The software that runs on the Forerunner 201 (a.k.a. firmware) is well thought out and intuitive. Most people with a basic understanding of software interfaces will easily be able to figure out how to operate the Forerunner without reading the manual. (For the rest of us, the manual is detailed and easy to follow.) Menu functions, prompts, and other controls are easy to understand.

Garmin has been very good about providing updates to their firmware and logbook software on their web site. It is nice to seem them adding features such as the interval training. Perhaps they will continue to improve the Forerunner firmware. They could focus on improving the flexibility if the Interval Training feature and get rid of that stop-triggers-a-lap bug for starters.

The logbook software, which will run only on a Windows PC (Windows 98 and up), is pretty basic. In addition to the same stats that you get directly from the Forerunner 201 history menu, you also get a graph of your pace, elevation, and the breadcrumbs of where you ran. There is also a text box where you can enter notes. And that's it. You can't track running shoe usage, label routes, edit mileage or run time, or add runs where you didn't use the Forerunner. Garmin should fix these issues. If the Logbook software is going to useful, runners need to be able to add runs to the runs downloaded from the Forerunner. You won't always run with the Forerunner and if you occasionally run on a treadmill, it would be nice if you could manually enter that run into the log along with the data downloaded from the Forerunner. Since the Forerunner isn't perfect at measuring distance Garmin should allow runners to adjust the run distance and time of downloaded runs to account for inaccurate tracking.

Note from editor: The Garmin people rightly point out that the logbook software is free. For most competing products, you pay a considerable premium for logbook software and for hardware that allows you to upload your running history to a PC.   [top]

Pretty darn well most of the time, but there are some notable exceptions.

If you are running on the road with a clear view of the sky and occasionally turn at intersections, then the Forerunner is a great tool. It will be pretty accurate at measuring your distance and your average pace. (If you read all the previous detail you will remember that the Forerunner's measuring of your current pace fluctuates a lot but averages out to being pretty close.) On repeated runs through neighborhood streets, the Forerunner will mark the miles at the same place on each run, give or take 5 yards.

On winding roads and especially on winding trails, you will have less luck. The Forerunner frequently cuts corners even when you don't, which will cause it to record less mileage than you actually travel. On a particularly curved bit if trail our test model was off by as much as 5%. Of course that means you are actually traveling 5% faster than the Forerunner reports. This problem is amplified if you are running in wooded terrain. We experienced this problem even before the leaves came out on the trees.

This problem is especially apparent if you use the navigation feature while running out-and-back on a curvy, wooded trail. The Forerunner appears to be making estimates about your pace and trajectory at various times, perhaps when it doesn't have a good view of the GPS satellites. This can cause your return path, as displayed on the Forerunner, to make figure-eights with your outbound path. This happens even when the Forerunner is not displaying any weak signal warnings.

In spite of this weakness, the Forerunner 201 is still a very accurate tool as long as you don't do most of your running on wooded trails or roads. If you do run on wooded trails or roads, then you may want to consider the Nike® Triax V10 Speed & Distance Monitor or the Polar® Speed, Distance, and HR Training Monitor. You can Find Your Perfect Fit, Guaranteed (or check for other discounts) on both these items at Road Runner Sports.

Here in Vermont, where the Forerunner was tested, there aren't many skyscrapers around so we can't report on how well the Forerunner would work in a large city. There have been some reports, however, that all GPS units have a tough time getting a signal when surrounded by tall buildings.

The Forerunner also does a poor job of measuring altitude and consequently it does a poor job of measuring incline. In fact the altitude feature is of little value given it's inaccuracies. So if altitude and incline are important to you, you may want to get a GPS unit that is more focused on hiking than running.   [top]

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