For almost as long as I’ve been joining races, I’ve had a Garmin watch on my wrist to help me keep track so that I can hit my goals in my chosen sports of triathlon and running.
Garmin is the industry leader for GPS devices and apps for automotive, aviation, fitness, marine, and outdoor recreation, and I’m excited about the latest line-up for their Forerunner running watches. Garmin has announced four new watches packed full of features that runners of all levels can appreciate.
These new Forerunner watches feature lightweight materials and an intuitive 5-button design easy to operate with or without gloves and in any weather condition. They have integrated music capabilities, full-color mapping, an always-on sunlight-readable display, internal GPS, all-day activity tracking, smart notifications, wrist-based heart rate, and advanced training, safety and tracking features. You’ve got to love a lineup that includes all of these even in the simplest, basic model!
Additionally, the new Forerunner line is compatible with Garmin Coach: free training plans that adapt based on a runner’s goals and performance with the help of three running coaches – Jeff Galloway, Greg McMillan and Amy Parkerson-Mitchell – to guide and motivate them.
Read more about the new Forerunner watches below.
Forerunner 45: The everyday running companion
Designed for those who are training for their very first race or starting a new exercise plan, the easy-to-use Forerunner 45 is the perfect companion for everyday use, monitoring heart rate at the wrist and featuring built-in GPS to keep track of pace, distance, intervals and more.
With a dozen activity profiles available, the Forerunner 45 will track more than just a run – it will record efforts during a cycling workout, on the elliptical, while doing cardio, yoga and more. The Forerunner 45 is designed to be worn 24/7, and will monitor daily steps, distance, calories burned and sleep. Featuring all-day stress monitoring and Body Battery™ energy monitoring, users can focus on their wellness and better plan their day to optimize times for activity and rest.
The Forerunner 45 features up to seven days of battery life in smartwatch mode and up to 13 hours in GPS mode.
SRP: P12,595
Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 245 Music: For the running enthusiast
Building upon one of Garmin’s most popular GPS running smartwatches, the Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 245 Music include even more data and advanced features to help runners improve.
The Forerunner 245 Music holds up to 500 songs and lets users sync playlists from select music streaming services3, like Spotify®, or transfer music from a computer.
Offering personalized training and recovery insight, both the Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 245 Music include performance monitoring tools like VO2 max and training status with adjustments for heat, recovery time and aerobic and anaerobic training effects. With the addition of a Running Dynamics Pod or compatible heart rate strap, athletes can go even further with their running data, seeing all six running dynamics right on the watch.
Even after a workout, the Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 245 Music feature additional tools to track a runner’s well-being, including a wrist-based Pulse Ox sensor4 that will help gauge how oxygen is being absorbed.
The Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 245 Music feature up to seven days of battery life in smartwatch mode, up to 24 hours in GPS mode and up to six hours in GPS mode with music.
SRP: P24,595
Forerunner 945: Engineered for the serious triathlete
Made for the driven, the qualifiers, the elite, the Forerunner 945 is a premium running and triathlon smartwatch that holds up to 1,000 songs and lets users sync playlists from select streaming services, such as Spotify Premium, or transfer music from a computer. Whether hitting busy city streets or densely covered trails, full-color, onboard maps on the Forerunner 945 will help guide serious runners and multisport athletes so they never get lost on a run.
To help athletes become better, faster and more efficient come race day, the Forerunner 945 also includes key performance monitoring tools while adding training load focus, a new feature that will sort an athlete’s recent training history into different categories based on activity structure and intensity. They can also see all six running dynamics on their watch with the use of a Running Dynamics Pod or compatible heart rate strap.
Intended to be worn all day, the Forerunner 945 will provide athletes with additional insights to their body’s performance, and with Pulse Ox, they can see how well their body is absorbing oxygen. The Forerunner 945 features up to two weeks of battery life in smartwatch mode, up to 36 hours in GPS mode and up to ten hours in GPS mode with music.
SRP: P42,995
The Forerunner 45, Forerunner 245, Forerunner 245 Music and Forerunner 945 are now available at all Garmin brand stores. To learn more, visit https://ph.garmin.com/
