HAPPY FRIDAY!!! 
All of this running talk has inspired me to finally write a review of my Garmin Forerunner 305. Ever since I bought it about a year ago, I’ve received a TON of questions about it. Usually, I just reply to individual emails from readers, but then it occurred to me that I never wrote a “real” review of it. So, here it is… finally!
As you can probably guess, I LOVE this thing! I actually can’t run without it now!
The Garmin 305 tracks your time, distance, and pace. You can also keep track of your heart rate with the chest strap, but I don’t use it. The Garmin uses GPS technology to determine how far you’ve run (or biked) as well as your pace.
Being able to see your pace, every step of my run, is soooo motivating! I’ll look down at my Garmin and see a 9:30 pace and know that I need to pick-it-up. Before I know it, I’m running at an 8:30 pace. It’s hard to tell how fast I’m running, so the Garmin motivates me to run faster (or keep up my same pace).
PROS:
- Great for athletes of all levels: You don’t need to be a super-star athlete to use the Garmin. It’s a great tool for everyone. I don’t consider myself a “serious” runner, but my Garmin has definitely helped me improve my running pace and increase my distance.
- Continuously monitors speed, distance, and pace (as well as heart rate and calories burned): Having all of this information at my finger tips while I run, helps me train more effectively. Being able to see my pace pushes me to run faster, and being able to see my distance, motivates me to run farther. If I am at 4.75 miles, for example, I’ll usually keep running to hit 5 miles.
- Tracks my every move with a super-sensitive GPS: The Garmin tells me exactly how many miles I’ve covered, so I don’t have to guess or use one of those online tools to figure out how far I have run.
- Provides detailed post-workout analysis on your computer: I didn’t think I would use this feature, but it’s actually really cool. I’m a dork and like analyze my runs.
- Keeps me motivated with auto laps: You can set auto laps at each mile so the Garmin beeps when you’ve completed each mile. On a log run, this is VERY motivating!
- Multi-sport option: Works for running, walking, biking, and you can change the sport mode with a press of a button.
CONS:
- Satellites sometimes take awhile to load: Sometimes it takes awhile for the satellites on the Garmin to load, especially if I have moved locations, like the time I ran in San Francisco after I had run in Boston a few days before. I guess my Garmin got a little confused? But, I’ve figured out that if I put the Garmin on a windowsill with the power on (since I’m usually inside getting ready), it loads quickly. (The Garmin can’t find the satellites if you’re in the house.) This really isn’t a big deal, but sometimes I just want to get out there and run, and I don’t want to wait. It takes only a minute or two to load, but I’m impatient like that!
- Size can be intimidating: Some people complain that the 305 is too big, but I don’t mind it at all. When I first saw it, I was surprised at its size, but after about 30 seconds of running with it on my wrist, I don’t even notice how big it is. Plus, I think it just looks bad-ass in general.
As you know, I work with OpenSky to get you guys the best deals on my favorite products. So, from now until next Friday, you can save $75 on the Garmin 305!!! Just enter the code “GarminSale” at check-out.
A couple questions for you guys: do you like deals like this? If so, what other products do you want me to offer in my shop?
Jeez, Louise! That was way more than I planned to write. Onto breakfast!
Breakfast
I ended up sleeping in until about 8:30 this morning, so when I finally got my lazy butt out of bed, I was starving for breakfast. I usually eat around 6:30, so my stomach was more than ready to eat!
For breakfast, I made a big batch of oat bran + spelt flakes with banana, walnuts, and raisins mixed in.
In the mix:
- 1/4 cup oat bran
- 1/4 cup spelt flakes
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup vanilla soy milk
- 1 banana
- 1/2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/8 cup raisins
- 2 tbsp chopped walnuts
- Cinnamon
- 2 scoops of peanut butter
I forgot how much I liked the combo of raisins + walnuts. Delicious!
And, of course, I drank a glass of iced coffee with breakfast.
The deadline for the first draft of my book is 1 WEEK from today! GAH! 
