Workouts have taken on a whole new dimension with the Garmin Forerunner 305! For quite a while, I used the 201 until it finally broke on me. Then after that, I used a basic Polar watch with a heart rate monitor, then that stopped working for some reason. Now I have the best of both worlds with the combination of GPS and heart rate monitor in one neat package!

This Garmin picks up a signal faster than the old one, and keeps it active in dense areas. It used to be that I’d get different distances on a workout if ever the signal went out. Now that’s no longer the case.

The Forerunner 305 has so many options. It’s like bringing your coach along for the workout. The stats can be downloaded and compared from day to day.

If you’ve never had anything like this before, you’re missing out. After you use it for a while you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it. This is a must for every runner!

It’s snowing outside as I write this post. If I decide to run outdoors tomorrow, I’ll need something better than my usual running shoes. I’ll need to get a grip with that combination of ice and snow.

Here’s a way to convert an ordinary pair of running shoes into ones that can handle slippery and snowy streets and sidewalks. Get a handful of some small sheet metal screws and drill them into the soles of your shoes. Pick the thickest part of the shoes to avoid going all the way through as you insert these from the bottom. The head of the screw will end up on the bottom of the shoe, making contact with the ground. Stay away from the air or gel in the sole, if your shoes have these features. At least 5 screws per shoe should do the trick. Use only short screws 3/8″ to 1/2″ in length, otherwise you might feel these on the other side!

The design of the sheet metal screw is such that it will give you good traction and slip resistance on the road. If you have an alternate pair of seldom-used shoes to modify, this might be better than drilling into your current pair. Who says you won’t be able to run outdoors for lack of traction?