Sport Watches for Runners - Which one is for you?
Depending on the kind of runner you are will determine what
kind of sports watch you will need. No matter whether you race, do speed workouts or run just to burn calories, we all are interested and also benefit from checking our progress once in a while.
There are many brands of Sport Watches to choose from when looking for the appropriate watch for you. Both Nike and Timex Ironman offer great choices in running watches.
Don't be Dazzled with Unnecessary Watch Features
All basic sportwatches come with, at the very least, a stop watch function to time your workout or race, a memory function to record mile times in races or lap times in speed sessions and many jogging watches also have countdown timers. These aren't essential, but a can help a great deal when you're doing repetitions.
On top of that, sports watches have a variety of extra functions, all the way from Altimeters to Weather Forecasters. Don't be dazzled with watch features that are not important to you. For the average runner, the most important features to look for in a watch is a screen that is readable at arm's length and buttons that are big enough and easy to use while running. Most of the sports models are surprisingly easy to use, with on-screen prompts telling you which mode you have entered and what happens if you hold down a particular key.
Listed below is a description of a few watch functions for runners which should help you decide what you need.
Chronograph/stopwatch
The stopwatch mode (or 'chronograph') times your runs in hours, minutes, seconds and fractions of a second. On more basic watch models, it just uses a start/stop button and a lap button which will pause the display without stopping the stopwatch, so you can check your time at a mile marker or the end of an interval lap. On most watches though, the screen is split into two: one half shows your overall time and the other shows your current lap time. Even the non-competitive runner will find a built-in lap timer useful for racing and training.
Memory
A good runner’s watch will store your lap times so that you can look at them afterwards. Watch capacities vary from 10 laps to 120 laps, and most watches for runners allow you to store as many running sessions as you want within that limit (eg a 120-lap memory could store 10 x 12-lap sessions or 60 x 2-lap sessions). Some sporting watches also highlight the session's best lap and calculate your average lap time. Once you've finished viewing, you can choose whether to delete the session from the watch’s memory.
In practice, most runners probably store no more than three or four sessions at a time, using a maximum of about 50 laps in total. Nike's 26-lap Triax sports watch is a good example of the basic amount of memory a watch should have - it's enough for all the full mile splits in a marathon and for most runner's interval sessions.
Along with the features above, chances are that the sporting watch you choose will also be water-resistant, have a wake-up alarm and back lighting.
Sound confusing - it's not really. After playing with a watch's functions buttons for a little while, you quickly get the hang of it. There are so many great choices of sports watches on the market that it can be hard to make a choice. Hopefully the information provided here can help you make a choice on the watch that you need for your runs.
About the Author:
Jacquie Barry is a successful freelance writer and the publisher
of http://www.online-running-gear.com. Jacquie has enjoyed
running for the past 20 years and has successfully completed
many marathons and triathlons including Ironman Canada.
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