• SiRFstar IV™ Chipset: Uses the most advanced GPS technology for fast satellite lock-on times and reliable signal retention. The technology puts the Run Trainer watch on part with the most advanced GPS watches on the market
• Real-Time Pace, Distance, Heart Rate: Up to four customizable data lines in a large, easy to read digital format makes the Run Trainer both nice to look at as well as powerful
• 15-Workout Memory: Can save up to 15 workouts of up to 100 individual lap times. Session data can be downloaded via a USB cable to PC and imported into the Training Peaks™ online training log portal
• Hands-Free Chronograph Operation: Can record lap/splits based on distance and can automatically stop and start the watch when you stop running or resume again
• Up To Five Interval Timers: Variable interval timers facilitates structured interval sessions with optional warm up and cool down built-in
• Hydration and Nutrition Reminders: If you are competing in an endurance event that requires re-fueling. The Run Trainer can be programmed to remind you of when you need to re-fuel
• Wireless Sensor Compatibility: Utilizes on-board ANT+™ technology to pair up with external devices such as foot pods, heart rate monitor chest straps and bike cadence sensors

Following their release of the Timex Global Trainer watch, the first Timex GPS watch with fully integrated GPS circuitry, Timex have now released another GPS watch which some commentators say is on par with the Garmin Forerunner 110 and 210 watches. Their new GPS watch, the Timex® Ironman® Run Trainer™ may well be a runners dream with all the major features runners need in a package that, unlike some other GPS watches, does not over-complicate your training. The Timex Run Trainer watch is simple enough to use right out of the box, but with enough features to satisfy many athletes, with its improved chipset, the new watch promises to deliver on what the Global Racer watch lacked.

The Timex Run Trainer watch with GPS Technology is designed exclusively for running. With support for a heart rate monitor chest strap, the Flex Tech™ Heart Rate Sensor the watch has the ability to track, speed, pace, heart rate and altitude and boasts advanced training features like interval timers and pace alerts. The watch has a large, easy-to-read customizable display that can display up to 4 data lines making it easy to catch a glance of while you are pushing yourself to a personal best time. The watch features a similar intuitive interface, so if you’ve used any of Timex’s other best-selling sports watches, you are probably already half way to learning to use the new watch.

The Run trainer features an impressive 8-hour rechargeable battery (in full-GPS mode), that is equivalent to the most popular Garmin Forerunner GPS watches and uses the SiRFstarIV™ GPS chip, for optimum acquiring and retention of the GPS satellite signal. The new Run Trainer is also ANT+™ compatible allowing linking up to popular foot pod devices, bike cadence sensors and heart rate sensors that use ANT+ technology. The watch can store up to 15 sessions in memory of up to 100 individual lap times with sessions summarized in a date-ordered list. The Run Trainer watch provides you with the ability to upload your data to PC via a USB cable in a format that is recognizable with the popular TrainingPeaks™ online training log.

But perhaps the feature that makes the Run Trainer watch so compatible with the needs of advanced runners is its variable intensity interval training feature. The Interval Timer allows you to set alerts up for each interval based on running cadence, heart rate or running pace. The watch also has Hands-Free Automatic Operation abilities, allowing you to automatically measure your performance at set intervals based on either time or distance. This is an extremely attractive feature for runners who want to break, say a 5 km race down to their individual 1km split times.

The Run Trainer watch borrows a nice feature found in other Timex heart rate monitor watches in its recovery mode feature. The recovery mode feature works with the heart rate chest sensor recording how long it takes for you to recover after a hard workout. Measuring your rate of recovery is a good test for signs that you are over-training. If it takes longer than usual for your heart rate to drop, then it is a sign that you may be pushing too hard and thus not getting the full benefit for your training efforts. A fast heart rate recovery is also a good indicator that your overall fitness level is good. Serving runners further is the Run trainer’s support for Hydration and Nutrition Reminders and a Countdown Timer feature.

Overall there is a lot to like about the new Timex Run Trainer watch, fitting the description of a mid-range GPS running watch, whether you want a simple way to keep track of your speed, pace and distance on your long runs, or a training tool to help you with a structured training session, the Timex Run Trainer is a great choice for those who want to focus more on running than trying to figure out their watch, without selling themselves short on features. The Timex Run Trainer GPS Speed and Distance Sports watch is due to hit the shelves in October and to be quite honest we can hardly wait!

You’ve probably read us incessantly harp on about the virtues of an interval timer watch, and for good reason. Interval timers are sequential, variable length countdown timers that allows one to perform structured interval training in a variety of different activities by sounding an alarm when each countdown timer has reached zero. The variable length of the countdown timers makes watches that feature an interval timer mode perfect for sessions requiring a set effort time followed by a set period of rest.

