after using it you can never go back

This is a simple review about the Garmin Forerunner 101. The Garmin Forerunner 101 is a miniature GPS system that is designed for runners and hikers and anyone that is on the move. It is basically the same unit as the larger Garmin units in terms of features and abilities, but the Forerunner 101 is smaller, lighter, and more compact. The system can vary in price depending on the place you see it at. I bought my unit about 1 month ago and have used it many times since. I paid only $66 for it on Ebay brand new which is a lot lower than they are going for in other places. With shipping I spent a total of $83. Some stores will list it for over $100.00 and others for less. This is a device that I was unaware of until a friend of mine and I went for a run together for the first time and he had it. I was curious to what it did and was previously interested in an altimeter to be able to read my altitude. He said this unit did that a lot of other things. He was understating the potential that this piece of equipment has. Some of the more useful features are: the altimeter, average pace, speed, distance, training partner, history of past runs/workouts, distance notification. The device tells you when you have gone a certain distance so you can turn around and go back home and have a solid distance for your workout. You also have the comfort of knowing how long you have gone so you don't have to speculate. This device can make for a very accurate reading on workout distance and level of intensity. One can clock the distance of their workout first on a bike or car, but it is not the same because the accuracy will never be as good as with the Forerunner.


One of the great training features is that it notifies you when you are running below your specified min. It also tells you if you going above your specified max, so you don't wear yourself out. This is an amazing feature for me because sometimes I don't pace myself, and I run too slow, or too fast. The Forerunner keeps you on target for your training goals. The Forerunner gives you many other options apart from the ones I have mentioned. These are by far the most useful ones.

It includes a nice comfortable wrist band made of nylon backpack strap material with velcro. It has not loosened yet during a run. The unit is not too heavy either so it does not move around your wrist if it is tightened. There is a nice back light for running at night (which is what I always do) and while it warns you of distance, pace, it lights up so you can see it. You can even adjust the time the light stays on.

The only drawback I have found so far is that the distance indication is not very loud, so I cannot always hear it if I am around cars or other loud noises.

Overall, the unit is an excellent investment because it makes your workouts actually "make sense." No more aimlessly wandering around guessing how far you've run and how fast you've done it in. With the Forerunner you can track all your runs for about 2 years! The Forerunner will not only help you to maximize your potential during your workout, but it will make it a more interesting and interactive experience.