14 DAY TRIAL // Being able to track one's workout is extremely important, especially when the respective person has set himself/herself some fitness goals which he/she is very keen on attaining. And this is the reason why the Garmin company has launched the Forerunner 50, a wrist-wearable device that will help users track their exercise routines a lot better and with a higher level of accuracy.
The main component of the Forerunner 50 system is an advanced fitness watch, which connects wirelessly with other fitness devices such as a heart rate monitor or a foot pod that monitor speed and distance. Moreover, the system includes a wireless USB ANT Stick that plugs into the user's PC and automatically downloads workout data stored on the watch to a personal computer, and depending on the model, it can monitor and record heart rate or speed and distance or all of the above.
While the Forerunner 50 processes much of the same data as its GPS-enabled predecessors, those functions are packaged in a very compact device the size of a typical fitness watch. The Forerunner 50 can track and record up to seven hours and 100 laps of detailed exercise data, as for example track and record speed, distance, cadence, steps and calories burned. And because the Forerunner 50 records its data from the heart rate monitor and foot pod, users can exercise indoors -- for example, monitoring their heart rate while on a treadmill or tracking the distance walked each day.
"A healthy lifestyle doesn't have to come at a great sacrifice of time and money," said Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales, "and the Forerunner 50 provides runners, walkers and cyclists with a cost-effective training tool that is compact and convenient. Whether you're training diligently for a race or taking a leisurely stroll, the Forerunner 50 helps you get the most out of your time spent exercising."
The Forerunner 50 will be available in October, in several versions: Forerunner 50 plus the USB ANT Stick with Heart Rate Monitor for $99, Forerunner 50 plus the USB ANT Stick and the Foot Pod for 149 US dollars and, finally, the Forerunner 50 plus the USB ANT Stick with Foot Pod and Heart Rate Monitor for around 199 US dollars.
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