Run Pod
The Run Pod accessory easily latched onto the back of my shorts and provides a customized gait analysis, including data points such as run cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation and more. Honestly, a few of these tracking points are well-beyond what a recreational runner needs to know or would likely know how to dissect without working with a coach. However, it does provide several pieces of valuable feedback that may help improve your run. For instance, cadence is an important measurement of running efficiency and most will say an efficient cadence is around 90 foot strikes per foot, per minute. If you use the run pod and it shows your cadence as 70, for example, you aren't as efficient as you could be, so you can use the pod to track, improve and increase your cadence and see what it does to your overall pace.
Vertical oscillation is another important cue because when you run, you want to move your energy forward rather than up and down. If you're bouncing up and down, you're expending a tremendous amount of energy over time while going in the wrong direction.
Note: I recommend using the pod on very specific sessions like track or speed work where the surface is smooth and the elevation is consistent. Use the feedback you receive to make small incremental changes. Attempting to change too much at once may lead to injury. Remember every runner is different, and a 5-foot woman will not run the same as a 6-foot-4-inch male.
Bluetooth Enabled for Music and Notifications
I'm not much of a music-while-running woman, but I do love to zone out with a good podcast during some of my longer runs. It was super convenient to be able to download both music and podcasts directly to the watch via a simple connection to Garmin Express (outlined in the Quick Start Manual) without having to also bring along my phone.
I also turned on notifications for a few days, but I made the mistake of enabling all apps, and therefore quickly became annoyed with the incessant buzzing and vibrating with news and text updates. Instead, enable the notifications just for urgent needs like calls and texts, so you don’t get interrupted every time Taylor Swift tweets.
Summary
This watch—and other Garmins I've used through the years—provides consistent and accurate data tailored just for me based on my programmed physiofactors and completed workouts. I've come to trust Garmin through the years and have completed many successful training runs and races using its products. It's hard to imagine a time when GPS data didn't exist, and now I'm the woman who runs laps in the parking lot to get my mileage totals even (you know you do it, too).
Yes, it is possible to drown in the details of all the feedback, but that's why I recommend spending time with the watch before using it for a major event. Decide which data points are most important and use the watch to get to know yourself a little better. You don't need to evaluate and analyze every data point, but the more you know your zones, heart rate and pacing, the better you will perform.
The Forerunner 645 Music is a stylish and functional watch that is also an invaluable training tool for both athletes who don't want a lot of data, as well as those who do. It can be as simple as a time, pace and distance tracker or as detailed as a comprehensive biofeedback tool. Use what you need for each specific activity, and don't get bogged down by too many details. After all, fitness is supposed to be fun, right?
READ THIS NEXT: A Review of Garmin’s Forerunner 935 Multisport Watch
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