Running Watch Reviews &#187; Countdown Timer

Timex Women's T5K026 Ironman Sleek Digital Resin Strap Watch

Introducing a new collection of Baby-G models that are designed to double as accessories to match street fashions that are so popular among young women of today. An eye-catching solid-color band combines with a brilliant 3D LCD on which figures seem to float on a mirror like jelly. The result is a fun and fashionable design. Color variations include basic black and white, as well as distinctive pink and purple. You can select the Timekeeping Mode display style you want to use. Angling the watch towards your face causes one of 12 different animation patterns to appear for plenty of fun throughout the day.

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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Timex Womens Ironman Sleek Digital Resin Strap Watch T5K026

Running Watch Reviews — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:48:33 +0000

The Timex Womens Ironman Sleek Digital Resin Strap Watch is a great companion for women who have an active lifestyle.

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $64.95

Amazon Price: $37.87

The Timex Ironman boasts the great functionality for training that you have come to expect from Timex sport watches. It has a 50-lap recall, a 100-hour chronograph with lap or split option, and an interval repetition counter. It also has a countdown timer that includes a countdown stop and countdown repeat option, and three programmable and audible alarms with five minute back-up and on/off hourly charm to ensure that you are on time, every time.

These features are available for you while you train, without having to worry about the safety of the watch as the Ironman is made to withstand all the troubles of intense training.

The Timex Ironman has a rugged resin case that surrounds the digital dial, Indiglo nightlight for easy illumination in low-light conditions, and an adjustable resin strap with tang clasp feels secure and comfortable on your wrist. It is even water resistant up to 330 feet.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Had one before. Still Like it!
Just like my previous watch (besides color change). Good, reliable, easy to use. The band probably won’t last more than 2 years, but I still think it’s worth it. A warranty is available, but it applies to the watch itself (not the band).

4 Stars Great watch
This is my third Iron Man watch. My first two were black, so the grey/silver model is a nice change. The black version typically lasted me a couple of years before the plastic pieces of the face started to break off and the LCD display blinked out. The price is so good, that it’s worth it, though. Great everyday watch for work, where I wash my hands continually.

5 Stars Great Watch!
I love the watch. I’ve been wearing it for about three weeks now and the only complaint I have is that some of the print on the wrist part of the watch has worn off (this is where it says “50 Feet etc” I don’t know what else it says since I can’t read it). It’s not an integral part of the watch at all, so really no loss to me. The watch is perfect for my needs. Fast as heck delivery time.

4 Stars great watch!
Great watch for anything–even wear it for a casual day, not just my sports. Only drawback, if I have to have one, is the band. It is a longer band and I have smaller wrist. The band has a locking set up to control the extra band material. This hinge is sometimes annoying to unhinge. It’s so minor, wouldn’t make this an issue with buying another watch of same make!

5 Stars Timex Ironman
As described, lightweight, easy to use (with directions) – I’ve had it for about 6 weeks and it hasn’t fallen apart at all as some others have stated.

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Silva Accelerometer Runner Mens Runner Md 2831320

Running Watch Reviews — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:11:21 +0000

“Simple but effective” seems to be the mindset of the people who created the Silva Accelerometer Runner Men’s Runner.

Retail Price: Varies based on product options

Powered by an advanced accelerometer technology, the Silva Accelerometer Runner Men’s Runner is able to provide runner’s with accurate readings of their speed, distance, and calories burned using the wrist watch sensor. The data gathered by the Silva Accelerometer is accurate up to 95+%.

The technology of the Silva Accelerometer eliminates the need to wear awkward looking foot pods or belt clip sensors. Simply attach the wrist watch sensor and you are able to use its various features.

