Garmin Introduces the Entry-Level Forerunner 10 GPS Watch for Runners

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Garmin Introduces the Entry-Level Forerunner 10 GPS Watch for Runners

When Carly and I went for our run at GearFest in July, something that came with each of us was our GPS watch. We compared and contrasted the features and results in a video here, but the bottom line is this: we both firmly believe that using a GPS watch has made us better runners.

Two of the problems with GPS watches are that they are bulky and expensive. More recently watches have dropped below $200, which is the range both of our watches cost. But the bulky part has only somewhat diminished from the Garmin 305 days to current models such as my Nike+ watch or Carly’s Forerunner 405. Now Garmin launches an attack on BOTH fronts – the new Forerunner 10 GPS watch is only $129 and is the lightest and sleekest model yet.

Now before you say ‘hey, I have seen ads for $100 GPS watches’ let me make one thing clear: they are not Garmins. Garmin has earned its position as the gold standard in the industry, and as I said in my review with Carly, while I love my Nike I very nearly went with the Garmin and think it is a technically better product.

Looking at the info for the Forerunner 10 several things stand out:
– Water resistant to 50m – means it is good in a heavy rainstorm.
– Light and thin, making it comfortable to wear … but watching the video and you see it is STILL a GPS watch
– High sensitivity GPS makes getting going quick no matter where you are
– Entry level design is optimized to get you out on the road quickly
– Cable to sync and download to Garmin.com

For more info on the Garmin Forerunner 10 head to the official site. You can also check out their blogs or follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Check out the commercial:

Here is the full press release:

Every Mile Matters with the Garmin® Forerunner® 10 GPS for Runners
OLATHE, Kan./August 28, 2012/Business Wire — Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced the Forerunner 10 running watch – a vibrant, intuitive and affordable solution for runners, joggers and walkers of all levels. The Forerunner 10 provides runners with the most essential data: how far and how fast, while also identifying their personal records along the way. The Forerunner 10 will be prominently displayed at Garmin’s flagship retail store on Michigan Ave. in Chicago, IL. and will be available at local running shops this fall. See it in action, Garmin.com/forerunner .

“The Forerunner 10 is our lightest, most comfortable running watch yet, and it comes with our trusted accuracy and reliability,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “With three stylish color options, the Forerunner 10 will be turning heads and helping motivate runners of all levels for years to come.”

Garmin’s first running watch designed specifically for runners who want to simply lace up their shoes, push one button and just run– the Forerunner 10 is the must have entry-level watch for tracking progress and goals in exercise and training. During a run, runners will see their time and distance clearly displayed on one screen and calories and pace on another. Runners can also customize the settings to show pace and distance on the same screen. Between runs, the friendly menu system helps runners review previous runs, change Auto Lap®or Auto Pause® settings, set an alarm or edit the user profile. For runners who want a little more, the Forerunner 10 has a couple of simple training features like Virtual Pacer™, which compares the current running pace to the target pace. It also has a run/walk feature that’s helpful for those just starting out or if a running plan includes walk breaks.

Water-resistant (50m) and lighter than any other Garmin running watch, the Forerunner 10 is armed with a high-sensitivity GPS receiver which can quickly acquire and sustain satellite reception, perfect for wooded trails under dense trees or in the urban canyons of skyscrapers.
Available in three stylish color combinations – sporty green, pink, and black with red accents– the Forerunner 10 looks fashionable in the workplace or out on the town and of course on the run. The black and red model has a slightly larger display and wider wristband. Lasting up to 5 hours in training mode and up to five weeks in power-save mode, the Forerunner 10 can be worn as a day- to-day timepiece, so you’ll always be ready to hit the road, track or trail.

The Forerunner 10 stores and displays runners’ seven previous runs. Once a run is completed and saved, runners will see a summary of how they did, including their total time, distance, average pace and calories. The Forerunner 10 also displays individual lap times/splits within the history. The watch even lets runners know when they achieve a personal record, like a fastest mile or longest run to date. Runners can save time by charging the battery and uploading their run to Garmin Connect™ at the same time through an easy-to-use USB connection, which also is used to upload free software updates.

Once at Garmin Connect (GarminConnect.com), runners can quickly and easily log their runs, track their totals, set goals, share workouts with friends and family and participate in an online fitness community of more than 80 million activities around the world. Newly updated, giving users their own shareable profile, Garmin Connect displays metrics such as time, distance, and speed/pace. This information is shown through charts, illustrations, reports and a variety of map representations including street, photo, topographic. Runners’ personal records will also be displayed within Garmin Connect as a reminder of their accomplishments.

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About the Author

Michael Anderson
I have loved technology for as long as I can remember - and have been a computer gamer since the PDP-10! Mobile Technology has played a major role in my life - I have used an electronic companion since the HP95LX more than 20 years ago, and have been a 'Laptop First' person since my Compaq LTE Lite 3/20 and Powerbook 170 back in 1991! As an avid gamer and gadget-junkie I was constantly asked for my opinions on new technology, which led to writing small blurbs ... and eventually becoming a reviewer many years ago. My family is my biggest priority in life, and they alternate between loving and tolerating my gaming and gadget hobbies ... but ultimately benefits from the addition of technology to our lives!