An important part of any athlete's training program is the
recording and monitoring of process in order to determine when gains are being
made or progress is slipping. A Garmin monitor is one of the best tools for the
task. The Garmin 910XT is a GPS monitor that is loaded with enough features to
keep even the most particular athlete inundated with workout information. I
certainly was not disappointed with my purchase of the latest Garmin 910XT.
As a GPS monitor that is the size of a normal wristwatch, the Garmin monitor is cutting edge in features. One of the most useful features for improving performance is the Virtual Racer tool which plots previous routes. The display will show how far along you were at a particular time in a previous session and where you are at the moment. That allows you to follow your previous best time pace and no when you are lagging behind and need to up the pace some. It is a great feature that really keeps me excited about running and I am always looking forward to setting a new personal best time. Of course, the unit can also be used for other sports such as bicycling or swimming.
The Garmin heart rate monitor can watch your vitals just as easily as it can monitor the distances covered during a workout. If you get within the range of a Mac or PC the unit is capable of wireless data uploads in order to use software to track and monitor workout performance. The Garmin heart rate monitor Connect software program can plot data points in graphs across various different metrics. Easily document and share your workout data with others.
Bicyclists can train hard with an accessory ANT+ power meter that will interface with the Garmin unit. A pedal-based power meter can be used to calculate the precise output of your biking performance. Using such a power meter can allow one to see the full pedal stroke force profile. This addition allows for monitoring of power and cadence in both legs separately. The Garmin Vector is one such compatible accessory.
There really is no reason for any serious athlete not to own a Garmin monitor as it is certainly one of the best ways to take training to the next level. If you are serious about improvements then the cost of a Garmin is reasonable with respect to the gains that will be made.
