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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
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=The Big Questions=
For a [[Best Running Watch| simple evaluation of a GPS watch]], I look at how well it can answer some basic questions. There are many things a runner might look for in a running watch, but I feel these four questions are critical.
* '''How far did I run?''' This is the most basic question, and sadly, the Spartan has pretty good [[GPS Accuracy]]. The level of error will depend on your route, but the Spartan seems to do quite well on varied sections of my torture test.
* '''How fast am I running?''' Knowing how fast you're running can be a nice to know, or it can be vital for your training or race performance. Because of the nature of GPS, watches that rely on GPS signal alone tend to have serious problems with current pace. Currently the Spartan has no support for the display of current [[Pace From A Footpod]] while getting all other data from GPS, something I find is the best option. Suunto will use its internal accelerometer when GPS signal is unavailable, but this doesn't really solve the problem. I see the current pace varying considerably from my actual pace during a run.
* '''Where am I? '''The Spartan has a breadcrumbs display and the ability to download a course outline, but there's no "off course" warnings or directional information. There's also no "back to start" or ability to navigate to waypoints. It does have a true magnetic compass, though I've rarely found that useful in the real world.