I feel like I still have so much to do. There’s going to be lots of writing and editing in the next few days!
Question of the Day
What’s your favorite piece of exercise equipment?
P.S. I LOVE this post from one of the RD’s at NuVal: Myth Busters. It explains what NuVal is all about so well.
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Oh I’m with you on the Garmin – I don’t know how I lived without mine before, it’s SO GOOD! Garby is my best friend
Delicious breakfast – raisins & walnuts gets a big thumbs up
I just got my garmin this week on Monday and i LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I agree though, it can take a while to load but I’ll try the trick to leave it near a window. I live in DC so there are tall buildings everywhere and sometimes it takes a minute or two to load once I’m already outside and ready to go. But you are so right – its only been a few days and I can tell I’m going to hate running without it!
I am dying to get a Garmin! Thanks for posting a review. My favorite pice of exercise equipment is the ROAD. Does that count?
great review! thanks!
my favorite piece of exercise equipment is MY BIKE! Now that the weather is getting nicer, i plan on riding it EVERYWHERE!
I LOVE my Garmin! My favorite piece of exercise equipment has to be my running shoes. Much more portable than anything else!
My Polar watch. It monitors my heart rate and calories burned. If I see that I have ate 1200 calories and only burned 1100, it means I need to get moving. I wasnt sure about the chest strap at first, but it really doesnt bother me. It is sort of like a good push up bra
I also love my Garmin, I was hesitant about buying one because I am not a serious runner but since I still don’t know this area it’s nice to keep track of how far I’m running, how I’m improving and it’s a great motivator.
My favorite exercise equipment is my rower, I just love the way I feel after I do a work out on it. My arms love it.
i gotta say either my heartrate monitor (it’s a Polar) or just plain dumbells…you can work every body part with them! thanks for the honest review…i was really wondering what to think about Garmin being everywhere!
I love my Polar! I don’t run so don’t feel a need for a Garmin, but I have noticed how ‘big’ it is!
I LOVE my Garmin & I’m sort of attached to it. I really only use the distance, pace, & heart rate but I know it has a billion other features!
Geez. I really want a 305..and $75 off! That’s such a deal. I have the Garmin Forerunner 50, which I think is just the base model, and I’m the same way…I can’t run without it!
i got my garmin for christmas just as i was starting my half marathon training. it helped so much! and on race day, there were so many other runners with the same one. it’s so motivating to beat your previous time and i always love hearing the “beep” when i finish a mile. it’s definitely my favorite piece of equipment. oh, and my foam roller! both running lifesavers!
Thanks for the Garmin review!
Have a great weekend!!
Right now my favorite piece of exercise equipment is my yoga mat
I really want a Garmin, though. I guess I should start saving!
Wow if I didn’t have a Garmin already I would DEFINITELY take advantage of $75 off! Anyway, I totally agree about the Garmin taking too long to load. I have started putting it on the back deck when I am getting ready haha. I know I could just wait til a couple of minutes into my bike- but on a bike I could miss over a mile in the time it takes to load, plus sometimes I forget once I am already in a grove!
I would love to have a Garmin… I’m going to check out that deal! My favorite piece of exercise equipment is probably…. treadmill or free weights…. I cant choose!!
I’ve never noticed it before, but I love your placemat! I don’t have any fancy gadgets for exercise… I don’t know if we can even get anything like the Garmin in Australia!
I like stability balls. I think they are one of the most versatile pieces of exercise equipment.
Best piece of exercise equipment? My bike!!! (I guess I should say my yoga mat, but half the time I don’t even use a mat and hey, yoga’s all about non-attachment right?)
Do Garmins work for cyclists?
@Rachel @ Suburban Yogini: Yep!
This might be a stupid question but who knows…does the garmin work internationally? Has anyone had problems with it in any countries besides the US?
Thanks for that review. I have been thinking about getting one for a while now. I have a Polar heart rate monitor, but the chest strap battery died and ISNT REPLACEABLE! So, now all it really does is act as a stop watch. I think I would enjoy tracking my runs, and knowing my actual pace, but I’m still not so sure I’m ready to shell out $300.
