running watch

Question
Hi John,
I am a keen amateur runner and having done a couple of marathons last year would like to continue to improve. i'm looking for a running watch (ladies) and have read many reviews. i'd really be keen on one which calculates 'pace per mile' instead of just timing the race. is there one which you could recommend? i have Nike+ but have found the calibration a little unreliable!

many thanks for your time and effort

stephanie

Answer
Hi Stephanie
I have a number of athletes with assorted information and opinions on watches and the one real choice that keeps coming up is from a quote of a client i have worked with for 4 years who is also featured on my web site under athletes advised Laurie o'connor.I also do phone coaching here from albuquerque NM and around the usa and the world if you would be interested in exploring your potential.

All the best

John



Re: Watch    
I have the Garmin Forerunner 305.  From their website:
It has really been great and very happy with everthing
about it.


Form meets function with Garmin's high-performance line of personal trainers ?the Forerunner 305, 405 and 205. The Forerunner 305 includes a high sensitivity GPS receiver, new courses feature and robust wireless heart rate monitor for optimal performance.
Lock On to Satellite Signals
Forerunner 305 sports a unique design that wraps the GPS antenna around part of the wrist for a better view of the sky, and its high sensitivity GPS receiver provides improved tracking under trees and near tall buildings. Forerunner 305 also sports a robust ANT+?wireless heart rate monitor with softer, more comfortable chest strap and superior battery life. It eliminates cross-talk with other devices to reliably measure and send heart rate data, and it helps you train in your optimal heart rate zone.
Take It to the Next Level
Forerunner 305's courses feature lets you compete against previous workouts: you can compare your pace and heart rate to your past performance over the same run. You can also use Forerunner 305 to train for your next duathlon or triathlon with multi-sport workouts, a feature that lets you seamlessly transition between sports without resetting the unit, so you can use it for running, biking and more.
Train indoors and still track your distance, pace and calories burned with the optional Foot Pod accessory. This wireless sensor attaches to your running shoe and transmits distance and pace data to your Forerunner 305 so you can still use it when GPS reception is unavailable.
Get the Data You Need
You can customize any of Forerunner 305's three main data screens ?up to twelve data fields give you instant feedback on your workout. And, as with every Forerunner, each workout is stored in memory so you can review and analyze the data and see how you've improved over time.
Track Your Progress
As an added benefit, you can plan, analyze and store data from your workouts through our online community, Garmin Connect? or our free Garmin Training Center?software. Conveniently upload your data to Garmin Connect for an in-depth analysis of your workouts, online mapping and route sharing that will take your training to the next level. With Garmin Training Center?software, you can analyze data with interactive graphs that chart your pace, time, distance and heart rate. Overlay your run on a map so you can pinpoint specific areas and see how elevation and other factors affect your performance. Endurance athletes can also use Forerunner with TrainingPeaks.com, an easy-to-use web-based training system designed to help athletes train for any event.
Forerunner 305: You'll like the results