Runners! Need some input.

[ECB]

My DH started running about 6 months ago.  Started w/ Couch to 5k, is on Couch to 10k and is actually running a 1/2 marathon in Sept.  I'm really proud of him - he's also lost close to 30 lbs along the way.

Anyhow- he's been using apps on his phone to track his runs.  I think he uses Run Keeper. 

What do you use?  I have a friend who is  RUNNER and she often posts pictures of her results as they show on her Garmin run watch.  I've obviously reached out to her too to get her opinion.

But - I'm curious if you use your phone, a watch, or if you've used both - which do you like better and why?

Ultimately - I want to get something for my DH for Father's Day to really say "congratulations" and "I'm proud of you".  Don't know if the watch is really it or not which is why i'm asking.   

Thanks. 

[libbygrl109]

I started out using my phone, but hated having to pull it out of my belt all of the time to look at it (I hate armbands, and didn't want to hold it the whole time). Also, I found the apps that I used to be off mileage-wise. I got a Garmin 110 about 2 years ago, and love it. It all depends on what information he wants. The 110 gives basic information, and can come with a heart rate monitor if he wants to track heartrate or calories. If he wants it to do more, there are other models out there that others could comment on.

ETA: Congrats to your husband! That is great progress!

[no0b]

I personally love my Garmin Forerunner watch. I have small arms and the thought of having the arm band already makes me feel weighed down . It really depends on what he is most comfortable with.

Ditto libbygrl109 about the information he wants. If he is a newbie runner then he might not need one of the fancier watches. A friend of ours who runs several marathons a year and does so fairly competitively really benefits from the more advanced models. If he just wants to monitor the basics there's not need (although they are VERY cool).

My question: Does he like using the phone app? Has he mentioned that he wants a watch? If he's happy with the phone app maybe get him some sweet running gear?

[girlblue]

I use MapMyRun and really like it. It's a free app however that means that I need to carry my phone on my runs. I don't mind carrying it the winter because I can just stick it in my glove but in the summer my hands get sweaty since I prefer not to an armband or belt.

My birthday is coming up and I've been thinking about splurging and getting a myself a Garmin and will be interested to here what everyone's opinions are on them.

[skwcm80]

I used Runkeeper for until I started training for my first half. I didn't trust my phone to last through my longer runs, so I bought a used Garmin 110 in order to preserve my phone's battery in case of an emergency. I love my Garmin and think it would be a good Father's Day present.

[boston340]

I use a Garmin 220 and love it - it's my first GPS watch, but I've been running on and off for over 14 years now (lots of OFF time in there!).

The 110 or 220 series would both work well for his needs if you do go the watch route.

[sweetiesparkles]

I am new, training for a 10k and just finished C25k. I use mapmyrun app on iphone.

[runaways]

I got a garmin right before my first half and I vastly prefer it to my phone. But I also don't listen to music or anything, so there's no other reason for me to carry my phone and it generally annoys me to have to do so. I also noticed that I was a lot less likely to lose satellite reception on my garmin than the phone (this was 3.5 years ago so it may have changed by now) and I had the concerns about the battery that someone else mentioned.

ETA: Meant to say that I think my garmin is much more accurate (see satellite reception thing).

[mrshandy]

I used my phone throughout my marathon training. But found it was really off during my marathon and it annoyed the hell out of me when it was telling me that I was on mile 22 when I knew I was on mile 21. I was traumatized by that. LOL.

Since then, I don't trust my phone. I got a Garmin 405 and then lost it a few months later. Bought another one used and I've had it ever since. I really love not having a cumbersome armband

If he wants to keep running beyond his half, then a Garmin might be a nice gift. There's a wide variety of them. If he's more of a casual runner then you could probably get one that will meet his needs for $100-150. The one I have is kind of old and heavy, but it works just fine.

[bullygirl979]

I have a garmin 305 and really like it. Sometimes I don't want to run with my phone, especially if I'm running with friends. Plus, you can use it for other activities as well like biking or swimming.

[Raggedeannie]

May 28, 2014 7:57:40 GMT -5 no0b said:

My question: Does he like using the phone app? Has he mentioned that he wants a watch? If he's happy with the phone app maybe get him some sweet running gear?

I agree with this. I will echo most of the others here that when I started increasing my mileage toward my first half, I got really irritated with my phone. Having to pull it out for various reasons, accuracy of the gps, alerts from mapmyrun interrupting my podcast/audiobook, and battery life. I was training over the winter at sub-freezing temps and my fully charged phone would just die!
I got a Garmin 220 for Christmas and am in love!

But some people like the phone apps. I wonder if there is anyone here who got a gps watch and ended going back to their phone apps? I bet that is rare.

[clseale]

My DH & I both have the Garmin 610, but I agree with the others, that a less advanced model will work just fine. I definitely love having a watch over a phone, and I've never had any complaints witht he different Garmins that I have owned.

This is very sweet & thoughtful of you. Good luck to your DH!!

[CallingAllAngels]

Ditto everyone else. I love Runkeeper and used that plus my phone for 2 years, but got a forerunner 220 for Christmas. Since then, there has been no looking back. I don't mind an armband, but it's so much easier to see my pace on my watch. You are a wonderful, supportive wife.

[taratru]

I started out tracking with my iPod and Nike+ in an armband, and it was fine. But I can't stand taking/holding/carrying/having more than I need now - especially as my runs got longer. I love having a watch. And I use an iPod nano with the clip, so I have my music and it's not cumbersome either.

[biomaj5]

I used my phone with the MapMyRun app for over 2 years. Now I have a Bia and I love it. Bia is new, but is comparable to Garmin. I'd recommend a watch of some kind. I kept my phone in my spibelt and used it for music too (and MMR tells you the splits at every mile in the headphones), but now I just leave it in the car on long runs. I bought an ipod for music and use my watch now. Plus, I killed a pair of yurbuds because the spibelt damaged the jack when I put my phone inside.

[ECB]

May 28, 2014 8:59:12 GMT -5 taratru said:

 And I use an iPod nano with the clip, so I have my music and it's not cumbersome either.

Yeah- he likes listening to music too.  that's one of my hesitations.  So I'm looking at the nano too to see if I htink that would balance out the music part of it. 

Thanks to everyone!

[bostonmichelle]

I used runkeeper for a few months before getting my FR 220 as a Christmas gift. I love it and would never go back to the phone. I like having my phone for music but its nice to be able to just glance down and see my pace or where I am mid-run and now have to take my phone off my arm.

[bluedaisyus]

I use RunKeeper and I got myself a Garmin 220 for Christmas. I still use both most of the time (I like music, and I've had a couple of issues with the Garmin's GPS that are supposed to have been resolved with the latest firmware update), but I love my Garmin.

[archaeominx]

I started with RunKeeper and now switched to my Garmin. I have a basic Forerunner 110 but no complaints with it. So much easier than dealing with my phone. I still take it along sometimes for music but for short runs, it's nice not to have to strap it onto my arm or stick something in my pocket all the time.

[arch01]

i started with nike+, then moved to runkeeper and now my garmin 410. i love, love, love the garmin.