When to Fire up the Garmin

Tyler Robinson

When do most people power up their Garmin if they're only using it for the run?  I've got a 305 and it often takes a couple of minutes to locate the satellites on power-up.  Do people generally just fire it up when they roll into T2?  I would think that if you start it before the bike you run the risk of running down the battery before the marathon even starts.  I just have visions of standing there in T2 tapping my toe and waiting for the stupid thing to lock...  And if you do start running before it locks in the satellites, will your numbers be screwy?  Thanks.

Coach Patrick

I lock it in before the race, letting it find the satellites. Then when I hit T2, I turn it on instantly and let it sit as I put on socks and shoes....then I strap it on and start running...it usually finds me in 2' minutes or so!

Tyler Robinson

Perfect - thanks Coach P.

gilliatt

I've put it in on in t1 and powered up on a chosen point on the bike course 10-15 minutes to go. My stupid logic is that it keeps my head in the game and not wandering. (IMFL when you make the turn onto beach front road) IMLOU when you are on river rd. P's way works too.

Scott Alexander

My decision is mostly based on the distance of the even
-sprint or olympic, I might turn it on before the race, leave it on while i'm on the swim and bike, then pick it up before my run.
-HIM or IM, I'll prob do what Patrick said, turn it on to lock onto the satellites, then turn it off. Once I get to t2, turn it on and leave. the first few miles are mostly admin any way, even tho I know how difficult it to keep slow enough initially.

Shaughn Simmons

For IMLV I turned my 305 on in T1 and it stayed on all the way to the finish.................