Is there a stand alone distance tracking device?

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Fragile Do Not Bend
Fragile Do Not Bend
Jul 2023
11:30am, 30 Jul 2023
11,409 posts
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Fragile Do Not Bend
I second (third?) getting a cheap secondhand garmin. Something like a 35 or a 220 are pretty simple.
paulcook
paulcook
Jul 2023
11:54am, 30 Jul 2023
3,084 posts
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paulcook
I’m not convinced either that a pedometer is what you need since, as others have pointed out, it depends on an accurate stride length, and if you’re on tidal sands your stride length might not always be the same particularly as compared to roads.
Bazoaxe
Bazoaxe
Jul 2023
12:01pm, 30 Jul 2023
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Bazoaxe
Cheapest GPS device you can find and don’t link it to any apps is the best answer.

Way back in the mists of time I had a Nike thing that connected to my iPod. Now that I have a GPS I realise it was wildly inaccurate.
SPR
SPR
Jul 2023
12:06pm, 30 Jul 2023
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SPR
Connecting the newer GPS watches to phones means they can download satellite locations so they can connect outdoors quicker.

You don't need your phone with you to actually use the watch. I never run with my phone and I expect there's a few runners like me. Watch and keys is all I run with

Have you ever owned a GPS watch?
paulcook
paulcook
Jul 2023
12:08pm, 30 Jul 2023
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paulcook
Nike+ if memory serves bazo. Mine got more inaccurate the further I ran. I did 13.6 miles for a half then 2 weeks later 28+ for a marathon so as my form went so did the accuracy but neatly demonstrates any change in terrain/pace etc will throw out the distance.
Bazoaxe
Bazoaxe
Jul 2023
12:12pm, 30 Jul 2023
25,351 posts
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Bazoaxe
That was it paulcook

For me it was miles out. A run that I used to think was close to 20 miles turned out to be more like 14. It puts in perspective my first two marathons which were run of very light mileage albeit I have zero record going back to my pre garmin days that started in late 2007.
SPR
SPR
Jul 2023
12:13pm, 30 Jul 2023
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SPR
I have a elapsed time (basically stopwatch) screen on my watch. That's what I use for many of my runs and definitely for races. I sometimes just have the time of day showing in general easy runs. I like the data later and will look at it after the run but during, I generally don't use it.

For sessions, lap time and sometimes pace can be useful.
Derby Tup
Derby Tup
Jul 2023
12:29pm, 30 Jul 2023
60,701 posts
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Derby Tup
Measuring the middle joint of a finger then using it against a map is good
Tim of Fife
Tim of Fife
Jul 2023
5:37pm, 30 Jul 2023
3,870 posts
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Tim of Fife
I see that there are Forerunner 35, 45 & 55
Would I really gain much from the last two models please?
Meeps
Meeps
Jul 2023
5:39pm, 30 Jul 2023
13,344 posts
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Meeps
I've got the 35 and it's fine with me. Wondered what the 45 was about so googled.... The Forerunner 45 is the souped-up version of the 35. For just a few dollars more, you get a clearer display, better design, more sport profiles.

Probably the 35 does what you want.

About This Thread

Maintained by Tim of Fife
All that I want to do is to track distance and time when running. Nothing more, nothing less.

The reason is that I run a lot on tidal sands, which don't feature on Mapometer etc.

Is there a simple device which would allow me to do that?

I don't take my phone on runs.

And I don't want to link any device to a phone app.

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