"Forerunner 201 Top 10"

Hello.

I purchased my Forerunner 201 a few weeks ago, and I have been very pleased with its performance. I am preparing for my first marathon, and I run with it every day. Here's a list of my top 10 favorite features:

1. It is light and I don't notice it on my wrist when I'm running.
2. The extended rechargeable battery gives me plenty of running time between charges.
3. The distance tracking works well and is very accurate. Now I don't have to measure long run distances in my car.
4. The backlight is bright and works well for running in the dark.
5. The custom display panel allows me to see average pace in addition to current pace, and I can display many other data fields.
6. There are just a few buttons and they are easy to use.
7. I love that it stores so much history data.
8. Knowing my elevation and grade is terrific for hill running.
9. It's waterproof.
10. I can use the navigation features to guide me while trail running.

As a bonus, it was much less expensive than the competitive alternatives!

Thanks!

D. S.
Mercer Island, WA

"His Virtual Partner is 'Fred the Loser'"

I have been using a competitor's time and distance device for one year and recently upgraded to a Garmin Forerunner 201. I run four days a week and, thanks to the accuracy of my Forerunner, I have been training with it now for several months. We just completed our first marathon together, and I was able to use it to assist me in keeping the pace I was aiming for. It is very easy to use, and rain has no effect on the instrument. It can be fitted over running tops, and it's small and light enough that you hardly know you are wearing something on your wrist. I really love racing against my virtual friend, whom I call "Fred the Loser".
Thanks for a great product.

J. P. in Texas

"56-year-old runner puts his Forerunner to the test"

Just wanted to say this is one great product. I had recently redone the 135 running route maps for our Running Room clinics out of the Merivale store in Ottawa using mapping software, but as I participate in the weekly runs and clinics, I am verifying the distances of all of the routes with the Forerunner. The Forerunner has worked beautifully and I must say on some very cold nights. I took the chance and, though I was a little nervous in doing so, first updated the software to version 2.20 and then to version 3.00 through Garmin's free website downloads. It went smoothly, quickly and painlessly. And with the addition of the interval timer in version 3.00, I now no longer need to wear my other watch as a timer as well as the Forerunner when I'm leading clinics and they are doing ten and ones (ten minutes running, one minute walking).

By the way, the Forerunner was a gift from my wife for my 56th birthday, and I owe her big-time for this one.

Thanks for a great product, and keep up the good work. I'm anxious to see the Forerunner 201 Logbook software when it comes out.

J. J.

Note: Our Logbook software is available by going to http://www.garmin.com/support/collection.jsp?product=010-00328-00.

"Simply the best"

My wife gave me the Forerunner 201 this Christmas. It is fantastic, and not just when I run or when I cross-country ski, as I found out on my recent trip to New York City. Normally, I take either my GPS III Plus or the eTrex Vista from work, but this trip I took only the Forerunner 201.

During the flight out, I programmed the custom screen to show elevation (altitude), grade (rate of ascent/descent) and speed. Way cool! I also saved several waypoints just for fun at important points along the way.

The morning of our return, there was a big snowstorm and the driver sort of got lost, but one of the waypoints I'd marked was the rental car drop-off, so the Forerunner helped us make the flight.

By the way, my wife bought me the GPS III Plus a few years ago also as a Christmas present. She doesn't know it, but she will soon be getting a Forerunner for her bike.

Garmin is simply the best.

L. M.
Oshkosh, WI

"'Wow' about sums it up"

I have owned my Forerunner 201 for about two weeks now, and all I can say is "wow!" It has every feature a runner could want. The display is so easy to read and I found it easy to operate and navigate through the menus. I especially like the Auto Lap and Auto Pause features. No need to take splits or stop the watch at street crossings or if your laces come untied. I used the "go back" feature on this run at Disney World to find my way back to my hotel (loved the TURN AHEAD pop-up screen)! I plan to use the Virtual Partner feature in an upcoming half-marathon to keep me on pace. I can't wait till the logbook software is available. All this and more at an unbelievable price. I could go on about the history and map functions, but I am going out to run with it now.
BUY THIS PRODUCT. YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

C. M.

"Airline pilot enjoys his Forerunner"

Dear Garmin,

I have had my Forerunner since Christmas, and I absolutely love it. It is the best training tool I have used yet. I run 4-5 times a week, and once the snow goes, I'll be road and mountain biking 3-4 times a week as well. The Forerunner gives me all the information I need. I am an airline pilot, so I spend a lot of time in different cities in North America. With the Forerunner, I never have to worry about getting lost on new runs, and I never have to guess my distance. It brings my triathlon training to a new level. I really like the 13-hour rechargeable battery and the distance alert and virtual training partner features. The Garmin name, reputation, features, and price were enough to make me choose the Forerunner over the (competitor) system.

