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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
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===Polar RC3 GPS Cons===
* The biggest flaw in the RC3 GPS is that it's not quite as good as the cheaper Garmin 310XT.
* It's much harder to get your data from a Polar device to the various training software that's available. Often you have to convert the files from the Polar format to TCX, and the best tool I've found is [[https://jmelhus.com/index.php/tcxcreator/| TcxCreator]].
* It's only waterproof to [http://www8.garmin.com/footnotes/IEC_60529_IPX7.html IPX7], which 3'/1m for 30 minutes. It might be showerproof, but not much more than that.
==If you need Heart Rate Variability – Polar RS800CX==
* You may be able to use the smartphone as an MP3 player.
* It is possible to use a [[Heart Rate Monitor]] and a [[Footpod]] with a smartphone.
** The [http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Bluetooth-Smart-Heart-Sensor/dp/B007S088F4 Polar H7 heart rate monitor] is [http://www.polar.com/us-en/support/compatibility_of_polar_h6_h7_heart_rate_sensor compatible] with iPhone 4S/5 and many Android phones. It supports many apps, including [[https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ismoothrun-pro-gps-pedometer/id410965399?mt=8| iSmoothRun]], [[Runkeeper]], [[Mapmyrun]](+), EndoMondo (Pro), Runmeter, and others. It also works nicely with [[Heart Rate Variability]] apps.
** The [http://www.amazon.com/Wahoo-Fitness-WFFisica01-Key-iPhone/dp/B0042WGO3Y Wahoo Key] is a $55 dongle that adds Ant+ support to an iPhone 4S/4/3GS. This allows you to use the {{Garmin HRM}}, {{Garmin Footpod}} and other Ant+ accessories. It works with most apps including RunKeeper, MapMyRun(+), EndoMondo (Pro), Runmeter. Note that the dongle may cause problems finding a waterproof case.
** The [http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Adapter-iPhone-Monitor-Cadence/dp/B005ZSYEOK Garmin Ant+ Adapter] is similar to the [http://www.amazon.com/Wahoo-Fitness-WFFisica01-Key-iPhone/dp/B0042WGO3Y Wahoo Key] but it has limited app support.
** The [http://www.amazon.com/Zephyr-HxM-Delivers-BlackBerry-Smartphones/dp/B002PL33AQ Zepher HxM] is a $79 (+shipping) heart rate monitor that works with Android and Blackberry phones.
** Some [[https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId=%7bf3027e90-f8de-11e0-73d0-000000000000%7d| Sony Ericsson android phones]] have Ant+ support built in.
==Smartphone Cons==
* A smartphone is heavy, bulky and has to be mounted on your upper arm, making it hard to see the display (a smart watch helps solve this).
* Few smartphones are waterproof, so a specialist case will be required to protect it.
==Smart Watches==
Some of the problems of using a Smartphone can be alleviated with a smart watch. With the phone mounted on your upper arm, it's hard to see the display or control the app, but the smart watch can act as a remote display and remote control. My favorite iPhone app, [[https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ismoothrun-pro-gps-pedometer/id410965399?mt=8| iSmoothRun]], supports several smart watches including the Pebble and the Magellan echo.
==Recommended Running Apps==
My favorite iPhone app is the [[https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ismoothrun-pro-gps-pedometer/id410965399?mt=8| iSmoothRun]], which offers great functionality and ease of use. It exports to many social networks, plus Dropbox, supports smart watches, and has great configurability. I've tried a number of Android running apps, but I never found anything I liked as much as iSmoothRun on the iPhone. To use an Android phone with the Pebble smart watch I used Pebble Runner, which was rather basic, but worked.