The Silva Accelerometer packs features such as a pedometer with a highly accurate step counter with adjustable sensitivity, chronograph that can record results up to 1/100th of a second for up to 50 laps and a total time of 24 hours, and a countdown timer.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars too complicated
this watch was too complicated to program. I wanted a watch that had the pedometer in it so I wouldnt have to have it hanging on my waist but this is so complicated I cant figure it out. wish I never bought it

4 Stars Tech 4 watch
The watch is hard to figure out at first but I did call the customer service desk and they were able to help me work it… The lady was very helpful and knew exactly what she was talking about it. The distance is a little off, but it still gives me an idea of how far I ran. It’s not a 100% accurate so it’s suppose to be a little off. I like this watch and am glad I bought it.

5 Stars Love this watch!
I have had my pedometer watch for a few months now and I love it! It seems to be pretty accurate even on longer runs (12 miles). It is cute and not too big and has held up well even when wearing 5+ days a week.

5 Stars Great watch
It’s a great watch it is pretty accurate for the price. If you take the time to callebrate it correctly it can be 95+% accurate. The best way is to go on the track and callebrate your steps or running stride there.

1 Star this watch is a useless piece of junk
this watch is good for one thing – telling time. i have measured and correctly entered my stride lengths, it does not work. i have called tech 4o customer service 4 times. they were very nice, but of zero help to me. i have tried everything in the 3 months that i gave this watch a fair shot to make it work out. it does not read accurate distances, period. every time i run the same verified 4 mile loop, i get a different distance reading. it was a waste of $55. i’m very very disappointed.

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Timex Unisex Ironman Traditional 30 Lap Watch T5H561

Running Watch Reviews — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:17:16 +0000

Timex Unisex T5H561 Ironman Traditional 30-Lap Watch

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $49.95

Amazon Price: View Sale Price

Built with rugged durability in mind, the Timex Unisex Ironman Traditional 30 Lap Watch is a great watch to take with you on your running training.

Created from the most durable materials, the shock-resistant Timex Unisex Ironman Traditional 30 Lap Watch is made to withstand the intense activities that you do during training. You can take it with you through track meets, triathlons, excursions, or other conditions that will be tough on your body and your gear.

The durability of the Timex Unisex Ironman Traditional 30 Lap Watch does not affect its capabilities. It is still loaded with features that enable you to use them while training. It has a 30-lap memory, large buttons for easy access to timing functions, three alarms (with 5-minute backup), and three time zones. It also has an occasion mode to set reminders for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and appointments, and all-day white reflector display.

All these features and durability come in a stylish teal and silver resin case with a comfortable black polyurethane strap.

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars Not as good as my old Casio
I’m not positive mine is the exact same model as this because mine is all black, but it is a Timex unisex 30-lap Flix Ironman and my comments should apply to all in this series. Although I’m a six-foot-tall man, I have thin wrists and can’t wear a man’s watch. Even this one is larger than I’d like. One of our wedding presents was his/hers gardening gloves. I wear the hers, my wife wears the his, but I digress. Sorry to say, Amazon, but you really shouldn’t buy a watch online; you need to try them on to see if they will fit your wrist.

I wanted it as my everyday watch to show time and date and as a stopwatch for running. It serves the first purpose well, with nice big numerals, which my middle aged eyes need. I’m happy with that part. I am disappointed in it as a stopwatch, though, and as an alarm clock/timer. The biggest difference between the Casios and the Timexes to me as a runner is that the Timex watches have the start/split button in front and stop on the side, while the Casio has the front button be stop/start. On both the front button is large and easy to push (or used to be on my old Casio, although I’ve heard that’s not so true for the newer ones). But I find it almost impossible to push the stop button on this Timex. At first when I began using this for timing my runs I would fail to stop the watch at the end more often than I succeeded, thus losing the timing data. You can’t use the split button for that because 10 seconds after you press it it reverts to the continuously running mode, so you have to memorize the split time or write it down. I want to stop the time and write down the time after I get home (driving from where I run at the park).

