Staying physically fit is in!
Running has become a rising trend, fueled by the growing popularity of run clubs, sportswear and fitness gadgets that support a healthy lifestyle.
Garmin Run Manila, a running event organized by Garmin Run Philippines, is set to return for its second year on October 26 at Filinvest City, Alabang.
Runners can participate in 5-kilometer, 10-kilometer, and 21-kilometer categories in the running event, which is part of the Garmin Asia Series, and will receive a race kit.
Participants who complete the race within a specified time frame will also be eligible for prizes.
Registration is open until October 25, but regular rates, ranging from P1,550 to P2,550, are only available until September 15.
The first-ever Garmin Run in the Philippines, held on December 1 last year, attracted 7,000 participants.
Garmin Run Manila is part of the Garmin Asia Series, which features 10 races across 10 cities in Asia — including the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan.
Participants who complete all races in the series between 2022 and 2027 will be awarded a customized 18k gold-plated medal.
The series began in 2022 in the capital cities of Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan, drawing over 20,000 runners.
New additions to the Forerunner series
Aside from the running event, Garmin Philippines unveiled the new devices under the Forerunner series, the Forerunner 570 and Forerunner 970, on August 16 at Greenbelt 5 in Makati City.
Planning lap courses and workout routines is one of the things runners can do with the latest Garmin smartwatches.
Both smartwatches can track one’s sleep stage, nap time, and body’s energy levels, which can identify the peak time for activity and rest.
It also offers updates on the overall health, stress, and recovery time of the user. This includes tracking body oxygen saturation, stress levels, and heart rate.
Women can also track their menstrual cycle or pregnancy since the devices can predict their period cycles and estimate past ovulation.
However, the Forerunner 970 offers more features, like identifying the breathing patterns of the user when sleeping and recording the electrical activities of the heart through its ECG app.
Apart from health status updates, the smartwatches can also record lap distances and measure the race time and pace, heart rate, and running metrics, like cadence and stride, when running.
Individuals can also create their custom multiparty workouts and learn about their impact on their endurance, speed, and power. They can also compare their recent training load to the optimal range.
The new devices also have built-in sports apps and triathlon and multiparty profiles, enabling users to measure and record their workout performances.
Creating or finding existing courses, improving running forms, measuring the endurance and the ability to run uphill, and real-time recording of stamina are some features that are only available in the Forerunner 970.
Runners can also receive emails, texts, and alerts and play music on their watches when paired with smartphones. They can also send real-time locations to others.
The Forerunner 570 can be used for up to 18 hours in GPS mode and 10 to 11 days in watch mode, while the Forerunner 970 can last for 26 hours in GPS mode and 15 days in watch mode.
Brand manager Maia Nazareno said that the Forerunner 570 could offer insights for everyday training to everyday runners, while the Forerunner 970 could cater to performance-focused athletes.
Heart rate monitors
Individuals can also monitor their heart rate with the HRM 200 and HRM 600.
The HRM 200 provides heart rate data of the user when doing activities, like running, cycling, and strength training. It also sends the information to compatible and paired devices.
Meanwhile, runners can also track their heart rate and its variability, which can also transmit their data to other compatible gadgets and equipment, and improve their running form with HRM 600.
The device can also track daily metrics, such as steps and calories burned, and pace and distance for indoor track and treadmill runs.
Both devices are resistant to splashes but not suitable for prolonged exposure to water.
Founded in 1989, Garmin offers product lines that cover the aviation, marine, automotive, outdoor, and fitness markets.
