April 10th, 2010
My sweet Forerunner 305 has accompanied me through my entire running adventure thus far, bought in March 2007 before I was even finished with my “learn to run” plan because I just knew – knew running was going to be for me and that the Garmin was everything a gadget girl like me could love and adore.
In that time, we’ve been through two extremely hard falls and it’s lost a couple bits, but I haven’t let that interfere with the sacred love we have for each other. Instead, I’ve McGyvered it to keep on ticking as long as it’ll have me.
The first fix came after the 1st hard fall. The pin that holds one of the straps on popped off upon impact, never to be seen again. Instead of calling Garmin for a new strap (because I’m lazy like that) I took some fishing lure I had on hand for jewelry beading and strung it through. It’s been holding fine every since.
The second fix happened a few weeks ago when my Power button fell off and refused to reattach. I fashioned a new button from a Viactiv calcium chew wrapper, which worked sans tape for a week or so, but finally needed the full packing tape accoutrement to remain attached. It works a charm.
The third fix was necessitated this week when, while taking the Garmin off, the silver buckle tore straight through the strap’s attachment point. I thought about calling Garmin or even going to Target for a replacement strap, but a few selective layers of packing tape put it right as rain in no time.
While it lacks in glamour, it’s still a beautiful accessory to me.
Tapering Week #1
I’m loving it! Feeling stronger with each passing day, my resting HR is down to a rarely seen 46, my running HR is lower than usual, and my legs and ankles are pleased with this temporary new arrangement. The big toe drama lasted too long, I was shoving a needle under both nails for 4 days but they finally dried up and now all is well.
Tomorrow’s my last double-digit run, a 13, which’ll bring this week to 44 miles. Next week, a meager 32, then it’s time to Do This Thang! I’m excited, happy and looking forward to the whole 3-day adventure. Woohoo!! 
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Tags: 20 Responses to “Anatomy Of A Well-Loved Garmin”
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good lord what have you done to that thing?!?!?!
I guess mine would looked like that too if it hadn’t pooped out at a year and Garmin just sent me a whole new one.
The entire face of my Garmin 305 fell off last week. I now have mine held together with a rubberband! Its 3 years old and still works great.
Well, my 305′s not so old and I don’t wear it often (because I tend to overheat things when I do and it doesn’t work on the track). So it keeps on ticking though I haven’t given it the lickin’ you’ve give yours. And yes I call it “it.”
Ah, the taper. Enjoy it.
hopefully that’s duct-tape. because there’s nothing that that shiznit can’t fix!
Your McGyvered Garmie has character. I like it! Fencing wire and chewing gum is the go down here. You can fix anything with fencing wire and gum!
Instead of the calcium chew wrapper, try and pencil eraser. I fixed up a friend’s with that. Also, a regular replacement band WILL work, and will only cost you a couple of dollars, depending on the style. My friend actually likes the replacement band b/c she found one that fit that was more feminine (less bulky).
Wow, you have far more self control than I do. My 305 has been solid as a rock despite the abuse I have dished out. I keep waiting for it to do something weird so I can run out and buy the latest Garmin gizmo (like that 310XT thingamabob). I am impressed with how hardy these things are.
Poor Garmin and al in ducktape!!.
Nice training week and a lot miles running.
You looking happy forward and a good thing to read!.
Rinus.
I never noticed this accessory on you before lol poor garmin
WOW! Your Garmin’s been through the wars, for sure, my 205 will be 3 years old in June and still looking and working like new, strange as most things I own have a tendency to fall apart quite quickly!
good luck with Boston, wishing you tail winds all the way :]
Awesome! I had my Forerunner 101 patched together with tape for a while.
You really are McGyver! Great job on keeping it together! I hope you have another great week of tapering. I am very excited to hear about your Boston tales!
THAT is hilarious! I hope you never break your eye glasses.
Your poor, steadfast Garmin!
I’ll keep my eyes peeled for you at Boston! I’ll be the one with the fuchsia hair extensions, wearing a huge smile. Cannot wait!!!!!!
I know you’re going to do great!
What the hell do you do to that thing? Listen to LAR and get some new straps. Nice work though, MacGyver.
A well-loved Garmin is like that tried and true running partner who sticks by you through the good runs and the bad runs. It’s never mean or cruel but always gives you the good, honest truth about your performance.
My Garmin is almost as old, and I’ve had to do the re-set sequence on it a few times but haven’t busted it up quite as bad as yours! Which says a lot…I’ve taken more than a few spills in my time.
Taping and tapering. If you love it, why do you beat it so?
I was wondering about the longevity of those little rubber buttons…
Ha, I’m actually going to see this thing, on your wrist, in a few days. Whoohoo!
random question – do you ever wear running skirts? I saw a bunch of ladies wearing them on sunday and I think it would feel weird but idk…
I have 3 actually, wore one in Steamtown. They’re great when it’s really hot and no thigh chafing (if you ever get that). Plus the runningskirts.com ones have 2 big pockets on either side for gels. But I prefer shorts for feeling hardcore :-), though I’ll be donning a skirt or two in the next couple months, I’m sure.
I’ve replaced my band twice for the same reason. Tape only held for a while for me and I got sick of redoing it.