It is so hard to stop it that I found I was twisting the bejeebers out of the band when I pressed hard enough, so I started pressing equally hard from the opposite direction (the upper left) in a pinching motion to counteract the thumb at the stop button (lower right), but that didn’t work because the Set/Recall button (upper left) would always register the push first, changing it out of stopwatch mode to time set mode and thus the stop button didn’t work as a stop but instead changed the time. Eventually I learned to prepare to stop it about 10 seconds before the end of the run by finding the tiny sweet spot between the mode button and the 12:00 position with one finger and placing my thumb on the stop button, then squeezing really hard when I reach the end. Even doing this sometimes it doesn’t stop. This is not just my particular watch with this problem, either, because I tested several in the store when I bought an identical (except purple) one for my daughter (who specifically asked for an Ironman). They all had the really hard-to-press stop buttons. For what it’s worth, she loves hers, but she’s a triathlete and uses the lap features a lot, which I don’t.

For the alarm functions, I found them really hard to use mainly due to the Occasion mode always jumping in. If you don’t use it regularly, you can think you’re setting the alarm to wake you the next morning and instead it turns out you set it to ring when it’s somebody’s birthday or some other occasion. I find it much easier (and much louder) to use my cell phone as an alarm clock when traveling.

5 Stars Great watch for the price
This watch looks great and feels really comfortable on my wrist. I bought it for a simple watch to wear when I working around the house and exercising. For the price, it is great.

I love that the simplicity of its use as well as the stopwatch and 3 alarms.

The only downside, in my opinion, is that the strap is thinner than I thought. I took some getting used to but I think it actually makes it more comfortable.

5 Stars Great value for a great product
The watch is everything I want and more. It’s simple and durable while not looking too bad either. I’d definitely buy it again in a second!

5 Stars Great little watch
I’ve used a Timex Ironman watch for the last 15+ years. When I couldn’t find the model that I had been using, I ordered this one because it had the features I wanted–big numbers, chronograph and timer, different time zones, multiple alarms and convenient buttons. BUT when it came, it was smaller than what I expected a “midsize” watch would be, and my first thought was ‘Well, let’s send it back”. Then I started playing with it and discovered now easy it is to set, to use and how comfortable it is to wear! It’s perfect for this little old gray-haired lady!!

5 Stars Great Ironman Watch
Watch came in the original packaging, it works perfectly, and got to me quickly. I use it for running outside and it’s not heavy, fits perfectly on a woman, and doesn’t feel bulky. Good buy

Timex Unisex T5K018 Ironman 30-Lap Resin Strap Watch

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Timex Unisex Ironman 30 Lap Resin Strap Watch T5K018

Running Watch Reviews — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:02:21 +0000

Retail Price: $49.95

Amazon Price: $32.00

The creators of the Timex Ironman 30 Lap Resin Strap Watch understands that intense training means intense activity. That’s why they have made it as fully functional as possible while having the capability to withstand all the difficulties of extreme training.

The sturdy construction of the Timex Ironman makes it perfect for a all kinds of trainers, from the weekend runners to the competitive triathletes. It is even made to resist water from 330 feet. The watch is constructed from a lightweight plastic case, a stationary blue plastic bezel, and a strong, gray resin wristband with an adjustable buckle clasp for a personalized fit. The display is also shielded by a mineral window.

This tough build is made to shield the internal components from the wear and tear of running, cycling, swimming or any kind of training.

The durable exterior shields a fully functional watch. Powered by digital quartz movement, the Timex Ironman 30 Lap Resin Strap Watch is able to provide a whole host of features that make it ideal for training. It boasts of 30-lap memory, easy to use chronograph training log, on-the-fly lap recall, and interval training options that can all be accessed through the four buttons around the bezel.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Timex Unisex Ironman #T5K018
I bought this watch to help me train for my first half-marathon. Has all the standard features we’re used to with digital watches, time, date, chrono w/split times, etc. You can also program occasions like birthdays, meetings, and anniversaries so you don’t forget to stop and buy flowers during your run. The feature I use the most on this watch is the countdown timer. BEWARE!! I’m about 5’10″ and 160lbs and have small wrists which prompted me to go for the unisex model; however, the watch case is more a ladies or teen size. I only wear it for running so it doesn’t bother me too much, but my buddies would have a good time of it if I wore this out to the bar.

