I’m hoping some good will come out of this race though, sometimes you get so far off in the deep end there’s nothing more to do but turn back. I’m hoping this is one of those instances, that this will be the turning point.

I’m slightly comforted by this thought; it’s like I’m having one of those moments that encourages people to change their lives. I’m hoping I’ll look back on this day and smile knowing the exact moment I decided to take control.

I’m being a little dramatic here but I really hope I can use this race to get things started again. I’ve been off the grid for so long I need motivators. The running magazine does help but eventually I’m going to have to buckle down and just do it.

I’m hoping to stay within 2:03 hrs, and if I’m able to do that, I’ll reward myself!

Here’s to a great run tomorrow guys!

Could you successfully run a half-marathon if you only had a month to train?

That’s the question I’d been asking myself as the date drew closer.

My June edition of Runner’s World says that I can – good thing it came when it did otherwise I would have had to live with that lingering self-doubt.

I woke up at 5:30 this morning convinced it was raining; having had one false start already and with exactly a month to train I dragged myself out of bed and hit the pavement.

It wasn’t a smooth run, I started a bit too fast and was rapidly tiring out, I slowed down coming back and tried to get my breathing under control.

I want to take it seriously this year and shave at least 10mins off last year’s time. It’s doesn’t make any sense to not train and do poorly, then I might as well just not run.

To get my up to eight hours of sleep and still wake up that early, I’m going to have to go to bed early – which means I have to be asleep by 10PM.

From the look of things I’ll probably do only one long weekend run, I’m hoping to walk the route but I’m not going to sweat it.

I think I’ll do well, I’ll be fine as long as I use the next four weeks wisely.

I’ve rejoined the group. The informal group of men and women and sometimes the odd dog or baby, we wake up early in the morning and in silent camaraderie take to the pavements, sidewalks and trails; with one foot in front of the other, we run.

I’m glad I took a break; I knew it was a good thing when I stopped feeling guilty for not having ran.

Last Saturday felt like a real spring day – I initially thought of going for a walk but then wondered to myself “why walk when I can run” so I laced up my sneakers and headed out. The initial rush was great; it felt familiar; like I did it everyday.

This is the longest I’ve gone without running since I started running almost seven years ago. Back then it all seemed so focused, I loved discovering new routes and pushing myself.

These days I run the same routes and do as little as possible. I don’t know how to make it be like it used to. Running and I are like an old couple, we just need to figure out how to get the magic back.

Stanley Park

I’m an impulsive person.

Sunday, I decided to go for run alone at night in the woods. Sometimes, I wish I’d take time to rethink my decisions.

It started with the New York City Marathon. I watched it on tv and managed to get myself all riled up. I’m very much in awe of Paula Radcliffe, by the way.

I decided I too would run a marathon – this isn’t a new desire by any stretch; but I wanted to run badly.

I have a long way to go (I wanted to make a marathon pun here but none comes to mind) in terms of training. I feel like a blob and my new scale confirms this, so and this isn’t me being self deprecating.

I did a little research online and decided to order the Garmin Forerunner 305 to help me train.

I tried to relax comforted by things to come, yet I felt restless – like I needed to start right away.

I decided to go for a long run just before sunset. I should have thought a little, we just switched back to Standard Time hence it gets dark sooner. Running inside Stanley Park at night is never a good idea.

By the time I got into the thick wooded area it was pitch dark. I had no phone or whistle or anything for that matter to ward off attackers, just headphones blaring on. I envisioned all sorts of horrible things happening to me; right there in the thick dense forest with no where to run. I couldn’t turn back… I’d come too far.

Once in a while a car would pass by and those were the most frightening moments, clearly anyone in a car could see a defenseless woman running in the woods – who knows what kinds of people are out there.

There was this particular car the slowed to a halt behind me, I run so fast my feet hurt. Another car came up behind and it started moving, only to go a little further and park in some secluded parking area ahead. I prayed fervently and as if someone was actually listening a succession of cars came to pass. The lone car started up again and drove off.

They probably were lost and looking for directions but at the moment all I could think of was how I was going to be killed, raped, beaten, maimed or something as gory.

It’ll so break my mother’s heart, I thought as I ran through the harrowing night.

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