Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Garmin, Yay & Monterey

To update everyone on the Garmin issue:  I called Garmin the day after my post and explained my problem.  The tech suggested doing a software update (which I was very dubious would help at all) but also said that since it was just out of warranty they would fix it for free!!  I updated the software and lo and behold the problem seems to be resolved.  However, I'm not running high enough mileage to figure out quickly if the battery life is really better.  So what I've been doing is every night I turn the Garmin on and start the timer and just let it run.  I call this the Garmin-Run-Down (GRD).  The GPS is on and I'm presuming that since the GPS is on, the pull on the battery is about the same as if I was running around with it on.  Granted I'm sure there is a little less power being used if it's just sitting there since it's not calculating paces but I'm hoping it's a close estimate.

On the first charge post-update I got 60 minutes of running time plus 11:06:32 GRD.  The next night I had 20 minutes of running time plus 12:57:52 GRD.  Today I plugged Garmin into the computer to download my run, forgot about it, and accidently recharged it.  So I'm doing a full GRD tonight.  I don't know any other way to do this.  I'm just afraid I'll run with it for a few weeks, decide it isn't working as well as it used to, but then Garmin will say too much time has passed to get it fixed for free.  Do you think GRD is accurate to actually running with it?

Switching gears...

Monterey Bay Coastal Trail (29 miles long total!)  

Boyfriend and I spent the past weekend down in Monterey.  Boyfriend was there on business and I tagged along for a mini vacation.  The weather was gorgeous this past weekend.  I had some awesome runs on the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail.  I am totally psyched to run the Big Sur Marathon in April.  The views were amazing.  Since I grew up in Hawaii it takes a lot to make me say that about ocean vistas.  


One highlight of the trip was seeing the Monarch butterflies in Pacific Grove.  The butterflies winter there and gather en masse.  There must have been thousands of them.  I only had my regular little 3x optical zoom camera so the picture isn't the greatest.  All the brown in the picture isn't leaves, they are all butterflies!


11 comments:

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Your little vacation sounds nice. I'd love to see the monarch migration someday.

Erin said...

I went to Monterey as a kid but it was in the summer so we missed the butterflys. Such a pretty place though!

ShirleyPerly said...

Awesome news about the Garmin! I'm not sure if the battery will discharge the same when it's just sitting idle but perhaps carrying it with you wherever you go even indoors and in a car might be better?

And what a beautiful day in Monterey! I used to live there before moving to FL and hated how cold and foggy it usually was. Of course, it was good for running and I've run on that rec trail many times. Thanks for the photos.

Mica said...

I've never been to Monterey, but now I want to go!

Aron said...

wow SUCH pretty pics!!! i want to go run there!

Anonymous said...

The view is spectacular!! I'd love to see the butterflies myself someday..

RG said...

Yup, carry the garmin around with you, make it work. ..

Pretty down there ...

Deb Cushman said...

What gorgeous views! The butterflies look beautiful. Must be an impressive sight in person.

X-Country2 said...

What a beautiful vacay! I read in some magazine that the Big Sur Marathon was one of the best for the amazing views.

Marathon Maritza said...

Beautiful!! You came on the perfect weekend too, the weather was amazing!

BOBBI McCORMICK said...

cute blog love it!