5 Stars practical watch
This watch is great for running and easy to use. It’s perfect for a woman’s wrist, as it has a thin band and is grayish purple in color.

Timex Women's T5J131 1440 Sports Digital Watch

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Timex Womens 1440 Sports Digital Watch T5J131

Running Watch Reviews — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:41:45 +0000

Retail Price: $19.95

Amazon Price: $13.00

The Timex Womens 1440 Sports Digital Watch proves that active and feminine need not be separate from each other.

This elegant timepiece utilizes digital-quarts movement to accurately tell time. It uses this technology to power features such as its 24 hour chronograph, daily alarm, and calendars. The Timex Womens 1440 then shows them to the user through its easy to read digital gray dial face.

All of these wonderful features are comes in an amazing package of a gray face plate, a blue resin band and a buckle clasp.

Despite the beautiful design, the Timex Womens 1440 Sports digital watch is as durable as they come. It is made from an acrylic dial window, stationary resin bezel, and 35-millimeter resin case. The Timex 1440 is even water resistant up to 165 feet.

Women with the Timex Womens 1440 Sports Digital Watch, will get the best timepiece to match their active lifestyles.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great kids/teen watch
Good quality & functions for all the things my 7, 12, & 13 year olds wanted it for. Fun colors too!

1 Star Nice look, bad watch
I bought this watch cause i really liked the look of it and the color and the reviews for it were mostly good. I also needed a watch that was waterproof so that I didn’t need to take it off every time i went near water. One small thing that i found annoying was that when setting the time or alarm or anything, you couldn’t go down so if you go one minute too high you have to go ALL the way back around. One more thing is that on the timer, you have to reset it every time that you use it. For example, if I set 5 minutes on it, and then pressed start, once it gets down to 0, and I want to use it again I have to reset the whole thing. There was one giant problem with the watch for me. On here it said that it was waterproof. The very first time that it got wet for me it fogged up inside, and I couldn’t read the numbers as easily. About a week later, water droplets started getting in my watch. Then all of the numbers disappeared and now its blank. If you ask me, you can find a watch a LOT better than this. It may not look as cool, but this one didn’t work at all for me. I had it for less than a month.

3 Stars Functional but…
Nice looks, but very unintuitive menus to change date and alarm etc. buttons very hard to press..leaves painful dents in your skin that feel sore for 10 minutes after..you get only what you pay for.

3 Stars Good basic sports watch; difficult-to-push buttons
Pro’s for this watch: good basic sports watch, price is right

Con for this watch: the control buttons are very difficult to push (and I don’t have arthritis!) when you want to set time and date, use the timer, set the alarm, etc.

5 Stars Exactly what I wanted
Easy to use, ideal features, and exactly what I had come looking for (and then some). I needed a new sports watch, mainly for use with exercising, but also for everyday wear. So far, so great!

Polar RS200 Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Black)

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Polar RS200 Running Heart Rate Monitor

Running Watch Reviews — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:28:48 +0000

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $169.95

The Polar RS200 Running Heart Rate Monitor is created with the needs of serious runners in mind. Utilizing the built in inertia controlled accelerometer, the RS200 is able to give you accurate readings about the way you train.

The Polar RS200 Running Heart Rate Monitor Watch provides you with dependable Speed, pace, distance and heart rate data that can help you customize and adjust according to your training needs. It has a fitness indicator feature that allows the Polar RS200 to help serious runners create the workout that suits them best!

It even has Polar sports zones and event countdown timers to ensure that you are training properly for a specific intensity or event!

All the data that you gathered on your Polar RS200 Heart Rate Monitor can even be uploaded to your computer through the included Polar Running Coach Web Service. This would help you analyze your training better, and ensure that you are on the best training for your body type!

