Originally Posted by
itri-45
You shouldn't be a slave to your watch and HRM during the run, but it's nice to have the detailed data recorded for logging and post analysis.
I'm going to have to disagree with this.
I spoke recently with Bev Anderson-Abbs (she was recently named USATF "Ultrarunner of the Year" for 2007). She got a Garmin 305 last fall, and said it has absolutely revolutionized her training. With it, she can easily tell exactly how fast she is currently running, how far she's run, what her overall pace is, and keep track of mile or kilometer splits. It's at least as useful when racing as it is in training.
I bought my girlfriend (a runner for over 20 years) a Garmin 205 last December (same as the 305, minus the heart rate monitor), and see feels the same about it. It's become her "coach" and she never goes out for a run without it.
You can pick up a Garmin 205 for only $150 or so (check CostCo). If you're serious about your training, and want to take it to the next level, it's a very good investment.