Some of you might remember that BJ bought me a Garmin 110w for Christmas. It’s probably one of the best and most practical gifts I have ever received. Plus, it’s pink & gray – I can’t think of a more perfect running watch {for me}.
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| Garmin #1 – love at first sight |
Well, what I never told you is that Garmin #1 died on February 9, 2011 – less than 2 months after I got it. {with at least 35 unrecorded miles on it}
I took my watch back to Pacers {a local running store} and they replaced it. Yes, they asked me some questions and had me try it once more (at home) but ultimately, they gave me a new one. For free.
So, I started running with Garmin #2 as if nothing had happened. I ran hundreds of miles with Garmin #2, took it to New Zealand, ran my first marathon, a triathlon….
I ran until June 26, 2011 – until Garmin #2 decided to die. {with at least 25 unrecorded miles on it}
I took my watch back to Pacers {a local running store} and they replaced it. Yes, they asked me some questions and had me try it once more (at home) but ultimately, they gave me a new one. For free.
But this time, Pacers replaced my watch with a Garmin 210. Apparently Garmin is phasing the 110 out – shocker!. I know I should be happy about the (almost) free upgrade but part of me is sad. I’m sad because the 210 isn’t available in pink & gray. I’m sad because my new Garmin is ALL BLACK {and kind of boy-ish}
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| new watch, already rockin’ it with pink! |
I’m also sad (and maybe a little mad) that I’m on my 3rd Garmin in 6 months, that I’ve “lost” dozens of runs and miles, that I’ve had to deal with this. {I’ve had my Timex for over 6 years – I’ve never had a problem and I’ve never had to replace the battery}
I am, however, happy that my 210 seems to be working fine. I’ll just have to wear plenty of pink while running {so I seem less boy-ish}
Pacers: thanks for being really cool and replacing my Garmin’s (plural) {now, that’s good customer service}
Garmin #3: seriously, don’t die on me – I’m not sure I can take it any more!
Garmin Lovers & Users – have you had problems with your watch before?
It can’t just be me, can it?!
Today is the last day to enter my CamelBak Groove Giveaway {HERE}
I haven't had any issues like this with my 405, though it gets a little wonky from time to time. It stops being wonky when I charge it. I'm more upset by the lack of girly colors. I hate these GPS watches. All function, no fashion. I'm running around in a skirt… can't I have some girly tech, too?
YES! My Forerunner 110 crapped out last summer after I had used it for only a couple of months. I contacted Garmin, and they sent me a new one immediately. WHEW!! So far so good…
I wanted the pink one too, but my husband had planned on using it as well and said no dice. Darn!
Bonnie- totally agree!
As for the Garmin, I have the 405 and it's been functional for over two years. My main complaints are that it sometimes freezes on one screen during a workout, you have to lock the Bezel to prevent it from doing random things (like displaying a compass mid run, or telling you that you are "approaching turn.") Sometimes it doesn't power off automatically which kills the battery. So yeah, very buggy. But 95% of the time I can count on it and I love the functionality.
Glad Pacers replaced yours!
Mine decides to stop recording miles randomly on me (I am not super speedy, but when my watch reads 40 minutes, and my mileage reads zero….or on the other spectrum, when my watch reads 40 minutes and my mileage reads 14 miles….something is up!!!)
Maybe I should call up Garmin…
Love the grave stone (I mean not the reason for it, but the idea was very thoughtful!)
oh.my.goodness. i have the 110 and it is driving me crazy. i bought it a year ago and shortly thereafter got pregnant so didn't use it too much until this spring. it is bonkers…hasn't died but always seems on the fritz. the other day it said "lap error" over and over again during my long run and said i was running a 44:00 minute pace (trust me, i was not!) i talked to the store i bought it at (=PR=) and they told me to call garmin. UGH. i am so frustrated with it. your post gives me hope though – am going to call garmin NOW and see what they can do for me, since obviously the 110 has issues…
ps – i love your shirt in the last pic :o) and i loved the bio D did of you – she is a close friend of mine. i'm sooo excited about your upcoming HTC adventure together!!!
Well, that makes me feel better about my Polar! I've had some issues with it but nothing near what you've had. I was thinking of switching over to garmin but I don't know.
Geesh! I got that same 110 in pink and gray for Christmas. I have been using it ever since. I've only had one run that didn't calculate correctly (I have no idea what unit it was measuring in but it wasn't miles of kilometers). I hope I don't have any issues now that I'm training for my first marathon!! It's so cute!
I LOVE the blog name! I'm sorry about your black Garmin. If it makes you feel any better, I have a manly Bowflex watch that's red and gray and HUGE. One day I'll have to upgrade to something a little more feminine.
Oh and I have a Camelbak Groove and LOVE IT! Great giveaway!
I've had a Forerunner 205 for years and can't run without it. Love it. Sorry you're having to suffer through the bad one.
I haven't had any problems with my 305 and I have had it for two years almost now. Love it, though I with it came in prettier colors 🙂
Eeek, reading this and some of the comments has me a bit stressed! I have had the 110 since Christmas 2010 and haven't had too many issues. Occasionally it will miscaculate my pace and tell me one mile is 30 minutes and the next is 5, other times it will just take forever to locate a signal, and every so often the screen freezes.
Now I'm panicing that it will just one day crap out on me. I guess that is what I get for buying a product because it looks cute and not for practicality.
If a Garmin dies on you again, try to resuscitate it with a hard reset (google it); has worked several times on ours. As for looking boyish, I don't think you ever have to worry about that.
Hi,
You should really try http://connect.garmin.com/
It makes having a Garmin 10 times better! You create an account, then after running (or after queuing up a few runs) you plug your Garmin into your PC's USB, one click, and your run(s) are uploaded with your splits, put onto a map, and the elevation of the run recorded as well. It is absolutely awesome.
I've had some minor problems with mine, but so far so good! I've only had it since Christmas though…
I've had the big clunky, ugly colored one (405??) for a year now with no problems! I've never heard complaints about it's functionality, just style!
ugh sooo sorry about this. mine was dying the other day it seemed to help to update it! did you try that? stupid question probably. but that is what garmin told me when i called
I have a 305 and have been using it for almost a year. only problem is I can't hear the alerts which is super annoying, but I would be heartbroken if I lost my recorded miles, I am a little over the top about keeping track of my miles! Sorry about your bad luck with the Garmin, glad they replaced and hopefully things will go better with this one!
Mine is going strong for 2 years, with thousands of miles in it. It did totally die on me once, but I learned on Garmin.com how to do a full reset (not a soft one) and that solved the problem and it's been going strong ever since. I did lose all the miles I hadn't yet synchronized with garmin connect though 🙁
ok i totally lied yesterday i have the 405 and it died again today. RIP GARMIN!!! bah, sorry
Very strange, but at least the shop switched em out for you! I have the 405 and it can be temperamental at times… like whenever it gets the least bit wet. Oh? You're supposed to wear it while sweating? I figured out that if I wear a sweatband under it – it won't act up, fairly easy fix.
goodness gracious, are you made of magnets? what are you doing over there?
I have the 405 and its been freezing up on me a lot lately. The screen freezes and I have to wait till the battery dies to reboot it. SO ANNOYING. I hope this doesn't mean mine will be joining the RIP pile anytime soon…these things ain't cheap!
I'm so sorry for your loss. These things are difficult; take the time you need to grieve. :0)
So, yeah, that tank is gorgeous! Love the colors – def offset the "boyish" Garmin!