Good luck with the writing, you can do it!!!
I have the same Garmy and just wanted to say I agree with everything you said (in case people are considering getting one, do it!
). I have to figure out how to make it automatically beep at each mile- usually I watch it and press “lap” but that is tedious.
this is on my BIRTHDAY LIST!!! hopefully i’ll have one to call my own on april 27!
Love my Garmin too! Totally addicted!
I love the elliptical! It’s great on te knees after a rough run:)
I just bought a box of oat bran yesterday. Your bowl looks YUMMY!
My favorite piece of exercise equipment: My recumbent bike. Love it!
Jenn
There are some iphone apps that are GPS trackers, like “map my run” and “map my ride.” My husband uses it for his bike and likes it but I am wondering if people use these iphone apps for running and if they compare to the features of the Garmin.
Thanks for the review – I’ve been interested in purchasing a Garmin 305. Do you know if it works for biking as well?
Do you wear the chest strap? I have to go without it. If it’s too loose, it falls off. If it’s too tight, I get cramps.
That’s an accurate review. I have the same one and love all the same features. It’s great that you put it in your opensky, but in fairness to your readers, I have to say I bought the exact same thing on Amazon for $150.
I love my Garmin! It has totally changed the way I run, especially during races
thank you for the review! i went to my local sporting goods store last night and played around with the garmin 305 and fell in love with it! i’m hoping to buy it soon!
I don’t have a Garmin, I just use an app on my GPS enabled phone to track distance and pace. Obviously it can’t do HR, but I don’t really care about that anyway.
I love, love, love my Garmin. It is hands down my favorite piece of workout “equipment” lol.
My favorite is my Garmin 305 too
Also I’m pretty dependent on my ipod
@Julie: I used a droid app for my bike ride yesterday because I forgot my Garmin. It works fine and uploads the information (distance, elevation changes, calories) to a website. My only peeve is that I can easily stop the timer on the Garmin because it’s on my wrist, while my phone is tucked away so the timer keeps going.
I absolutely love my heart rate monitor, it has made a huge difference in the way I work out. My second fave piece of equipment is my notebook. I log all my workouts, log my strength and cardio. I love looking back and seeing how I can challenge myself or exercises I forgot about.
Courtney
adventures in tri-ing
my garmin! I have the 301 (older and cheaper!) but I love it and has all the same great functions!
fav piece of exercise equipment? my yoga mat. If I went to the “gym” it would be the pull up assist machine.
I love my Garmin too! I got mine for Christmas, and I’m just now really getting to use it. I love to load all the data onto my computer, and see all my stats adding up. I still haven’t figured out the auto-lap thing, that would be good to use!! Hope you have a great weekend!!!
I don’t have a Garmin, but I just took a PT job at a running store and we’re going to carry them. I imagine I’ll use my discount eventually and snatch one up
I was JUST looking at the Garmin 305 online yesterday and trying to find reviews! That’s so funny. The universe is speaking to me…
For your Open Sky shop, I had a question… Are there different versions of the 305? Sorta like the ipod has different generations? I ask because the prices on these things seem to vary widely and I want to be sure to compare apples to apples.
I love the jump rope. It elevates my heart rate and makes me feel pretty much like a bamf like Rocky.
I have been wanting a garmin for quite some time, but until then the Nike plus system is an acceptable substitute.
75 dollars off a garmin is AMAZING. Thanks for that code/coupon/deal. I love all your deals but I usually like the food ones…:)
@LB: Yeah I see that Garmin’s suggested retail price is $200 and Amazon is selling it for $165. Is it really the same product?
my ioga mat… hi, just found your blog… i really like… its a inspiration… specially because i just started mine yesterday heheh… if you can, go take a quick look and see what you think about my blog, please… i really could use some advice… =) thanks
oooo I want one of these so bad! I’ll have to really think about getting it with that killer deal!
Thank you!
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