Casio Women's BGD110-7BDR Baby-G Orange Dial Shock Resistant Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $100.00

Amazon Price: View Sale Price

•  White resin case with stainless steel bezel and case back. White resin strap with stainless steel buckle. Orange digital dial with auto EL backlight and afterglow.
• Shock resistant and water resistant to 100m.
• World time. 29 times zones (48 cities + UTC), city code display, daylight saving on/off. 1/100 second stopwatch .
• Measuring capacity: 23:59 59.99 . Measuring mode: elapsed time, split time, and 1st-2nd place times.
•  Countdown Timer. Measuring unit: 1 second. Input range: 1 minute to 24 hours (1-minute increments and 1-hour increments).
• 4 daily alarms and 1 snooze alarm. Hourly time signal.
•  Auto animation on/off. Auto calendar (pre-programmed until the year 2099).
•  12/24 hour formats.
• Button operation tone on/off.
•  Precise Casio Quartz movement, accurate up to +/-30 seconds per month.
•  Battery CR1616. Approx. battery life: 3 years. Case measures 35mm wide by 12mm thick. Module 3175.

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PUMA Unisex PU910791001 Slide-Large Black Red Digital Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $50.00

Amazon Price: $50.00

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Timex OVA Ironman Triathlon Watch

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Retail Price: $79.95

Amazon Price: View Sale Price

The revolutionary design of the Ironman Triathlon Sleek with OPTIMAL VIEWING ANGLE puts the display in your natural line of sight, without breaking form. The START/LAP button is located in the best possible position for instant and mistake-proof access. The case and strap are sculpted like a second skin, ensuring maximum comfort. The end result is less effort seeing the time, surer tracking of splits, the best possible fit and — most importantly — a faster finish.

The Timex OVA Ironman Triathlon Watch is a tough timepiece designed to withstand a tough triathlon, and all the training that goes with it. Constructed with a lightweight resin case, the watch includes a stationary plastic bezel and a blue resin wristband with an adjustable buckle clasp. A durable mineral window shields the large blue-shaded digital-gray dial face, which displays time as well as the day, date, and month. Four black and blue buttons decorate the bezel and include mode, set/recall, Indiglo, and stop/reset functions. A prominent blue start/lap button rests above the 12 o’clock position. This athletic timepiece is powered by digital-quartz movement and is water resistant to 330 feet.

“I recently bought a Timex OVA (optimal viewing angle) watch. I bought it as a replacement for my old Nike Triax watch, which inexplicably stop functioning correctly. After comparing several different watches, including the new Nike Triax watch, I was impressed at the lightweight of the OVA; I can’t even tell when it’s on my wrist. Also the OVA comes in large- and mid-size versions, which is very important for many runners like myself that have thin wrists. The viewing angle makes looking at your watch slightly easier while running versus the conventional angle. Furthermore, the placement of the buttons is the best on any watch I have ever owned or tried; the start/lap button is literally fool proof and very easy to find without having to look down! The indiglo night feature works the same as many new sport watches, by lighting the numbers rather than the screen, which works very well at night. The memory feature gives lap times, total time, best time, average lap time and also the date at which the time was recorded, which makes recording training information very easy. Finally this watch not only performs fantastic… but it looks awesome with a ton of different color options.”

“Coming from a long distance runner, I find this watch to be one of the best watches I’ve had in a long time.”

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However, not everyone is really on board spending much money in the equipment for improving their training. This is especially true, for running and running watches. Many runners, especially those just in it for leisure and not for competitive purposes, would think that running watches are nothing more but added expenses. They would think that running watches cannot really help them improve their training.

This is wrong of course. A running watch, when properly used can definitely help you in improving your training and other workout sessions. Here are some of the ways where having a running watch handy would help you better your exercise.

Accurate Distance Travelled through GPS features:

One of the ways that people train is through running a set distance. For example, a person would want to set a goal of being able to run or jog for 3 kilometers a day. However, they may not have a way to accurately measure just how much they were able to train.

Through the GPS feature of a running watch, you have a way to accurately know just how much distance you have covered while you run. There are even some running watches that beep or inform you if you are about to cover your set training goal.

Tracking your Heart Rate:

A running watch when equipped with a heart rate monitor can help you track your target hear rate zone. This is important for you to be able to determine whether you were able to get an effective workout. A good workout would mean that you were able to reach your specific target heart rate.

With a running watch, you have a handy way of knowing if you were overtraining or under training. Under training means that you could have probably wasted time as your workout is insufficient. Overtraining, on the other hand, may be dangerous because you are pushing your body to levels that it may not be able to handle. This may cause injury or unnecessary stress to your body.

See improvement over previous performance:

People respond well to motivation. One of the best motivational tools is to see improvement or progress with what you are doing. Through the use of a running watch’s log of all your exercise data, you would be able to see your improvement in pace, speed, distance covered, and other factors.

