Fitness is about moving in a Garmin Forerunner 945

MANILA, Philippines — There is something about wearing a Garmin watch that keeps me on the move. Blame it on Garmin that has been known since it was introduced to be a fitness device. So, when someone like me wears a Garmin you can be sure that I become a stickler for counting steps, checking my heart rate and watching the clock face.

But, that’s just me.

The Garmin Foreruner 945 is a truly feature packed watch — and it is fun to ear too. The features include a lineup of four new watches that provide music and workouts to advanced training features and mapping.

The Garmin Forerunner lineup that brings integrated music capabilities, full-color mapping, advanced training, safety and tracking features to its popular GPS running smartwatches. Designed with the runner in mind, the new Forerunners  — Forerunner 45, Forerunner 245, Forerunner 245 Music and Forerunner 945 – not only track a run but will also monitor stats, crunch the numbers and get to know more about an athlete’s performance, training history, goals and more. The new Forerunner series is designed to meet the needs of all runners, no matter how far or fast they run.

“We are excited to refresh our Forerunner line and bring sought-after advancements to some of our most-popular GPS running smartwatches,” said Engelhard (Al) Sundoro, managing director, Garmin South Asia and India. “Each new Forerunner takes what its predecessor has done very well and enhanced it with even more features, making it easier for you to simply focus on your workout while your watch does the thinking.” 

By runners for runners

I was told that the Garmin 945 is engineered for runners by runners. Each new Forerunner features lightweight materials and an intuitive five-button design that is easy to operate with or without gloves, and in any weather condition. The watches include an always-on, sunlight-readable display with GPS, all-day activity tracking, smart notifications, wrist-based heart rate, and new safety and tracking features that allow users to share their real-time location with chosen contacts in case they need help.

Whether training for a 5K, 10K or a 21K marathon, the new Forerunner line is compatible with Garmin Coach, free training plans that adapt based on a runner’s goals and performance with the help of three running coaches – Jeff Galloway, Greg McMillan and Amy Parkerson-Mitchell – to guide and motivate them.

Garmin Forerunner 945

When I unboxed the Garmin Forerunner 945 it took me more than five minutes to become familiar with the watch.

Why?

Because I had never handled a Garmin previously and I was exited to try this one on. I read that the Forerunner 945 has been engineered for the serious triathlete. I know that I am no triathlete — but I do bring myself to the limit whenever I take a trip to the gym or when I run in the village — so maybe it is for me, too.

After all, the Garmin 945 was made for the driven, the qualifiers, the elite — me included.

So what did I learn when I unboxed this really cool watch piece. For starters, the Forerunner 945 is a premium running and triathlon smartwatch that holds up to 1,000 songs and lets users sync playlists from select streaming services, such as Spotify, or transfer music from a computer. Whether hitting busy city streets or densely covered trails, full-color, onboard maps on the Forerunner 945 will help guide serious runners and multisport athletes so they never get lost on a run.

And, to help athletes become better, faster and more efficient come race day, the Forerunner 945 also includes key performance monitoring tools while adding training load focus, a new feature that will sort an athlete’s recent training history into different categories based on activity structure and intensity. They can also see all six running dynamics on their watch with the use of a Running Dynamics Pod or compatible heart rate strap. Intended to be worn all day, the Forerunner 945 will provide athletes with additional insights to their body’s performance, and with Pulse Ox4, they can see how well their body is absorbing oxygen. The Forerunner 945 features up to two weeks of battery life in smartwatch mode, up to 36 hours in GPS mode and up to ten hours in GPS mode with music.

All the information was a lot to take in when I strapped the Garmin Forerunner 945 to my wrist. But I was challenged and I need to see just what it could do.

I liked the Forerunner 945 at once. I liked that it is built like a smartwatch that is light so sometimes when I was running in the village I forgot that I had the watch on. For a person like me that is important — to forget that I have a smart watch on because I don’s really wear watched on a daily basis.

I was not to be disappointed at what the Forerunner 945 could do. I was not intimidated either. A smart watch that is difficult to set-up and has too many complicated stats can do that to the average runner — but I thank my running stars that the Garmin is not like that.

We were best running buddies after five minutes.

Take your pick

There is the Forerunner 45, which is designed for those who are training for their very first race or starting a new exercise plan, the easy-to-use Forerunner 45 is the perfect companion for everyday use, monitoring heart rate at the wrist and featuring built-in GPS to keep track of pace, distance, intervals and more.

Or check out the Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 245 Music, which is built on one of Garmin’s most popular GPS running smartwatches, the Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 245 Music include even more data and advanced features to help runners improve. The Forerunner 245 Music holds up to 500 songs and lets users sync playlists from select music-streaming services, like Spotify, or transfer music from a computer.

I was told that the Forerunner 245 offers personalized training and recovery insight, both the Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 245 Music include performance monitoring tools like VO2 max and training status with adjustments for heat, recovery time and aerobic and anaerobic training effects. With the addition of a Running Dynamics Pod or compatible heart rate strap, athletes can go even further with their running data, seeing all six running dynamics right on the watch.So, how do I like the Garmin Forerunner 945 — I am getting used to having it on my wrist and I like that there are many faces to dress it up in. So, I always feel that I have my furry friends with me when I have the Garmin Forerunner 945 on — and that is a good thing.

That is tracks all my steps whether I am running or walking and it lets me know how I am doing healthwise is what it was made for. It does that perfectly.

The new line of Forerunner smartwatches is the latest solution from the ever-expanding Garmin fitness segment, which focuses on developing technologies to enhance and promote healthy and active lifestyles. Garmin fitness devices can help athletes of all levels reach their health and fitness goals.