RunnerGirl77 says:

Mihai, I started experimenting with MapMyRun for the first time last night. After having some trouble saving the file, I found that I had to "save it to my profile" rather than "save it to my Garmin". Since I figured out how to make this work, I've created a couple of courses to try out.

You're right that I own the software for the Garmin Mapsource. Otherwise, the maps are EXTREMELY basic. I like to use it for the trail runs though, because it gives me some idea of what is an actual trail and not just an area of water runoff.

One drawback about the Mapsource is that you have to save the file as a "route", rather than a "course". They function differently with the Garmin unit, but the "route" can be converted to a "course" after you've actually traveled it. Go figure....

 topcat says:

my garmin HRM for the 405 gets really hot when I run. Is this normal?

 RunnerGirl77 says:

The unit actually heats up?! I can't be sure, as I run with the Forerunner 305, but NONE of my Garmin units, for running or hiking, have ever gotten "hot". Now, I do have the chance to "test-drive" a 405 next week, as I provide clinics for EMS. I can get back to you with my experience after that point.

How about it 405 users...do you have an answer for this runner?

 topcat says:

Yup gets "hot" this is the first time am using a HRM so not sure if this is normal. Since the HRM is press onto my chest usually 1km into a run you can feel its hot. I end up making the strap a bit loose else I think it will leave a mark on my chest.

 ricardomt says:

Wow... None of my Polar HRMs (I got two of them) gets hot. At least not noticeably hot. Maybe you have a defective transmitter? Other 405 users with the same issue here?

 Mihai says:

I'm a heavy user of the Forerunner 405 and I never noticed any HRM heating. The power consumption is very low and it should not produce any perceivable heat. Otherwise, your battery would be drained in no time.

 CarpeViam says:

I've never experienced this heating issue either. I'd be concerned too. Maybe contact the company.

Could it be something more tactile, not heat but maybe something else that feels like heat... a pimple or an abrasion of some sort. (Not trying to be funny, there are issues one can have under the surface of the skin.)

 RunnerGirl77 says:

Ricardomt, if it is definately the strap that is heating up (as opposed to bodily heat from contact), this is an issue worth taking up with Garmin. First, check with the place you purchased it from; perhaps, given that you just bought it, they will exchange the strap, saving you some work.

If not, Garmin (at least here in the states) has been super quick with repair service every time I've dealt with them. Over the course of the last five years, I've seen four units, all eTrex units for hiking, sent in for service (the issues were caused by human misuse, like dropping or switching the flow on batteries, not a fault of the unit, although the unit was compromised by the action)(Did I mention that I teach gps clinics to new users?).

First, you have to contact Garmin for an RMA number. Either email them through www.garmin.com, or phone them at 1-800-800-1020. Then you ship the unit to a specified address for repair.
Garmin International
1200 E. 151st Street
RMA Number: (insert your RMA number here)
Dock Door #18
Olathe, KS 66062 USA

That repair center might be somewhere other than the states for you, so you'll want to ask. They usually have the unit back in my hands within a week; it might be a bit longer, given your location.

One last thing, I mentioned batteries being put back in incorrectly, causing the power to overload the unit. It is worth checking to make sure that the factory workers put the battery into the strap correctly. Take a thick coin (I use a US nickel), and use it to turn the circular battery cover counter-clockwise in the strap. Be sure to put the HRM strap on a firm surface when doing this, and press down a bit. The battery should be connector side down, with the type and brand of battery showing on top as you look at it. I would think that it wouldn't work the other way, but who knows. A friend of mine put batteries backwards into an Garmin eTrex and fried it's little software brain, so anything is possible. Good luck with this. Follow up on the issue now, while the purchase receipt is still fresh.

 avi says:

i used 2day with a Garmin ForeRunner 205
Fitness, Running, Biking GPS Receiver
and i like it and i vary satisfied.
www.partners2create.com/product.php?productid=16140&cat=287&page=1

 WileBEERCoyote says:

Never experienced a heating up of my Garmin 405. I like the machine

 Sareybabes says:

Mine doesnt heat up either, but in my case it may just be Im not running hard enough ;-)

I rather like my 405 too, especially since Wile steered me towards using Ascent with it, but I am not quite sure why I lost satellite reception on top of Helvellyn (third highest peak in England). Certainly no trees or building in the way, just lots of air!!

Who cares. Its a cool bit of kit

 Runner61 says:

Hi, ok so here's a question:
I am sure there is a way, but i do not know how..i would like to know if there is a way as i am running to see my mileage instead of the timer going? I am always afraid to fiddle with my garmin 405 as i'm running because i don't want to accidentally stop the timer thus ruining the time and/or mileage??? Thanks!

M

 ricardomt says:

You can change the display fields (Menu > Settings > Data Fields) of the main screen (Training 1) to display the distance or you can enable one of the other screens (Training 2, for example) and include whatever you want to display.

Then, under Menu > Training > Options, you can set "Auto Scroll" on and off. If it is "on" (you can set the scroll speed then), the screens will scroll as you run. If it is set to "off", just touch anywhere on the bezel while running to scroll to the next screen.

Hope it helps!

 Runner61 says:

That helps A LOT!!!

Thanks!

Michelle

 runbadgerrun says:

Any updates on the Garmin support for Runner+? Seems like it has been a while since we have heard anything. And I didn't see any update son the site.

 RunnerGirl77 says:

The last time I heard anything on this was in mid-July, when I got a letter from Chris. He said that he was working on it, and hoped to have it in place soon.

 ricardomt says:

I managed to upload Forerunner 405 data to RunnerPlus doing some semi-manual conversions. Here is the result:

www.runnerplus.com/run/796-444742

The algorythm needs improvements and I will work on it. Will then try to make it available via a web app so all FR 405 users can use it here. It uses the .TCX file from Gramin Training Center and maybe it will work with other Garmin Units.

 Mihai says:

A big bump for this thread.
One more time: Great Innovation Ricardo!
Looking forward for the beta version of your tool

 petergarner says:

Pleasepleasepleaseplease... let there be a way for this to work with the FR305 too!

;-)

 ricardomt says:

I think it would work with any .TCX from Garmin Training Center. Does the 305 also use the Garmin Training Center app? If it does, give me a TCX from the 305 and I will be glad to check it out. This is what I did for this experiment:

1) Import TCX data in Access - Access already opens the XML and puts the data in different tables;

2) Took timestamp from the "Activity" table for the filename and internal timestamp on the iPod XML;

3) Table "Creator" has Garmin hardware information and could be used to populate <device></device> (done manually);

4) Table "Lap" should have been used to generate userClick <snapShot>s (blue dots), but I used it to generate kmSplit and mileSplit <snapShot>s instead (this is why my green dots are not *exactly* on the km/mile);

5) Table "Position" will bring Latitude and Longitude for each sample. This could be used to generate the spline for the route; Any way to upload this data automatically, Chris? I could embed it in the iPod XML somewhere in a special tag and then RunnerPlus could just use that to trace the spline. This could be included in the OpenWorkout spec!

6) "Trackpoint" table brings our <extendedData> information. Just translated the data into 10s iPod standard samples (sample rate is variable on the Garmin platform) and included in the iPod XML; Also has Altitude information, not used.

I will include in my run here (www.runnerplus.com/run/796-444742) a link to the Garmin website that corresponds to this run so you can take a look at the data on both platforms.

Now I want to put my hands on a good Ruby or PHP XML tool to be able to build an online tool to make the conversion. Any suggestions?