Conversely, you would also be able to see if your performance is dipping in some aspects. This would allow you to force yourself to do better in it.

Through these features you would be able to see just how a running watch would be able to help your training. Maybe it’s not time for you to consider using one on your own workouts.

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Timex Unisex T5K373 ING NYC Marathon Ironman 150-Lap Sleek Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $89.95

Amazon Price: View Sale Price

This is a watch for the serious athlete and boasts some of the latest high-tech features such as:

Here’s what REAL customers have to say:

“This is my third Ironman style watch (2nd purchased on Amazon) and it is especially nice to have the controls in the same place so there’s no need to get out the instruction book to figure which button works which function. The numbers are larger than my previous “OVA” style watch so that is an added plus. In fact, when I showed my new watch to my running buddy the first thing he said was “Wow, big numbers!” But the watch is not huge and I would rate it a medium size. With 150 laps it will more than fulfill my running needs.

I typically run 5 days per week and always time the run whether it is just overall, laps or intervals. I also use this watch daily at work where I need to record times so it gets used a lot. As per the most common complaint the integrated bands last only 2-3 years but when you’re only paying $30 or so for the watch, that is completely acceptable. The buttons are large and easily usable with all but my heaviest gloves and the accuracy of the watch is right on as I check with the Naval Observatory about once a week. I can easily recommend this for runners and casual users for looks, ease of use and reliability.”

“After losing my last watch a few months ago I’ve been searching for a suitable replacement. When I found this one (during a Labor Day sale on Amazon, no less)I was pretty sure I’d found what I wanted. After receiving the watch yesterday I can’t say enough good things about it. 150 laps is perfect for me, since my school track is at the awkward size of 9 laps=1 mile. Without some way to track them, I just lose count.

The water resistance makes it useful for lap swimming, and the 9 (!) interval timers makes it perfect for HIIT workouts, fartleks, and various other conditioning intervals.

It’s an attractive finish too, with a brushed metal casing that gives it a high quality appearance-much nicer than the basic plastic faces on so many of the Timex Ironman watches.

The best part? If you’ve ever owned a Timex sports watch before you can go ahead and throw out the instructions. The buttons are incredibly intuitive and made it easy to set and figure out without needing to read a single word on the multi-lingual foldout.”

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Before you buy any running watch, you should stop to think about yourself as a runner.

Are you a casual runner who just likes to get outside in the fresh air every once in a while and run a few laps around the park?

Or are you a serious, advanced runner who runs every day, rain or shine, possibly even training to run in a marathon?

The type of runner you are should determine the type of running watch you need. A basic running watch will suffice for the casual runner, while a serious runner needs a running watch with more advanced features.

Whichever type of runner you may be, here are the top 3 things to consider when you are buying a running watch:

1. Does the watch have a countdown timer?

Even if you are just a casual, occasional runner now, you might eventually kick it up a notch and start taking your running more seriously. In that event, you will want to know your time. A countdown timer on a running watch will count down from a certain value until it reaches zero. You might want to keep up with your time as a casual runner, as well, to see if you can beat your own time after a set period. For example, you might want to record your times every time you run a particular route for a month, to see if your speed has improved at the end of that period.

2. Does the watch have a clear display?

The last thing you want when you are out running is a watch with an inferior display! You need to be sure and buy a watch with large enough numbers that you can easily see them at arm’s length while running. Also, make sure that the stop watch display is adequate. You want something easy to see and read while you are running, so that you can keep up with your time.

3. Does the watch have lap storage capabilities?

You want to be able to store each record of your sessions, so that you can track your progress as time goes on. So, look for a running watch that will store the data of each session: speed, distance, time.

Before buying a running watch, make sure it comes with those three features!

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If you’re shopping for a runner or jogger, a portable Global Positioning System on their wrist can pinpoint their location within 3 meters, and help Dad develop timed courses, set (and meet) exercise goals and gather and plot data for performance monitoring.

If your father likes to hike deep into the backwoods, a GPS watch can be an invaluable survival tool, as they can coordinate their exact location with downloaded maps of trails, etc. Getting lost in bad weather can become a thing of the past with one of these high-tech helpers.

So, what are some of the best watches to get for Dad? Here are a few of our favorites!

Garmin Forerunner 405

Garmin Forerunner 405 Wireless GPS-Enabled Sport Watch with USB ANT Stick and Heart Rate Monitor (Black)

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $282.61

Amazon Price: $166.98

• Heart Rate Monitor (optional)
• Computer synch
• Virtual Partner
• Advanced Workouts (Custom, goal-orientated exercise)
• Pace Alert (gives alarm if your pace changes)
• Time/distance alert (alarms when goals are met)

Although it may not have quite as many features as some others, the Garmin 405 is still a high-quality GPS watch that will serve well.

