What is a GPS watch, what can it do for me, and how can it support my fitness regimen?
GPS uses a network of global positioning satellite watches to precisely track how far and quickly you are cycling, swimming, or jogging. Anytime. Somewhere on earth. Your most excellent, average, and current speed will be recorded. It tracks your workout distance, computes your moderate and best pace, and serves as a continuous odometer. We’re here to assist you in understanding what you’re buying, whether buying one for yourself or as a gift for someone else. We’ll advise you on maximizing your training or exercise experience or choosing the appropriate technology for your intended purpose.
How might a GPS watch benefit my exercise regimen, and what does it do?
Many initially assume that a GPS watch will provide them with directions (such as North by Northeast) or street addresses, just like a car’s navigation system does. That is untrue. Although it follows the same concepts as GPS (Global Positioning System) watches, it is not nearly as complex. Similar to the navigation system in your automobile, it communicates with satellites orbiting the earth to calculate your precise coordinates every second while you’re moving. It then transmits this data to the watch, which uses it to determine your speed and the distance between each set of coordinates.
Why does it matter if I run, bike, row, ski, or walk?
Because you may now obtain the most important data regarding your workout that was previously only possible if you exercised on a track or another pre-measured route. Specifically, how fast and how far did I travel? You can get all of this data with a GPS watch. Here are some typical measurements made during a run:
During the run, the average speed was 7.5 miles per hour.
9.0 miles per hour was the highest speed attained.
During the run, the average pace was 8 minutes per mile.
The fastest mile time was 6.5 minutes.
There were 3.5 miles in total.
That took 28 minutes in total.
Knowing this information will help you improve your fitness regimen and track your progress as you work toward your objectives. You can also travel to any place. You are not restricted by a predetermined circuit or calculated course. You can run, walk, or ride a bike everywhere you go, and the GPS watch will make the calculations. Due to the GPS’s ability to simultaneously receive data from up to 12 satellites on the same side of the globe as you, this technology can be used everywhere in the world. A GPS Watch is a terrific training tool if you’re serious about getting fit or enhancing your fitness regimen.
Choose the GPS Watch that’s best for you now that you know how it functions and what it can do. The following are the primary choices to consider:
Heart Rate Monitoring – Certain GPS watches include heart rate monitors, allowing you to track not just time, speed, and distance, but also your heart rate. This option is available on the Timex Global Trainer and the Garmin Forerunner 405 devices. You must exercise at the proper level of intensity if you want to achieve your fitness objectives. The only reliable indicator of your level of effort or passion is your heart rate. Because of this, wearing a heart rate monitor is essential to your training.
Computer Interface: What do you do with all this excellent information you now have on your watch? Upload it to your computer and download, analyze, and trend it! All Timex GPS Watches, including cable and software, are compatible with the Timex Data Recorder. This is a separate purchase. The watch comes with the Garmin 405, which offers software and computer download capabilities. This information is much more significant when accessed through a computer and may be used with manufacturer-specific software.
Garmin’s GPS transmitter is built into the watch, making it a little bigger and less practical for regular usage. However, it includes more features, such as Longitude and Latitude coordinates. The GPS unit from Timex is a separate accessory that you can wear on your arm or clip to your waist. Because of this, the watch is substantially lighter and may be worn daily. The third-generation Timex GPS device, which weighs just 2.7 ounces, has just been announced. The older models required more batteries and were a little heavier. Even though everyone wants the GPS device to be smaller and lighter, there is a trade-off. You’ll need to change the batteries regularly because a smaller device requires fewer batteries.
Target Speed and Pace Alarms – With the help of this tool, you may tailor your performance. An alarm will let you know as you hit the predetermined top and lower limitations for either speed or pace. This is available with the Timex 100 Lap versions.
Target Distance Alerts – You can program the watch to sound an alarm once you’ve covered a certain distance or multiples of it. When this setting is set to “1 mile,” the clock will sound an alarm when you have traveled a mile, followed by alerts at two, three, and so on.
Speed Smoothing – By “smoothing” out any little changes in speed, this feature makes pace and speed values simpler to read while wearing the watch. If you watch pace information and the displayed numbers seem too “jumpy,” you might wish to enable this function. Smoothing does not affect the accuracy of the data displayed and the distance accumulated.
You can record specific data for each lap or distance interval using the lap memory recall feature. Let’s say you run a 5-mile race and want detailed information for the individual miles and the entire event. To compare the data of each lap at the end, you would hit the LAP button at each mile marker to reset the lap data functionality. Did you perform well on the first and second loops (miles), then falter on the final three? You might need to improve your endurance. Are your last laps faster than your first ones? Perhaps you could require a more effective warm-up regimen.
Whereas Garmin offers 5000 laps for all its models, Timex only shows 50 and 100-lap variants. Be sure the watch can support enough laps if you plan to maintain a few weeks’ worths of workout data.
Using this function, the Chronograph will automatically take splits based on elapsed time or distance.
Odometer: The watch records the overall distance it has traveled.
With Timex Sport Watches, Timex Global Systems, Garmin GPS Watches, Heart Rate Monitors, Speed + Distance Sensors, Performance Monitors, Data Recorders, and Pedometers, USA Sport Watches is your one-stop shop for electronic fitness and digital workout equipment. We have the training equipment to make your workouts count, whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or in preparation for a marathon or triathlon.
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