Garmin has introduced the latest edition to its Forerunner range, the Forerunner 610, enabling joggers and runners to keep tabs on their training data.

The Forerunner 610 is a GPS watch that sports a rugged touch-screen, which according to Garmin is able to stand up to rain, sweat and splashes. Tough as it is, this device’s touch-enabled display is still sensitive enough so that a user can operate it whilst wearing running gloves.

Garmin’s Forerunner 610 provides the user with a whole range of training info such as distance, pace, GPS position, heart rate, as well as calories burned. Runners that have a tendency to explore new routes and areas will appreciate the fact that the Forerunner 610 is able to guide the user back to the starting point of their run if they get lost.

New Virtual Racer training tool

Training tools for this device include the new Virtual Racer, which enables users to race their previous best times or challenge any activities uploaded to the Garmin Connect site.

Also on-board the Forerunner 610 is vibration alerts, allowing users to customise and create target alerts for factors including time, distance, calories, heart rate or cadence.

 

 The Forerunner 610 is Garmin’s first sport watch to boast the Training Effect capability from Firstbeat. Training Effect measures the impact of an activity on a user’s aerobic fitness, assisting them in training more efficiently. It is calculated on the basis of the user’s profile, heart rate and the difficulty of the activity their performing.

A user can opt to purchase their Forerunner 610 along with a bundled Heart Rate Monitor (HRM), which will provide them with access to additional features such as customisable heart rate zones, alerts and heart-rate based calorie computations.

Wireless connectivity

The Forerunner 610 will wirelessly upload that heart-rate data along with the rest of a user’s training data to the Garmin Connect website for later review. It will do so when it is in range of a user’s PC via ANT+ wireless technology, as well as the USB stick that comes with the Forerunner 610 watch.

 

Garmin’s Forerunner 610 is available at specialist Garmin retailers nationwide, for a recommended retail price of R4595 (include. VAT) when its bundles with an HRM. It goes for an RRP of R4010 without the HRM.