Timex Men’s Ironman 100-Lap FLIX System Watch

Timex Men's T5E231 Ironman 100-Lap Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $69.95

Amazon Price: $44.50

It is a no frills running watch that would enable the runner to accurately check the basic things necessary for tracking their runs. It gives you easy access to checking you split and lap times, using a 100 hour chronograph, and storing up to 100 lap memory recall. It also has a training log that stores your workouts by date as well as best lap, or total running times.

Perhaps the best thing about the Timex Men’s Ironman 100-Lap FLIX System Watch is that you would be able to get all of these features without having to spend so much. You can get all of these functionalities, as well as the quality and durability that Timex is known for with just over 45 US$.

Another factor that puts this into consideration is that this is one of the best selling running watches in the market right now. Perhaps this is because of the strong combination of features that can be had at a very low price.

The Garmin Forerunner 305

Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $299.99

Amazon Price: $238.99

Here’s what you would get out of the box:

• Forerunner 305
• Heart rate monitor
• Garmin Training Center® software
• Docking cradle
• Expander strap
• AC charger
• USB cable
• Owner’s manual
• Quick start guide

Like the previous Forerunner models, the Garmin Forerunner 305 would show your pace, speed, and distance travelled as you go along your track. The biggest addition to it is that it that the Forerunner 305 comes built in with its own heart rate monitor functionality.

Other notable features of the Garmin Forerunner 305 include the Virtual Partner. In the Virtual partner, a runner’s spirit of competition is ignited as he is provided with a virtual competitor on screen. In virtual partner mode, the Forerunner 305 displays how far ahead or behind you are compared to a competitor.

The Forerunner 305 also has easily customizable display screens that the Garmin Forerunner 305 has. This features means that the Forerunner 305’s  four quadrants that display training information can be customized to suit your needs. Beginning runners can just look at time, laps, or total training time, while those who want more data can opt for pace, heart rate (HR), distance and lap time or other data.

Packing intermediate to advance running features, and a highly affordable price, the Garmin Forerunner 305 is custom made for moderate to advanced runners who are searching for great GPS functionality and easy computer integration from their running watches.

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So what makes the best running watch? These are the top factors to consider for choosing the best one:

1. Accuracy of Data
2. Durable yet Comfortable construction
3. Features and Capabilities
4. Good Value for Money

With these factors, here are what I believe to be the top running watches for 2010:

Timex Men’s Ironman 100-Lap FLIX System Watch

Timex Men's T5E231 Ironman 100-Lap Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $69.95

Amazon Price: $44.50

Out of the three running watches that are in consideration for the best running watch for 2010, the Timex Men’s Ironman 100-Lap FLIX System Watch is the one with the least features as it does not really have any data connectivity or GPS powered functionality.

It is a no frills running watch that would enable the runner to accurately check the basic things necessary for tracking their runs. It gives you easy access to checking you split and lap times, using a 100 hour chronograph, and storing up to 100 lap memory recall. It also has a training log that stores your workouts by date as well as best lap, or total running times.

Perhaps the best thing about the Timex Men’s Ironman 100-Lap FLIX System Watch is that you would be able to get all of these features without having to spend so much. You can get all of these functionalities, as well as the quality and durability that Timex is known for with just over 45 US$.

Another factor that puts this into consideration is that this is one of the best selling running watches in the market right now. Perhaps this is because of the strong combination of features that can be had at a very low price.

Garmin Forerunner 405

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: Varies based on product options

Amazon Price: View Sale Price

The Garmin Forerunner 405 is one of the newer running watches that is in the running for the best running watch for 2010.

It is a GPS enabled running watch that uses its innovative technology to track training data such as distance, and pace on top of the usual running watch features of chronographs with splits and lap times. It also computes calories burned and heart rate.

The great thing about the Garmin Forerunner 405 is that it can wirelessly and seamlessly connect to your computer for easier analysis of the accurate data that you have tracked.

As an added incentive for the Forerunner 405, Garmin has created it to be much more sleeker than traditional GPS enabled running watches. This means that form and functionality are able to be balanced instead of the bulky or unwieldy GPS running watches that were available before.

Unfortunately, all of these features would literally come at a price, as you could expect to be set back by around 350-400 US$ if you purchase this feature-filled running watch.

Garmin Forerunner 305

Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $299.99

Amazon Price: $238.99

Despite being older than the other models of running watches in this list, the Garmin Forerunner 305 is still making a strong case as one of the best running watches for 2010.

This is because this gps-enabled rung watch is still loaded with enough features that enable it to stand with the newer models that came out after it. Through its GPS capabilities you would also be able to accurately track training data such as your distance and pace, and your calories burned.  It would also be packed in with the usual chronograph features of other running watches.

