The Garmin Forerunner 245 Music offers more than a personal playlist. It crunches numbers to give runners peace of mind, writes Nur Zarina Othman
AFTER a 10-year hiatus from running, I was back on the bitumen, thanks in part to the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music.
For me, running is not a breeze. One needs a strong mental state on top of being physically fit, to complete a course.
However, I decided to register for a 10km run despite my decade-long break and my heavier frame.
FEATURES
What made me sign up for a 10km marathon, despite knowing it was going to be difficult, were features in this watch.
The Forerunner 245 Music doesn’t only track distance and pace but also provides advanced running dynamics, such as ground contact time balance and stride length.
It keeps track of numbers, crunching them while keeping me in the know about my performance and running form.
Most importantly, I love its safety and tracking features, such as the built-in incident detection. It keeps my worries at bay, knowing that it is easy to share my location in case of an emergency.
Runners tend to underestimate the severity of a situation, like heart rates, ankle pain and other aches. This watch evaluates training status and offers real-time indication if I was overdoing it, which I was.
MUSIC ON BOARD
Music streaming and the ability to store my playlist are not as important as having oxygen saturation reading and heart rate sensor during my run.
If not for these features, I might not have finished the 10km route that day. Having said that, some people do rate having music high on their list of features to have. Whichever your preference, it is good to know that the watch has your favourite “running” playlist.
CONCLUSION
The watch is light-weight and this may be off-putting to some who think the watch feels cheap.
For me, I like that it is light as a feather. I don’t feel a thing as I struggle to complete the route. I only realise I’m wearing a sports watch when it vibrates and notifies me of updates.
The only downside for me is that as a new Garmin watch user, navigating the numerous features can be a daunting experience.
The watch is priced at RM1,699.
Verdict: 3/5