Categories
Running

Rio Winner Eliud Kipchoge To Run ADHM 2016

 

kipchoge

This has got to be the biggest news ever at Airtel Delhi Half Marathon.

ADHM gets the biggest name in distance running for 2016 edition!!! Eliud Kipchoge won the marathon at Rio Olympics and is the third fastest marathoner ever (2:03:05), behind Dennis Kimetto (2:02:57) and Kenenisa Bekele (2:03:03).
* Winner of World Marathon Majors (WMM) series title last season
* Leads this season’s WMM over Bekele
* Has an average marathon finish time of 2:04:22
* Has won 7 out of 8 marathons he has run till now

He is already being labeled as the “Greatest Marathoner of All Time”, and possibly a candidate to break the world record at the next Berlin Marathon. Well, ADHM is a half and Kipchoge doesn’t have strong half credentials yet, so we’ll see how this one goes.

Can’t wait to see the man himself.

Kipchoge says he still wants to break the marathon world record but won’t put a timeline on an attempt. He currently holds the second-fastest time in history, a 2:03:05 he set in April at the London Marathon. He has also won the Chicago and Berlin marathons.

Categories
Product Reviews Running

The Ultimate Running Watch Shootout

So you want a running watch and cannot figure out which watch to buy. The choices confuse the most informed of runners. Watches continue to be launched with tons of features, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed selecting the right watch, and something I have personally struggled with. I continue to get messages from runners on which running watch to buy, and what usually stands out is that they are not sure about what they need, and are simply asking for advice without that information, not an easy task.

So, I finally sat down and put the proverbial pen to paper. Runner’s identify what features are important to them in a running watch, refer to the watches in this shootout, and quickly be able to figure out which watch cuts it for specially for them. It may not be what every Tom, Dick, or Harry is wearing around your neighborhood, but that’s the exact purpose of this shootout, to help you select something you need.

The biggest challenge for doing this running watch shootout was selecting which watches to shortlist out of the very vast set of units available from a variety of manufacturers. The watches were finally shortlisted based on the below mentioned feature set. GPS capability was a must, since the primary focus of this article was runner’s watch shootout. Price was an important consideration which eliminated a few high end products from the shootout.

Shortlisted Features  
GPSOn-board MusicMulti-sport support
HR, 24 hours HRInterval TrainingBattery
NotificationsColor screenActivity tracking support

Based on the feature set above, the following watches were shortlisted. Not every watch meets all the requirements, in fact, none of them do. But these watches surely meet a majority of these features, and provide users an opportunity to select the running watch as per their requirements, and not what the manufacturer would like to sell to you. So, here you go, straight on with the shootout, without wasting any further time, and see how the selected watches did.

Shortlisted Watches  
Garmin FR235TomTom Spark 3FitBit Surge
fr235spark3surge
Garmin FR35Apple Watch 2
fr35aw2
Garmin VivoActive HRPebble Time 2
vivohrpebble2

Runner’s Watch Shootout: Results

Running watches shootout. Click to enlarge.

Detailed Result Analysis

GPS: What’s a runner’s watch without GPS? We shortlisted only those popular models which had this as standard. Several other popular models like FitBit Blaze, or the Garmin Vivosmart HR may have most of the tracked feature set, but without GPS, the accelerometer based distance measurement simply does not cut it for pace/distance accuracy for runners. Pebble Time 2 depends on the additional clip-on Pebble Core for GPS access, a separate device which is expected to go to retail at $100 in Jan 2017, along with the Pebble Time 2 which will start selling at $200 this December.

HR: 24×7 hours HR enables continuous monitoring of your heart rate, which also enables you to track your resting heart rate (RHR), an important metric to check our current fitness levels. Things are looking good here with most of the watches, with continuous 24×7 heart rate monitoring and display quickly becoming the norm. Surprisingly, two of the newest models here, the TomTom Spark 2/3 or the Apple Watch 2 both lack this. Apple Watch 2 has a heart rate monitoring app and the sensor is activated only when the app is loaded (or a workout app is turned on).

Phone Notifications: As watches continue to become smarter, leading to overlapping of feature sets between a typical runner’s watch and a smartwatch, the expectations are higher to have your running watch phone notifications enabled (calls, text, other app notifications), and be able to wear it through the day. The running watch manufacturers have responded with getting notifications to your watch. TomTom Spark is the only model which does not support this (though rumors about a software update to enable this have persisted since 2015, but remain to be materialized).

On-Board Music: This remains a niche feature limited to just a few running watches. Note that we are talking about onboard music capability which can be used by runners to load their songs on the watch and listen via bluetooth headsets and not having to carry their phone around for the same. TomTom Spark has been one of the pioneers here with 3GB onboard music. Pebble Time 2 will once again depend on Pebble Core to bring along this feature, though it will have a wider collection of choices, with 4GB onboard storage, and options of streaming music online directly via a sim card on the Core, supporting Spotify, Amazon Alexa, and other services. Apple Watch 2 is also in on the game with 2GB onboard storage for music.

