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The Footpod will provide an accurate display of your [[Cadence]], which is a critical and often overlooked aspect of running.
=Using a Garmin Footpod=
If you have a [[Best Running Watch|Garmin 910XT, 310XT 610, Epix, or 610920XT]] then it is possible to display your [[Pace From A Footpod]] while getting other data from the GPS. I believe this is the optimal configuration for most runners. In addition, I found that turning the GPS off and relying on the Footpod dramatically increases the battery life of a Garmin watch.
=Bluetooth Footpods=
There are a number of Bluetooth Footpods on the market, but there are various compatibility issues.
=Footpod Failure=
I've found that the Garmin Footpods consistently fail after about 12 months of use. This is around 4,000 miles of running for me, but I don't know if the failure is due to the distance covered or the time. The initial symptoms are similar to a low battery, with the Garmin watch having problems detecting the Footpod. If you replace the battery and still get connectivity problems, then you may have a failing Footpod. The key symptom I've found is that the Footpod starts reporting an unreasonable pace, such as running a 3:00 min/mile pace. I've also had the Footpod cause the GPS to think I'm no longer moving, so the distance display does not increase and the average pace drops steadily. I'm now on my fourth Footpod and I've had to accept that they are consumable items.
=RunScribeand MilestonePod=[[RunScribe]] make Footpods that measure a wide range of biomechanical data in addition to pace and [[Cadence]], including Braking G's, Impact G's, Ground Contact Time, [[Foot Strike]], and more. [[MilestonePod]] makes a Footpod that makes it easy to record the mileage on your shoes, as well as recording some of the data that RunScribe records. I love both devices, but they have different focuses. RunScribe is about detailed, accurate data, where MilestonePod is about recording mileage while giving some simpler, but useful data.