Running Watches — How to Choose the Right One
There are a lot of different running watches on the market. It could be difficult for someone who is not familiar with the use of the features of these types of watches to determine which one to get. These watches have different features that cater to the needs of different types of runners. Knowing what kind of runner one is will help a lot in figuring out which type to buy.
The chronograph is the most common feature found on all runner’s watches. This feature serves as a timer or a stopwatch that can split laps. This feature is enough for recreational runners. They could time their jog and improve on it by running the same distance faster.
This is especially true for beginners who are just getting their stride and trying to improve their performance during the workout. Splitting time will also allow you to split the course you run on into sections and know the average time you run on each section of the course. This is applicable for courses with hills and slopes. Know more about smart watch.
Running watches with a heart rate monitor are ideal for runners who use running as a cardiovascular workout. A proper cardio workout requires one to maintain a certain heart rate over a certain period of time. The monitor is strapped to your chest and detects the pulses that the heart makes. The monitor then sends the data to the watch which then displays the heart rate.
Another feature is the GPS which you can use to know exactly where you are on the course. You can plot out a course over any terrain and follow it with the GPS in your watch. You can also know exactly where one section of the course ends and the next one begins and use that information to split lap times.
There is also a feature which calculates the calories burned during a run. Though not accurate, it can provide a close approximation of the amount of calories burned during your run. You must enter relevant information like your weight, the distance of the run, and the average speed of the run so that the watch will be able to calculate the calories you have burned.
Advanced watches have the ability to record the data of the run and allow that data to be transferred to a computer for further analysis and logging. This feature is ideal for serious runners. Beginners can contend with any of the running watches with features mentioned above. They just have to choose which features will best suit their needs.
