Gps Running Watch
Five simple rules for using your GPS sports watch
Our ability to track our training progress has highly revolutionized with the widespread use of speed and distance monitors on a GPS sports watch. There is absolutely no more guessing involved. GPS sports watches provide us accurate details of our speed, distance and other aspects of training. Similar to any other technological device being invent today, you need to follow a few simple tips to make the most of your sports watch with GPS.
1. Keep your eyes away
Avoid looking at your GPS running watch for the initial ten minutes of your workout. Run at a pace that your body is comfortable with. By continuously looking at your watch, runners end up allowing the watch to set their pace. This is wrong. You shouldn't force yourself to run at a pace that your watch tells you to. Run at your normal pace over the first few miles and gradually increase your speed. After a few minutes, when you do decide to look at your watch, don't panic and speed up hastily if you have not hit your intended pace.
2. Have a variation in your pace
Imagine you are running without a watch. Obviously you would have a higher speed on some parts of your run and slower speed on other parts. This variation in pace is natural. But with a GPS running watch on your hand and constantly glancing at it will mean that you are concentrating more on keeping your pace perfect throughout the run. In fact constant watch checking can lead to elbow injuries. Let your pace vary and be comfortable with it. Don't fret over your speed throughout your run. Just focus on what your average speed was after the completion of your run.
With speed workouts also there will be a variation in pace from lap to lap or mile to mile. If you have fallen behind your maximum training range, your GPS will indicate so. But you can count yourself to be on target if you range your pace within five seconds of your targeted pace.
3. Don't doubt the distance stated on your watch
With the use of precise tools, the measurement of race courses is provided based on the shorter distance. However, the GPS measures the exact distance of your run. Therefore it is very unlikely that your race had this short distance measurement. It may seem like all your races were long. But what matters in the end is what the race clock says, not the distance on your GPS sports watch.
4. Don't compete with your GPS.
When training for a race, don't be competitive because fast is not always better. That is why training zones have been established with fast ends and slow ends. As long as you are within your training zone you will be able to reap the benefits of your workout. By crossing the fast end limit and moving onto a new training zone does not always prove to be better. So use your GPS running watch to keep you in your zone; don't try to beat it.
5. At times, it's better off at home
A GPS enabled sport watch is a great tool for monitoring training. In its advancement, let us not forget its sole purpose is to help you train better. But to do so, sometimes you need to trust your internal GPS better than the technological one. So if you are just going out on a regular workout using a route that you have gone on several times, just leave the watch at home and use your internal GPS.
How to use your internal GPS?
Check the compatibility of your effort levels with that of the GPS readings continuously for about a month of easy runs and special workouts. Carefully consider the feeling at different pace levels. Once you have completed this step, start you GPS enabled sport watch before you begin your run. Take your eyes away and begin running like you would do without the watch on your hands. Don't look at it until you've completed your run. Then check if your inner GPS matches the external GPS. Now that you can trust your inner GPS training, leave your watch at home and go on your run. This tip is useful for days when your GPS sports watch is not charged or when conditions of the day require you to run by effort.