Thanks, Garmin, for finally making a good GPS watch.

Cheers,

T. B.
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada

"Favorite new software feature on Forerunner"

From the Forerunner 201 software download change history:

Added new 'Interval Training' feature to the Training Assistant. This allows users to setup exercise and rest intervals of both time and distance.
Yeah! I am downloading the software update now. If you can believe it, this is the second update for the Forerunner 201 already. Now we won't have to wear two pieces of gear in order to calculate our total distance and exercise/rest cycles!

Major R. G., USMC

"He won't run without his 'little friend'"

Hi there,

Just bought the Forerunner 201 in the U.S.A. last week. Got familiar with it on the flight, tested the device two times for a long and a speed run. It is HUGE! It is a PERFECT RUNNER'S TOOL! There is no other description necessary. I've tried a lot of maps, watches, step counters...all that stuff. Nothing compared to the Forerunner. Just get it, use it, love it. Last night I didn't find it for a while (left it in the office). You may think I am crazy, but I couldn't run a mile without the Forerunner. I am, after two runs, so familiar with the Forerunner, that I definitely will not run again without my little friend. It's just PERFECT in all aspects.

Thank you!

S. K.
Europe

"Runner prefers the Forerunner over the competition"

Thanks for a great product!

For two years, I have used the (competitor's product) system with their datalink to download run information. I had considered the (competitor's product) system, but with my recent purchase of a Garmin GPS V receiver, I learned about the Forerunner and I am sold on it. I like the fact that the Forerunner is way more accurate than the (competitor's product) watch and also the fact that it doesn't have to be "trained" to me, or calibrated, in order to use it. I have had it now for about a month. I run 5-6 days a week early in the morning and love the display on my Forerunner, as it is easier to read than my (competitor's product) was.

D. M.
Lanark, IL

"Love the Forerunner 201 and StreetPilot 2610"

Dear Garmin,

Just wanted to give you a couple of big kudos for two of your products I've recently purchased, the Garmin StreetPilot 2610 automotive GPS and the Forerunner 201. I don't normally do something like this, but these products warrant praise.

The Garmin 2610 is a great upgrade from the StreetPilot III, which I've previously owned. It's packed full of excellent features, easy to use, and extremely helpful when on the road. I like the fact that it's smaller and lighter than its predecessor, has USB connectivity, and expandability with standard Compact Flash cards. It also is zippier when calculating directions, etc. I use it here locally in the Bay Area, as well as taking it on business trips. I'm quite a klutz when it comes to driving in unknown/new areas, so this device has been quite a Godsend. I actually travel and visit places more than I used to because I don't have to worry about getting lost. What a fantastic product!

I picked up a Forerunner 201 earlier in December. I previously bought the (competitor's product) watch. That was nice, although a bit awkward with the separate watch and strap-on GPS unit. The Forerunner is truly outstanding! You obviously had runners/athletes in mind when designing it. It's packed full of extremely useful features, is a very light and compact unit (perfect for runners), and is a revolutionary upgrade from that (competitor's product) unit. What I can't believe is its very reasonable price. I've shown this to a lot of my friends who run and they all figured this was something that would cost several hundred dollars. Needless to say, when they found out how much it really cost, they were hooked. I understand now why the Forerunner was on backorder on so many Internet shops. It's simply a terrific device that any serious/amateur runner or athlete should have!

In addition, one of the big things I like about your products is that you are continuously improving them with software upgrades. It shows that you are constantly striving to make your stuff even better.

Please keep up the great work!

B. B.
San Jose, CA

"Forerunner 201 is one outstanding tool"

I received my new Forerunner 201 last week, and I wanted to give you some initial impressions and experiences.

By way of background, I have used an eTrex Summit for the last couple of years for hunting and hiking, and I love it. I am also a marathon runner, and that is why I bought the Forerunner. My primary need is to accurately measure pace and distance, both for training and for racing. I have tried other products, and I was close to buying the (competitor's product) system until I became aware of the Forerunner. None of the other devices I have used offers an acceptable degree of accuracy or convenience.

The convenience of operation and functioning of the buttons are superb, and I really appreciate having the ability to customize the various screen displays and the length of time for operation of the backlight. I was concerned about the size and weight of the Forerunner on my wrist, but I don't even notice it's there. The large upper screen can be read easily when running in the rain, and that is an unexpected pleasure!

I want to thank you for what promises to be an outstanding tool! It is orders of magnitude better than anything I have seen on the market, and at a price that is competitive with many multi-function training watches.

Regards,

D. C.
Salem, OR