While it may not be as advanced as its newer counterpart, the Forerunner 405, it sure beats it when it comes to price, as you would roughly spend just 200 US $ for a complete package of the Garmin Forerunner 305.

My Pick as the BEST Running Watch for 2010:

All of these running watches are great, that’s why all of them are currently selling quite well in the market. However, my overall pick for the best running watch for 2010 would be:

Garmin Forerunner 305

I chose this stroller primarily because of the value for money aspect of it. For 200 US$ you can get a feature filled running watch that is nearly as capable as it’s more expensive and newer counterparts.

Yes, it may not have the built in heart rate monitors, or cadence sensors that the other watches have but you would be able to offset it by purchasing accessories with the total cost still ending up much cheaper than buying a new running watch.

With that said, if ever the sleeker Forerunner 405, would become cheaper and reach a price point that is near the Garmin Forerunner 305, then I may have to change my pick in the future!

Buy / More Info

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To the uninitiated, running simply helps you get in shape by burning fats and toning your muscles. While this may be true to some extent, there are actually more benefits that running can do for your body. Here are some of the ways where running can help in your development.

Cardiovascular exercise:

Running is a very good cardiovascular aerobic exercise. When one person runs, you are able to strengthening the muscles involved in respiration, which helps facilitate the flow of air in and out of the lungs. It also helps improving circulation efficiency and reduce blood pressure.

Regular running helps keep your stamina up, and give you more time before you get that “out of breath” feeling.

This is one of the reasons why running watches are equipped with logs for a history of your training. It checks whether you were truly able to improve your running strength and endurance by checking how fast or how long you were able to maintain a certain pace.

Strengthens leg and foot muscles:

Aside from being out of breath, one of the reasons that people are not able to go the distance that they want would be because of the pain in their weak leg muscles. When a person lives an inactive lifestyle, these muscles weaken and are unable to endure moving long distances.

On the other hand, a person who runs regularly would be able to strengthen these muscles making them more capable of enduring longer distances.

You would notice this improvement more thanks to the running watch’s powerful GPS sensors that could accurately track the distances that you have travelled during each training session.

Increases speed and reflexes:

Running regularly would help you increase your speed reflex times. This is because you are able to make your muscles move more efficiently and in a preprogrammed manner due to the continuous training or running movements that you have done.

You would be able to see a drop in your lap or split times because your muscles in your entire body have now become stronger and more capable to push your pace.

You would be able to track this improvement thanks to the running watch’s capability to track your time accurately up to the hundredths of a second.

Now that you see the benefits of doing running training regularly, what are you waiting for? Strap on a running watch and get on the road, oval, or athletics track and begin your running training  now!

Related posts:

1. Using Your Running Watch to Improve Training
2. How A Running Watch Can Help You Train
3. How to Train with a GPS Running Watch:

This wide range of costs for the running watch would usually make buyers think about just how much they should actually spend for a running watch.

The answer to this question should actually be determined by studying a few different factors. You should be able to know which among these considerations do you value the most, and then decide from there.

Here are some of the factors that you need to deliberate on so that you can decided how much you should spend for your running watches:

Toughness and Durability:

When it comes to running watches, the mantra could actually be “you get what you pay for.” Usually, a running watch that is cheap is just made from substandard materials or those kinds that would break down easily. On the other hand, an expensive watch would usually be made from the toughest and most durable materials. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, this is fairly accurate.

That’s why if you are planning on going through rough treks or jogs in the harshest environment, then you should probably purchase a more costly running watch. However, the strolls around the park or a controlled environment such as an oval, then you could make do with a cheaper watch.

Features:

As with toughness and durability, the more features you get, the more expensive the watch becomes. If you are looking for a complete training system with all the bells and whistles such as voice outputs, virtual training partners, heart rate monitors, cadence sensors, and GPS capabilities, then you have no other option but to actually shell out some money for it.

Remember that these innovations and features need special equipment and software, which are factors that can drive up the entire cost of the watch.

Design:

While it may not be directly related to running, design also plays a part in the cost of the running watch. Watches with lighter design or more ergonomic bands would usually cost more than their generic looking counterparts.

As you may probably surmise, the more advanced you are in your training, the more expensive the running watch that you need becomes. This is because a highly advanced training would require more features that cheap watches cannot provide.

If you are not really interested in running, you could probably just purchase a cheap watch and then purchase new ones as your interest grows, but if you know from the start that you would be fully dedicated to the sport, then you should probably skip the cheap ones and invest in a full-feature running watch.

Related posts:

1. Garmin Forerunner 205/305/405 – Top Running Watch 2009
2. Using Your Running Watch to Improve Training
3. Best Running Watches for 2010