Interval Training: Serious runners need interval training support in their watches, the ability to do repeating workouts of the kind like 400m repeats with 2 mins rest, or other combinations of distance and time. Many runners also require support for custom intervals which may not be as simple as a repeating sequence of work/rest interval, but different distances or time for each interval (think ladder intervals). Only Garmin FR235 has full basic + custom interval support here. Other watches have basic interval support while Garmin Vivoactive HR and FitBit Surge do not have interval capabilities.

Screen display and Color: To be used as your regular all day watch, it needs to look good, and a bright, sharp display, along with support for colors goes a long way to make that happen. Most of the typical running watches are more focussed on functionality over form, but this too is changing gradually. We no longer see those bulky alienish looking watches any more. Sleeker watches are in (even with compromise in battery life due to size constraints), and the displays are getting better. Apple Watch 2, Garmin FR235 and Pebble 2 take the lead here, with nice color displays, ability to customize screens with watchfaces and widgets, and color screens. Vivoactive HR is the cheapest one with color display support. Rest of the watches are monochrome, with simple, functional looks.

Multi-sport Support: Cycling and swimming support is demanded by runners, who look at them as tools for cross-training. We are not talking about full triathlon support with transitions here, but meeting the basic needs of tracking for these sports. All watches listed here support bike rides. Support for swimming is however a bit limited here, since that brings in additional hardware and design complications to keep things working in water. Garmin FR235, FR35 as well as FitBit Surge are not designed for swimming.

Activity Tracking: All watches here support the basic activity tracking feature. Steps, sleep tracking, calories, its all there. Not really the most desired feature for a typical runner, but more like a good to have to keep up to date on how active we have been through the day.

Battery: 10-13 hours with GPS (with 24 hours HR if applicable) seems to be the norm for most of the watches here. Basic time display and activity tracking, notifications etc can get these watches from a week to up to 3 weeks. The significant exception here is the Apple Watch 2 here, with a meager 5 hours GPS support, and a day as your regular smartwatch. What that essentially means is that if you take it out for say an hour training run, you would barely be just be able to make it through your day. If you are looking at running more, like a half marathon or a marathon, well that will mean the watch will need to be charged again before the end of your day. For runners who are not that fast (slower than a 4 hour marathon), well, they may risk not having their activity recorded completely, or unable to make calls right after the run with no battery juice left, not a very inspiring thought when you would be running.

Price: With an entry level price point being $250 for most watches here, most of the watches reside in the middle to high end price bracket. Garmin FR35 provides great value at a reasonable $200. The two best looking watches here, the Apple Watch 2 ($369) and Garmin FR235 ($320) are the priciest. The Pebble Time 2 is the odd one out here, since you have to essentially buy 2 devices to get the required capabilities, with the watch itself at $200 and the Pebble Core, which provides GPS and Music support at another $100.

Where to Buy?

I hope this article was able to help you identify the right runners watch for you. You can use the below links to buy your choice online from Amazon store (US and India links provided), or from the Apple or Pebble stores (linked below). TomTom Spark 3 is not yet available in India and so the original Spark link is shared below (functionally similar for this features shootout).

Buy Online (US)Buy Online (India)
Garmin FR235Garmin FR235
Garmin FR35Garmin FR35
Garmin VivoActive HRGarmin VivoActive HR
TomTom Spark 3TomTom Spark 3
Apple Watch 2Apple Watch 2
Pebble Time 2Pebble Time 2
FitBit SurgeFitBit Surge

Please share your feedback and any comments below.

Categories
Product News Product Reviews Running

Garmin Forerunner 35 vs TomTom Spark Cardio – How They Stack Up

Garmin has just released the next iteration of their entry level GPS watch for runners, the new Garmin Forerunner 35. This series started with the very basic Forerunner 10, before moving on the Forerunner 15 (activity tracking, HRM strap support, and improved battery), and then the Forerunner 25 (phone notifications, bigger screen).

garmin_fr_35
The new Garmin Forerunner 35

And now, Garmin improves the experience for runners who prefer a simple device (if we may refer to this device as ‘simple’, with increasing number of features on offer) by bringing in the hottest trend for running watches, a built in optical-HR sensor. No putting on those uncomfortable chest straps anymore. What more, all this is brought to you at an almost entry level price point of USD $200. Ok, that’s not strictly entry level when GPS watches from Garmin itself and other respected brands are available in the market for $100, or even lower in some cases, but, a basic runners watch nevertheless with some advanced features.

With that, let me get to a head on head comparison of the key features of this watch with the one watch I regard as a great value proposition for a basic running watch, the TomTom Spark Cardio.

