Re: GPS watch (like Garmin ForeRunner) and tree cover

From: Donovan Rebbechi (abuse_at_aol.com)
Date: 11/17/04 

Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 16:06:20 +0000 (UTC)

On 2004-11-17, Ignoramus24825 <ignoramus24825@NOSPAM.24825.invalid> wrote:
> I run to improve my long distance running performance. I am thinking
> about buying a GPS watch like device, such as Garmin ForeRunner. I
> would like to know the exact distance of my run, to figure out my
> training progress or lack thereof.

If you're thinking of using it to get an accurate measure of your training
pace, forget it. For logging milage, it's just fine, but not for measuring
pace.

Even 6 seconds per mile is a substantial difference, and almost all of these
fancy doodads (the footpod ones and the GPS units) could easily be off by
this margin.

The way the USATF rules say courses should be measured is with a calibrated
bicycle computer. That may be the way to go if you want an accurate
measurement.

But your best bet would be to test yourself periodically by competing in road
races. Or you could use interval workouts (over a course that you use
regularly, about 800m would be a good length for reps for you) to test
yourself. After a while, you should have some idea as to how performance on a
given workout translates to performance on race day. Generally, if you make a
3% performance improvement (for example) in pace on your workouts, most of that
should transfer to the race.

Cheers, 

-- 
Donovan Rebbechi
http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/