All Right...I'm Gettin One

Most of my run workouts, no actually all of my run workouts this past month or so have required me to run a certain pace. And so far I've (virtually) managed to do so by a treadmill, or knowing the distances around my house and gauging how long it takes from one point to the next (pace watch aficionados, I know you're already shaking your heads...)

Well, that was not the case 2 Saturdays ago, when I needed to do a fartlek run during my otherwise gluttonous LA getaway vaca. So we ventured out to run the Silver Lake Reservoir (yeah, I felt like a cool LA chic), but I quickly realized I didn't know how long the route was, so had no real gauge if I was running a 6:56, 6:50, or 7:00 min stretch...and I think that makes a difference (at least that's what my trainer is telling me).  So as I did my 10x 1 min sprints on this stretch of path above, w/out knowing if I was hitting the right pace. ugh. 

And that experience right there convinced me to finally suck it up, and justify forking out the dough for a Garmin. But now I have to do some research(ugh), so I've also asked a few fellow runners on social network groups their recommendations, and they all rave about the Garmin 305. And I read this blog touting it as well.

So I'm on the hunt for one. 

I tried my luck at REI, but they didn't have any in stock (hate that when that happens). So I'm gunnin' to order it on line this week. But before I make my final decision and cannot turn back EVER (okay lil' melodramatic), what do you recommend if you're a Garmin virtuoso or novice? Do you like/love/hate yours? Am I koo koo for wanting one, or not having one? Do you know any blogs out there that are doing one as a giveaway?;-)