The ones that I use have GPS... So it tracks your distance and speed/pace...
But I'm currently training with a couple of different Suunto watches now... which have some very cool features... like an altimeter and barometer, so I can keep track of how much elevation I'm gaining and they can also warn me when bad weather might be approaching... also it keeps track of sunrise and sunset times based on my GPS location and I can set timers on it to plan accordingly so I don't get stuck out after dark... If I don't want to that is...

Oh, and they have a HRM as well, so it's like having a mini exercise physiology lab strapped to your wrist...

Hi Ian. While I don't have a Garmin I do have a Polar heart rate monitor. Like Polar, Garmin has many varieties of watches depending on what you want. You can get one that calculates heart rate, calories burned, includes GPS so you know how far you've ran or walked, and even enter your own courses and distances. My little Polar does a nice job of tracking calories burned (what I initially bought it for) and heart rate. I hope to one day to graduate to a Polar or Garmin with GPS.

Oh, by the way, just as there are many varieties there are many price points as well.

Check out their website for more details. http://www.garmin.com/en-US

It's funny I've never really "loved" my Garmin's... although the "virtual" training partner is pretty cool... but the first one I had with that "touch" bezel... was SO annoying... But they've gotten better... I also wasn't a fan of having to recharge it either... I'm really enjoying training with the Suunto's right now... I especially, like seeing my TE right there in front of me while I'm running... that's definitely pretty cool... But a lot of the features can definitely be a bit of overkill...

See, I'm the opposite! I count myself as an "in-between" runner because I'm slow and (usually) don't care. But I've trained for and run a half marathon before, and - while yes, at times it was boring - I really enjoy my long runs. In fact, I kind of HATE running until the first 1.5 miles is finished. Then I start to love it.

I have to try really hard and not compare myself with other runners. If I did, I think I would start to feel discontent that I don't feel when I'm just trying to get better for myself.

It's hard not to notice and be discouraged by others who are faster/lift more/better at XYZ activity!

Maybe once every week or two I like to do a 7 miler or so - but by the end I'm bored to tears and my knees HURT.

I did C25k years ago and just hung right around 3 miles. When I can't make it to the gym for my cardio class, and sometimes on the weekend just for fun, I go for a 3 mile run. Usually twice a week or so. I have no desire to work up to more. My knees start bothering me if I do more than that. I also don't really care to work on speed. I just love running and listening to my music. Definitely an in betweener here!

It's interesting to hear people complain about knee pain. I'm the opposite. I have way less knee pain when I'm getting all my runs in than when I skip them.

i agree with the poster who said "who has the patience" for longer runs....I truly have a short attention span and jogging mile after mile is incredibly boring...ive also naturally limited my distance because of asthma issues...so I've always done a couple miles of walk/run intervals and then some incline walking to finish up my time at the gym...I don't have enough time to put in at the gym to do 10 miles etc even if I was capable of doing that LOL

while I envy those girls who can easily put 10 miles or more under their belt in one workout....I just don't have the time, patience or fitness level to do that

right now I run HIIT intervals on the treadmill and work on speed, and finish it up with high incline walking....I have 45 minutes on the treadmill per day...and I also try to ride my bike outside if it's not raining...and I just started walk/run intervals on a trail near the coast when it's not raining

Thanks everyone for the low down on GPS watches. I'll get one of those when I am ready to hit the open road.

I had a rest from resistance training today to give my muscles a break so I hit the treadmill instead. I just ran 2 miles (3 kilometers) in 20 minutes. My personal best! Running is awesome. I used to like it less than weights, but they are on an equal par right now.

I am going to enjoy my "rest" days running. That's for sure!

By the way, I run after breakfast. I felt a bit queezy doing that today. Any tips on the best time to run regarding meals?

I feel queasy too if I have too much in my stomach when I run...what speed do you run on the treadmill? ...if I eat anything right before I run, its only a bite of peanut butter...usually I eat some toast about two hours before I run, and I run in mid-morning between my work shifts

I also found that I was having horrible allergic reactions during running, which my doctor attributed to having food in my stomach while running...im not sure I believe that because ive had allergic reactions before having eaten anything that day....but allergy testing didn't turn up anything definitive...so to be on the safe side I try to limit what I eat before I run

and be careful when you transition from treadmill to street running because it's a heck of a lot different on your joints...my ankles, knees and lower back can handle whatever I dish out on the treadmill but just a little bit of pavement pounding is enough to set my joints hurting for awhile

Oh, hooray! I knew all the 'tweeners had to be lurking around here somewheres!

I eat about 1-1.5 hours before I run, and I keep it light. I'll do something like a small bowl of oatmeal, toast with peanut butter, or a banana.

I can't run after eating for the same reason... I will drink coffee before a morning run... but that's it... although that's not the best thing to do either... But I've done it for years and it's more of a ritual now... and the caffeine of course...

There are all sorts of ideas about how many calories you should take in before a run at exactly how many hours before the run, etc., etc... I've found that I can take in maybe a couple of hundred calories mostly in carbs up till about 2 hours before a run and be OK... But if it's a race... well then I have a whole other pre-race "breakfast" ritual that I go through... but that's a whole other story...

Thanks for all the advice on the eating-running tips and alaskanlaughter, I agree about the joints. That is why I like the treadmill because it is so easy on the knees!

Ive been doing some evening runs on a trail along the coast (I live on the coast) to try and get my joints acclimated to a harder impact without being directly on the pavement...It's an experiment...So far my knees have handled it okay but just my right ankle has been protesting...I've sprained my right ankle numerous times in the past so it's weak. I'm hoping the gradual acclimation will give the joint time to toughen up....I'm also finding that my natural running speed is somewhat faster than my lungs want to breathe LOL