Don't Call It A Fanny Pack!

When I first started running, I had nothing but my smartphone (Droid Bionic) to track my miles.  I had already been using it for walking, and since I didn't always wear pants with pockets, I even had a Sport Belt (DO NOT call it a fanny pack!) that I used - the Nathan 5K Runner's Waist Pack.  Amazon conveniently reminded me that I ordered this belt in November of 2011- and in the past 18 months I have gotten very comfortable with it being around my waist.  It doesn't bounce - at all - but I do find that I have to wear it around my natural waist (see pic).  However, that has never really bothered me. 

After I had been running for a couple of months I realized I was going to have to find some way to carry water.  Brian and I run in a place that is mostly inaccessible by vehicle, and our courses consist of huge loops, so there was no practical way to stash my water along the route.  I tried carrying water bottles in my hand.  Ummmm - no!  That's when I discovered the Amphipod Snapflasks.  These water bottles fit on just about any belt and can be positioned horizontally or vertically.  And they absolutely don't leak.  I love them!

Everything was fine at first.  I used the Endomondo app on my phone to track my runs and listened to music on my phone as well.  But I started wishing I could see my pace and distance without having to pull my phone from my belt.  After some research (and by "some" I mean around 40 hours!), I purchased the Garmin FR60 watch. (HERE is the link to DC Rainmaker's in depth review.)

I'm gonna have to say that I LOVE this watch!

Why didn't I think of that??

It pairs with a footpod on my shoe to tell me my pace and distance.  I never have to wait for satellites (it uses an accelerometer), it is lightweight, waterproof, and I just changed the battery for the first time after 10 months of heavy use!  It does just about everything that my husband's huge Garmin 305 does - intervals, customizable pages, running partner, heart rate etc with the exception of GPS finctions (map and elevation)

There are some cons - namely, the buttons can be a pain to push, the watch is cheaply made and looks worn out already,  and I do have to re-calibrate the footpod every time I move it to a different pair of running shoes - but I would definitely (and probably will) buy it again in the future. (They have an updated model  - the FR70, which I skipped because it was only a cosmetic upgrade and at the time the FR60 was cheaper.)

If I didn't already have to carry water on a belt, I think I might have gone for one of the GPS Garmins.  But since I must use the belt - and I need tunes - the phone works perfectly for the GPS functions that my Garmin can't.

However, my beloved Bionic got lost (stolen really... if the person who "found" your phone won't return it despite texts and phone calls, isn't that stealing? *sigh*)  and I have been persevering with a Droid X.  (By persevering, I mean complaining incessantly because it keeps closing Endomondo and can't even play my tunes without hanging.)  Thankfully, I am due for an upgrade in one week!

That means I have been researching smart phones - which led to smart phone cases - which led to "Why don't I just get a whole new sport belt!"    Today, I finally made a decision and ordered the

Tune Belt Sport Belt

I'm excited at the thought of being able to access my phone controls without taking it out of the belt.  Can't wait to get it (and my new Galaxy S4) and take it for a test run.  Review is sure to follow!

Do you run with a hydration belt?