Run, Karla, Run!

The Timex Ironman Run Trainer 2.0 GPS (Photo: Timex)

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, I tested two Timex Ironman watches: the Timex Ironman Run Trainer 2.0 GPS and Timex Ironman Sleek 50-Lap. These reviews come after wearing the watches for more than four months while running, swimming, racing and more. Here’s how they stacked up. The full Timex Ironman watch reviews are available on my column at The Washington Times Communities.

Timex Ironman Run Trainer 2.0 GPS (Photo: Timex)

Timex Ironman Watch Run Trainer 2.0 GPS

Getting started with the Timex Ironman Run Trainer 2.0 GPS really is as easy as 1-2-3.

The watch is comfortable to wear with a nicely slim profile. Its light weight of 58 grams, compared to 65.7 for its predecessor, makes it easy to wear for long runs and workouts, even for small-wristed women.

It is not the most stylish watch, but it gets points for offering an option in matte grey with bright yellow accents in addition to the basic black with orange.

The high-resolution display screen truly is crisp and as easy to use as advertised. Menu setup and navigation is straightforward and intuitive. However, the font sizes are a bit on the small side, making reading splits mid-run challenging at times. Read the rest of this entry →

In addition to this blog, I write a column at The Washington Times Communities, also called “Run, Karla, Run!” The articles there are completely different than my posts here. The column is more focused on running news, with travel and features too.

So here’s a quick look at the last few running news articles that appeared on my column:

Forerunner 620 and 220 (Photo: Garmin)

Garmin Debuts Two New Forerunner Watches

Garmin today announced the debut of the new Forerunner 620 and 220 GPS watches meant to help runners train to their bodies’ potential.

The Forerunner 620 will estimate a runner’s VO2 maximum, predict race finish times, dish on running form, and offer advice about when to take recovery days based on heart rate data when paired with a heart-rate monitor.

Perhaps the most exciting new feature is the 620 watch’s ability to estimate VO2 max, a rate that measures just how much oxygen an athlete can take in during a workout.