It is an entirely different thing to own a running watch, than it is to use it as part of a regular training routine.
Many runners, making the transition from casual jogger to competing runner, do not understand how to make the best use of the features in their watches and may not even know which features in running watches are useful.
The best watches to consider will depend on how serious a runner you are and which features you'll be inclined to use.
A basic and inexpensive distance running watch could be a good starting point.
Once you have mastered the basic features, you'll have a better foundation and understanding in which to move to a more advanced timepiece.
For now, let's take a look at the most essential features that are useful to the average runner.
Three essential features of a basic distance running watch are:
It is also common in runners watches to have a start/stop pusher that pauses the display without stopping the overall time, and so allowing you to check your time at kilometer markers in a road race or each lap on a running track.
The running chronograph can also be paused and restarted whenever you need to stop and start in the middle of a run.
On most basic runners watch displays, there are two lines of data: displaying overall time and current lap time.
Runners who train require a lot of repetitive running to be successful, so a useful feature supported by many watches is lap time storage in a session and a session history log.
These can be useful for logging multiple repetition times in a distance interval session or keeping track of training times over a number of weeks or months.
Usually running watches are rated by the number of total laps that can be stored in memory, but be careful as some watches claim they can store say 50 laps or 100 laps, but these laps are only recorded for the current session and are erased from memory when the session is cleared.
An interval timer is a sequence of two or more countdown timers that run in sequence and is useful to runners doing timed interval training.
The most common way of using an interval timer is to set a timer for the duration of the repetition interval and another timer for the recovery period.
Some watches feature a countdown timer, which only has one timer.
It simply counts down once and stops or repeats, but offers no mechanism for setting different interval/rest periods.
The vast number of features on offer can make buying running watches a confusing task.
A great way to learn more about how a running watch works is to buy a basic and inexpensive distance running watch and upgrade to a more advanced watch once you have practiced a little.
Look for a watch that has the three essential features for runners (Chronograph Stopwatch, Lap Time and Session History Memory and Countdown or Interval Timer.
Many runners, making the transition from casual jogger to competing runner, do not understand how to make the best use of the features in their watches and may not even know which features in running watches are useful.
The best watches to consider will depend on how serious a runner you are and which features you'll be inclined to use.
A basic and inexpensive distance running watch could be a good starting point.
Once you have mastered the basic features, you'll have a better foundation and understanding in which to move to a more advanced timepiece.
For now, let's take a look at the most essential features that are useful to the average runner.
Three essential features of a basic distance running watch are:
- A Stopwatch Chronograph with the ability to record split segments
- The ability to maintain individual lap times and historical session logs; and
- A Countdown Timer or Interval Timer
It is also common in runners watches to have a start/stop pusher that pauses the display without stopping the overall time, and so allowing you to check your time at kilometer markers in a road race or each lap on a running track.
The running chronograph can also be paused and restarted whenever you need to stop and start in the middle of a run.
On most basic runners watch displays, there are two lines of data: displaying overall time and current lap time.
Runners who train require a lot of repetitive running to be successful, so a useful feature supported by many watches is lap time storage in a session and a session history log.
These can be useful for logging multiple repetition times in a distance interval session or keeping track of training times over a number of weeks or months.
Usually running watches are rated by the number of total laps that can be stored in memory, but be careful as some watches claim they can store say 50 laps or 100 laps, but these laps are only recorded for the current session and are erased from memory when the session is cleared.
An interval timer is a sequence of two or more countdown timers that run in sequence and is useful to runners doing timed interval training.
The most common way of using an interval timer is to set a timer for the duration of the repetition interval and another timer for the recovery period.
Some watches feature a countdown timer, which only has one timer.
It simply counts down once and stops or repeats, but offers no mechanism for setting different interval/rest periods.
The vast number of features on offer can make buying running watches a confusing task.
A great way to learn more about how a running watch works is to buy a basic and inexpensive distance running watch and upgrade to a more advanced watch once you have practiced a little.
Look for a watch that has the three essential features for runners (Chronograph Stopwatch, Lap Time and Session History Memory and Countdown or Interval Timer.
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