Garmin HRM-Run Monitor (010-10997-08)

"The "Training Effect" data is well worth the price.Per Garmin:What is Training Effect?Have you ever wondered what good your workout is doing? Training Effect measures the impact of exercise on your aerobic fitness. Using your heart rate, Training Effect tells you if the exercise you do is maintaining your current fitness level or improving it. With that information, you can vary your intensity to achieve your goals.Training Effect is for all aerobic sports, all equipment and all healthy individuals.Training Effect Scale5.0 – Overreaching4.0 – Highly Improving3.0 – Improving2.0 – Maintaining1.0 – Minor

A must have for anyone that owns a Garmin fenix 2, 920XT or 620. To be honest I don't modify my training in any way based on the additional running metrics, but it definitely is interesting to see your form decay after some fatigue in the long efforts or to see how your cadence, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation compare during fast and hard workouts.Beyond that additional data collection, which is only supported on some watches so buyer beware, it is the same old high quality Garmin premium HRM which is comfortable and works quite well.

The HRM-Run provides amazing reports when used with running. (Running dynamics) I've paired the HRM-Run with a Garmin Fenix 2. The pairing process was simple and only needs to be done once. The main benefit is "heart rate" information, but this particular monitor provides much more when paired with a watch like the Fenix 2.Here's some of the information provided when paired with the Fenix 2:- Ground Contact time- How long were my big sloppy feet in contact with the ground? (Too long in my case. )- Vertical Oscillation - Am I bouncing around while running? (Nope.)- Heart Rate - Yep, the old heart is beating.- Cadence - Step per minute- Pace / Speed (from watch)- Elevation (from watch)Garmin Connect produces detailed Run reports with all of this information.The strap chaffs my left side and has produced some nasty sores, so only four stars. I've placed bandaids over the sharp areas and that helps a lot.

I received this product I early March and was able to use it one time on a 4 mile run successfully. Tried using it several other times and the monitor would connect to my Forerunner watch for very brief moments (less than 1 minute) then disconnect. I went to change the battery hoping that would fix the issue. Used a jewelers screwdriver set due to the small screws and still stripped two of the four screws holding the battery cover.

Everything great... until it comes time to replace the battery. The screws are 4 Phillips head tiny screws. Definitely a trip to the hardware store to buy a tiny screw driver or a jeweler to replace the batteries. Beware - they are screwed in very tight and a screwdriver you would buy at a drug store for eyeglasses will strip the screwdriver. I would give this 5 stars but for the battery replacement.I have a scuba diving watch that has a hatch similar to the one you open with a quarter, but it has a key that came with the watch. That or the quarter-style hatch would be light years better. (I mention this because it is definitely not a waterproofing issue - I dive to depths of 100 ft+ in salt water.) Come on, Garmin.

It is comfortable and light. I run so far up to 8 miles with it and it hasn't caused me any trouble whatsoever, I even forget I am wearing it at times. I just don't think is needed with the Forerunner 230 since pairing it with it doesn't give you the advance metrics you could get if using the Forerunner 630, which by the wait right now (4/24/16) you get for $449 including HRN-Run monitor, which it is only $75 more dollar than what i paid for the Forerunner230 and this HRM-Run and you will get better running metrics.

I love most things Garmin and pair this with a Fenix 3 for running and biking. I love the data it collects and the analytics it enables on Garmin Connect...however, the monitor only gets 3 stars as it seems like every 11-12 months I have to replace it for one reason or another. Kinda frustrating. Garmin is typically good with handling the request and I've gotten two for no charge replacements. I just wish it wasn't necessary to have to make the call.

Good accessory to the 620 if you care about heart rate and seeing your SPM during a run. I haven't tried it on a race as yet as my last race was a 50K trail and I wasn't willing to lose that much battery life in that run. But as it works as indicated during a long run, a street race should be a good test (barring any user errors).