TomTom Spark Cardio
TomTom Spark Cardio

Feature Comparison

FeatureTomTom Spark CardioGarmin Forerunner 35Winner
AnnouncedSep, 2015Aug, 2016
Interval TrainingYesYesDraw
Racing against timeRace ModeVirtual PacerDraw
Zone based trainingYesNoTomTom Spark Cardio
Activity TrackingYesYesDraw
Auto LapYesYesDraw
Multisport supportRunning, Cycling, SwimmingRunning, CyclingTomTom Spark Cardio
Vibration AlertsYesYesDraw
Phone notifications, call alertsNo (rumors of late 2016 addition)YesGarmin FR 35
Phone music controlsNoYesGarmin FR 35
Wireless phone syncYesYesDraw
BatteryAs watch: 3 weeks
GPS: 11 hours
As watch: 9 days
GPS: 13 hours
Draw
Optical HRYesYesDraw
LooksModestModestDraw
Cost$160$200TomTom Spark Cardio

Verdict

With the feature comparison covered, lets look at how the two scored. We will award 2 points for a win, and 1 for a draw. Adding up, we get to the following results.

Garmin Forerunner 35 – 13
TomTom Spark Cardio – 15

Winner: TomTom Spark Cardio. The Spark Cardio edges the Garmin Forerunner 35 not only in overall feature set, but more importantly, at a price point which is $40 less than the Garmin.

Final Words

So, there we have it, a nice little comparison of the key features of both these GPS watches, to help you decide based on what’s important for you! From my perspective, TomTom Spark continues to be the king of the runners road with greater features per dollar. One thing to keep in mind though is that unlike Garmin Forerunner 35, Spark comes in a variety of variants, with the one compared here being the Spark Cardio. In fact, with a budget of $200, you get the Spark Cardio + Music which includes 3GB music storage on board and an ability to play music wirelessly to your bluetooth headphones without requiring a phone.

Where to Buy

Amazon.in: TomTom Spark Cardio, Garmin Forerunner 35
Amazon.com: TomTom Spark CardioGarmin Forerunner 35

 

Categories
Running

How To Qualify for SCMM 2017 or ADHM 2016

Specially for Delhi NCR runners

Registrations are already on for the most awaited running event of India, the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon (SCMM). In a few days time, Aug 23rd to be precise, registrations will also start for the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM). Now, the tough part is, both of these events now require a previous timing certificate from a recognized event to allow you to register for them. For Delhi NCR folks, I have put together the list of events one can participate to get that much needed timing certificate to register for SCMM or ADHM.

SCMM 2017 Qualifiers

DateEvent nameLocation
Jul 31Fastest Delhi Half Marathon New Delhi
Aug 07Friendship Day Manger Trail RunGurgaon
Aug 28Indirapuram Monsoon Run Ghaziabad
Sep 11Noida Megathon Noida
Sep 11Dwarka Half Marathon New Delhi
Sep 181st Delhi Sundown Half Marathon New Delhi
Oct 30Millennium City Marathon Gurgoan
Nov 20Airtel Delhi Half Marathon New Delhi

ADHM 2016 Qualifiers

DateEvent nameLocation
Jul 31Gurgaon Running And Living XC Half Marathon Gurgaon
Jul 31Fastest Delhi Half Marathon New Delhi
Aug 7Friendship Day Manger Trail Run Gurgaon
Aug 28Indirapuram Monsoon Run Ghaziabad
Sep 4SBI Pinkathon Womens Run New Delhi
Sep 11Noida Megathon Noida
Sep 11Dwarka Half MarathonNew Delhi
Sep 18Delhi Sundown Half Marathon New Delhi

For registering for a full marathon, you need to provide a timing certificate for a full marathon or a half marathon. Similarly, for registering for a half marathon, provide a timing certificate for a half or a 10K run. And do not delay running your qualifier race at the earliest. The registrations for SCMM and ADHM do not remain open for a long time, so, the earlier the better. Safe option would be to run your qualifier as early as possible, Sep 11th being the last safe date for your ADHM qualifier in my opinion.

Note: Women runners are exempt from the requirement to provide the timing certificate when registering for ADHM 2016.

Categories
Running

Comrades Marathon 2016 Runners from India

comrades_2016

From a single entry in 2009 (and a DNF), to 9 in 2010 (and the first ever set of Comrades Marathon finishers from India, of which I was fortunate enough to be one), India has come a long way to ultra running, and in particular, the Comrades Marathon, the world’s largest and most popular ultra. This year sees 97 registered runners from India (of which I expect 60-70 percent to turn up on race day). Here’s the participant list.

2016 Comrades Participants

Now 97 is a really huge number, coming from a country where running has really taken off in the last few years, with great interest in participating in unique and challenging races worldwide, including Boston Marathon, MDS, Badwater, Ultraman events, etc.

Participant Breakup

So, how do these numbers break up for 2016. Where are these runners coming from, which city or group do they belong to. Here’s a summary:

City/GroupNo. of Runners
Surti Runners (Surat)12
Chennai Runners (Chennai)5
TopGear MIG (Mumbai)5
Striders Miles (Mumbai)4

So clearly, runners from Surat, Mumbai and Chennai dominate the India participation. There are many more runners, with no particular affiliation with a running group, and I would guess that besides these cities, Bangalore and Delhi NCR would also be sending significant number of runners.

All the best to all these participants from India!!!