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars I love it!!!
It was just as told!! I really love it and very simple to use. Has given me no trouble. i would tell all of my friends to buy, it;s great!

1 Star Dont buy it.
Let see.

Shipped with a dead battery.

Put in a new battery. Sucked it dry in a week.

AlsoPlease note that I have read the directions:

Top left button is useless. Should illuminate. Never worked.

GUI. aka Interface is all over the place. You get to a section and it wont let you back out. Mine has been stuck in stopwatch mode for a week now. It has taken 48 separate time splits without my asking it to.

I hate my watch. Im ready to throw it out if it wasnt so dam expensive. Thanks for nothing Polar.

5 Stars Accurate Heart rate monitor
Accurate and an important part of my routine, it calculates everything I need to account for my work out. It works with both gym’s I work out in equipment I use; from elliptical to the stair master. It is calibrated for use with my body weight index, and heart rate and it gives me the greatest accuracy for my work out. I highly recommend anyone who both works out in the gym and jogging. I do not have the foot accessory for this, but will invest in it later on.

5 Stars A lot of information, but not complicated
This watch is working very well for me. I really like looking at my statistics after a workout. There is a lot of information available through this watch, but it is not complicated to understand or navigate. I wish that Polar offered a female-sized version of this watch; it’s a bit chunky for a female wrist.

3 Stars Works, but glitchy
I’ve been using the Polar RS200 for a little over a year, and on balance, I have been happy with it. It has done precisely what I have asked it to do until recently when I have been trying out more complex workouts. More on that in a second.

I believe I got a defective unit, because the watch will spontaneously emit these strange sounds, similar to a static or old-school modem sound. I guess it’s some software glitch that causes the WebSync speaker to fire off. It comes and goes without any kind of pattern. The downside of it is that the battery discharges after 6-8 months instead of the 2 years or so the manual says. Also, the noise prevents me from wearing this as a watch, day-to-day, because it would be too annoying to have it go off all the time. This sound glitch must also cause the battery to drain. I’ve scoured the web looking for answers, and the answer seems to be ship it back to Polar for evaluation and repair, at my expense. But I’m not going to do that because of the expense and my compulsive need for a running watch.

Another annoyance is that, although you can create custom exercises so that you can do — for example — interval training, you can only configure a maximum of three exercise segments. So you can configure a warm up, effort, and a cool down. Or you can configure a typical interval workout of a hard effort and recovery [no warm up and cool down, however.] But if you want to run, for example, a ladder-type speed workout where you run a 1600, 1000, 800, and a 600 with 400 meter recoveries, then you are out of luck. [I should mention that I bought the S1 foot pod separately, and I use that to gauge my distance in these sorts of workouts. I guess I should have bought the RS200sd package to start with. Oh well.] I suppose I need a more advanced watch since I am now doing more advanced training.

Apart from these complaints, I am happy with the unit. It’s a decent watch with good features and a reasonable price for most recreational runners. If you plan on doing more advanced training, then I would look for something else.

Tech 4 O Accelerator Men's Running Watch

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Tech 4 O Accelerator Mens Running Watch

Running Watch Reviews — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:56:21 +0000

Retail Price: $84.99

Accelerator™ Speed and Distance Watch Series

When it comes to running, being able to accurately measure your runs are important to be able to ensure a good training. That’s why the Tech 4 O Accelerator Mens Running Watch is loaded with features that would help you in gauging your performance.

The key in the Tech 4 O Accelerator Mens Running Watch accurate data reading is its accelerometer technology. Instead of the typical pedometer that relies on a pendulum to count steps, the Tech 4 O A Accelerator Mens Running Watch uses this more advanced approach.

The accelerometer in the Tech 4 O Accelerator Mens Running Watch is able to determine the difference between short and long strides. This enables it to easily and accurately record and calculate all the necessary measurements via the wrist watch alone.

Of course, aside from counting your steps, the Tech 4 ) Accelerator also tracks your distance, speed, and calories burned during your exercise, giving you a complete training tool for improving your running abilities.

