General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Garmin on the track Rss Feed  
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2009-06-20 10:24 AM

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Subject: Garmin on the track
I was wondering how accurate the Gramin was while running on a track. I know I saw information on this somewhere, and now I can't find it. I have just come off of no running for a few months, got the OK to run on the track and my pace is much faster. Oh how I hope that it's true!!


2009-06-20 10:33 AM
in reply to: #2230623

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Garmin on the track

No idea about the accuracy but you could just time your laps and go from there.

Shane

2009-06-20 4:24 PM
in reply to: #2230623

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Subject: RE: Garmin on the track
It's actually not so good. I used it a lot on a well-marked collegiate track last year, and found that the curves really throw it off. I'd estimate about 5%. That doesn't sound like a lot, but trust me - you'll notice every last percent when you're doing stringently times intervals. This also wasn't due to lane variation - I ran in the same lane, every time. 

I actually use my garmin in "stopwatch" mode if I'm on the track. As much as I love the GPS, I turn it off or ignore it completely on the track. 

It's fine if you're not stringently timing yourself - 5% is no big deal on easy to moderate intensity runs. I just find that if I'm going to haul my rear to a track and run in loops, I'm usually doing very time-specific work, and the Garmin definitely fails for me for my intervals.
2009-06-21 7:26 AM
in reply to: #2230623

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Subject: RE: Garmin on the track
Thanks! I will use my other watch next time. I just liked the ease of uploading the work out to my computer!
2009-06-21 9:07 PM
in reply to: #2230623

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Subject: RE: Garmin on the track

Mine was very accurate the few times I've used it on the track, within a few feet per lap. Could have been luck of the draw though, as I've heard many people complain about it.

2009-06-22 8:10 AM
in reply to: #2230623

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Subject: RE: Garmin on the track
Both my husband and I use ours at the track with no accurracy problems at all.


2009-06-22 8:49 AM
in reply to: #2230623

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Garmin on the track
i've used my Garmin FR305 at the track and it's been pretty accurate. maybe within .01 miles off at times...
2009-06-22 3:48 PM
in reply to: #2230623

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Subject: RE: Garmin on the track
I also suspect the speed you're running makes a big difference in accuracy on the track.

I'm far from blazing fast, but I do run 800meter intervals at 5:45/mile and mile intervals at 5:50ish. If you recall, the Garmin  "samples" your location every second or so (actually less - it throws out extra straight line data points). So, the faster you go, the worse it will do on the curve.  If you're doing 9 minute miles or so, it may be a lot better on the curve, because it doesn't 'miss' the curve as much as when you're really hauling.
2009-06-22 5:09 PM
in reply to: #2230623

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Subject: RE: Garmin on the track

There is an option under:

Settings->General->Data Recording

that lets you switch from Smart Recording to Every Second.  This might help the accuracy (Every Second) of running on a track. 

This blog might help with where you should use Every Second over Smart Recording, running on a track is one of them.

http://runningdevices.blogspot.com/2006/05/garmin-forerunner-data-recording-smart.html

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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Garmin on the track Rss Feed