Whether you want to set
a PR in your next 10K or you're gearing up for your
first century ride, meeting your goal is a matter of
training vs. exercising. Training takes discipline, but
now there's a tool to help you every step of the way.
Garmin's Training Center™ software, which comes with the
new Forerunner™ 301 device, lets you plan, analyze and
store data from your workouts. All in simple,
easy-to-follow steps from the convenience of your PC.
Even if you've never followed a structured training
program in the past, using the Forerunner 301 along with
Training Center™ software will give your training the
edge you need.
Training Center™ (TC)
has two primary functions: analyzing what you've already
done in your workout and planning what you want to do in
future workouts.
Analyzing History
Forerunner records an incredible amount of data from
your running, biking or other outdoor activities. Now
that you have this data, put it to work for you by
uploading it to TC for analysis and long-term storage.
Once the data is transferred, your course is overlaid on
a map, giving you a real-time picture of your
performance at any point in your workout.
The map shows basic detail such as streets, bodies of
water, etc. For additional map detail, you can purchase
one of Garmin's MapSource® CDs and use it in conjunction
with TC. If you're into mountain biking or cross-country
skiing, for example, you might be interested in a CD
offering topographic detail such as terrain contours,
elevations and more.
On the main TC page, the graph below the map charts
your pace, speed, heart rate or elevation data based on
time or distance. With one mouse click, you can change
the data shown on each axis or zoom in and out on the
graph. Move the cursor along the graph to see exactly
what speed you were traveling or how fast your heart was
beating at that point in time. These features let you
pinpoint specific areas and see how elevation and other
factors affect your performance.
Click image to enlarge
When you upload your workout history to TC, it's
automatically sorted into one of three folders —
running, biking or other — based on the profile you
selected in your unit at the outset of your workout. You
can then create as many subfolders as you like and
further categorize your history data under titles such
as "kayaking," "mountain biking rides" or "10K races."
Click image to enlarge
You can also view the hard data for your workouts,
which will help you analyze each lap. Simply click on
the totals tab instead of the map tab. A "notes" section
allows you to add comments about that particular workout
or lap.
If you'd like a more detailed analysis of your
workout, Garmin has partnered with MotionBased, an
online service that allows you to upload your activities
for storage and review. From their site, you can access
a variety of Web-based tools including charts, reports,
historical weather, split analysis and interactive maps,
which let you "relive" your workouts by simulating the
exact route with media controls. MotionBased also
provides an online community, the TrailNetwork, where
you can contribute, share, and search through a growing
database of running, cycling, and other outdoor
activities from around the world.
Planning Workouts
Following a structured workout schedule is an
important element of any training program, and it's the
key to reaching your fitness goals. With Training
Center™, creating and scheduling your workouts is
simple. TC even comes with several workout templates
designed by the experts at
TrainingPeaks.com, which you can download directly
to your Forerunner unit. The templates explain different
types of workouts and why they are beneficial. In
addition to helping you meet your goals, sticking to an
established workout plan can help prevent injuries,
especially if you're training for your first marathon or
a similar race.
For more information on the workouts and other
technical advice available from
TrainingPeaks.com, visit their Web site. The site
also provides a number of training plans, such as
beginner, intermediate and advanced programs for various
races, which you can purchase and download directly to
your Forerunner.
In addition to the workout templates, you can set up
customized workouts in TC, specifying exercise and rest
intervals (or steps) based on time, distance, heart rate
and more. You can also establish a target for each step,
such as maintaining a certain heart rate or pace (speed
zone). All options are prompted or selected from a
pull-down menu, which simplifies your options and makes
planning workouts a breeze. As with the workout
histories, your planned workouts are stored in the
"running," "biking" and "other" folders, and you can
create additional subfolders. To schedule your workout
for a specific day, drag and drop the workout title onto
the calendar in TC. When you're done, click the download
button, which transfers the workouts to your Forerunner.
The Forerunner 301 can load up to 175 scheduled workouts
and allows for 25 unscheduled workouts. When you're
ready to start the new workout, you'll find it stored
under "Advanced Workouts" in your unit's Training
Assistant menu. Select the workout, start the timer on
your Forerunner, and you're off and running.
Take Your Training To A New Level With The Garmin
Forerunner And Training Center™ Software.
-
Training Session Target-Calorie
Burnt Alarm!
-
Build Your
Own Exact Custom Training Sessions:
-
Start With
Garmin's 'Training Center' Windows-PC Desktop
Application Software
-
Create Exact
Training Sessions That Focus On A Specific Result Goal
-
Now Link
Goal-Focused Sessions Together For One Long Training
Event
-
Transfer
Custom Created Training Sessions Into The Forerunner
-
Start The
Forerunner And Enjoy The Personal Guidance Targeted To
Your Specific Goals!
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Training
Software Provided For Running, Biking, And Other
Activates; Walking, Snowshoeing, Cross Country Skiing,
Swimming, Rowing, Trail Riding, Indoor Gym, Etc.
Casanova's
Equipment Specialist Has Field Tested The Wireless Heart
Rate Monitor Against other wireless monitors With
outstanding results. Users should not have any
worries from interference or receiving heart rate
signals from their partners or other users near by.
The Wireless Sensor And The Forerunner Communicate
Together And Set A Unique Digital Encrypted Code For All
Data Transmissions. This Avoids Receiving
Any Data From Any Other Wireless Heart Rate Sensor Near
By. Even If The Sensors Are on The Same Chest, as
Mr. Casanova's Experiments Proved.