Other Features include:

Time/Daily Alarm/Date	Countdown Timer
Speed	Dual Time Zone
Distance	Back Light
7 Day Memory	Pedometer Function (Step Counter)
Stopwatch

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great watch plus
I purchased this watch for myself and the women’s version for my wife. We have been extremely happy with them. They give you so much information about your workout that it almost makes it fun.

4 Stars Great!
My husband is an avid runner and loves the watch! He had to adjust the stride length a few times to get the most accurate results, but otherwise it’s an awesome watch.

5 Stars Excellent customer service!
I’ve only had this watch for a few days and it has worked great so far. I am not an expert at configuring pedometers and everything else the watch does so I had to call Tech4O customer service. To my surprise a very nice lady answered at the beginning of the second ring. We had a great conversation and she helped me program all necessary functions on my watch. I had dialed the 800 number from my speaker phone because I thought I would be on hold forever, navigating through prompts, and praying for a pulse. But no, I had a surprisingly refreshing experience with a very nice helpful person. I highly recommend this company and product.

5 Stars Great Gift
My husband and I bought this watch for our son in law for Christmas. He used it that very day to run with and was very excited about all of the information that was available to him. We enjoyed giving him something that he really liked and could use.

4 Stars I wish this were metal
Plastic watches feel cheap. Its not their fault, they just do. This watch is like an ugly car with a race car engine. I love the features. I appreciate the automatic reset for counting distance and I am impressed with the accuracy. Its amazing that this watch can tell the difference between walking and running and that it is accurate even if I have my hands in my pocket instead of swinging around. I haven’t used the speed function, because I’m not that fast and by the time I think of that function, I’m just standing and my speed is zero. The same is true with the calories counter, although I just think that’s worthless as a feature anyway.The included manual seems cramped and poorly written, but the online guide is great. Again, I wish there was a version of this watch in metal.

Timex Ironman Men's Race Trainer Heart Rate Monitor with Data Xchanger Watch, Black/Grey, Full Size

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Timex Ironman Mens Race Trainer Heart Rate Monitor with Data Xchanger Watch Black Grey Full Size

Running Watch Reviews — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:52:30 +0000

Retail Price: $219.95

The Timex Mens Race Trainer Heart Rate Monitor Watch allows you to keep up with all the advancements in the world of training.

Nowadays, workouts are not just about lifting the heaviest weights, running the fastest speeds, or going the greatest distances. Now, training is about being able to adjust according to how data shows your body’s reaction to the situation. With the Timex Ironman Mens race trainer heart rate monitor watch, all these training data are made available to you.

The Timex Ironman features a 10-workout memory, 50-lap chrono with average heart rate per lap, five interval timers with individual heart rate target zones, and it’s very own Race Trainer system. These all combine to give runners the figures that they would need to adjust their training workload.

With the Timex Ironman Mens Race Trainer Heart Rate Monitor, training just got a whole lot smarter!

Specifications:

Five variable intensity interval timers
100-hour chronograph with lap and split
50-lap memory for each workout and average heart rate
100-hour, three-mode countdown timer
Three alarms: daily, weekly, weekly with five-minute backup
Polyurethane integrated strap
Water-resistant 100 meters
Indiglo night-light with Night-Mode feature

Heart Rate Monitor:

10 workout memory
Calories burned
Five linked interval timers with target zones
Average heart rate–for workout and each lap
Time in zone–six selected heart rate target zones
Percentage-of-max heart rate display
Recovery heart rate timer (during/after workout)
Digital transmission protects from cross talk
Data Xchanger USB compatible (included)
Owner-replaceable battery in heart rate sensor

Software Specifications:

Data Xchanger USB provides wireless two-way communication between Race Trainer and computer
Workout data transfers to free online training log, powered by TrainingPeaks
Desktop agent manages watch settings and memory
Training log tracks calendar, performance, personal data, and nutrition