While we are mostly interested in sports watches that feature the interval timer feature, we would like to point out that there are also devices on the market designed solely with interval training in mind. The most prominant of these is the Gymboss Interval Timer and as we recently got our hands on one of these beauties, we thought we’d take the opportunity to write a brief Gymboss Interval Timer Review.

Dedicated Interval Timer Vs Sports Watch

So why buy a dedicated interval timer when you could buy a sports watch that does the same thing and more? One reason is cost. An interval timer feature on a sports watch falls under the more advanced and sophisticated features of a sports watch, which commonly means you have to pay a lot more money. The Gymboss Interval Timer sells for under $20, offers a sophisticated interval training timer system as well as a stopwatch. Expect to pay around double for a sports watch with a basic interval timer feature that has fewer configuration options than the Gymboss Timer, which has been carefully designed for the sole purpose of structured interval training.

Gymboss: Our First Impressions

The first thing that impressed us about the Gymboss Interval Timer is that it’s a well developed product, has been around for a while, with solid customer reviews on Amazon.com. The device is well packaged and well documented. Upon removing the device from it’s packet, we could tell right away that the Gymboss interval timer device is a sound and solid device, construction is superb – the device is cast in a durable case with three distinct buttons, two on the top and one on the right hand side and a clear LCD display that is large and prominantly displayed for intuitive reading during exercise. Gymboss, unlike a watch with interval timer, features a clip on the back of the box with a solid spring that can clamp tightly to a pair of running shorts. You certainly don’t have to worry about the thing falling off, even if you are doing an activity like jumping rope or boxing where you are making sudden moves and jumping around. The basic operating instructions are printed boldly on the back of the case, albeit upside-down on our model.

Setting Up The Gymboss

Setting up the Gymboss for the first time, proved to be more complicated than we originally anticipated and it is in this area we feel the Gymboss falls short. While interval training by its very nature is a rather complicated practice, setting up the Gymboss requires a convoluted and arbitrary set of button presses that will require you to dedicate some time and effort to learn. Reading the manual will certainly be required to get up and running with the Gymboss and it is not hard to forget which combination of buttons you need to press to get yourself in or out of the various modes, but to their credit Gymboss have provided an excellent series of instructional videos on YouTube. We found that after a period of playing around, we were getting the hang of the Gymboss device and could take full advantage of its better features.

Gymboss Instructions on YouTube

• Setup Instructions
• Expanded Set-up Instructions
• Stopwatch Function
• Operating Tips
• Troubleshooting Your Gymboss

Gymboss’s Better Features

So what do we like most about Gymboss? The Gymboss Interval Timer stands out from cheaper sports watch interval timers in a number of ways. Above offering an adjustable interval timer system, the Gymboss, lets you set three levels of alarm audibility. You can have a loud beep, a quiet beep or have the device vibrate to signal the end of the current interval. A loud beep is very audible and should be easily heard even over the hum of a speed bag. The device offers two interval countdown timers and will beep once after the first has reached zero and twice after the second which we thought was a nice touch. Gymboss also offer you the option of setting the number of repetitions of the cycle or can just repeat indefinitely until you stop it. The alarm duration can also be set to 1, 5 or 10 seconds and can be silenced at any time by pressing the START button.

Conclusion

The Gymboss Interval Timer device is a handy and capable device that is solely dedicated to set timer interval workouts. the advantage of customized interval lengths make it the ideal tool for high intensity repetition training like the Tabata training method, as a boxing interval timer, a running interval timer, a weight lifting timer or a multitude of other uses. At $19.95, this device will cost you a good deal less than a sports watch with interval workout timer feature while providing you with the ability to set the number of repetition cycles, customize your alarm type and duration and even serve as a normal chronograph stopwatch if you need it. If you are prepared to be a little baffled when first setting up the device, you will certainly benefit from all dedicated interval training timers can offer once this is overcome.

Note: This article is dedicated to Interval Timer Watches. You can also purchase dedicated Interval Timer Devices like the Gymboss Interval Timer (click to read more about these).

One of the most powerful and practical tools that can be used in running, or essentially any modern sport is an Interval Timer Watch. An Interval Timer mode on a sports watch is a series of variable duration timers that can be used by sports men and women for structured training workouts. For example if you wish to do multiple repetitions involving 5 minutes of work with 3 minutes of rest, a sports watch with an interval timer can be configured to guide you seemlessly through your workout.

While many watches feature a Countdown Timer that counts down to zero from a specified time and then repeat, variable length timer intervals are superior because they allow you to vary the lenght of your efforts against your recovery, whereas a Countdown Timer only allows a set timer interval.

An interval timer by contrast, features at least two timers that run in sequence and can be set independently from each other allowing much greater flexibility in terms of the structure of a session. The watches listed below are distinct, in that they are all interval training timer capable making them a great choice for anyone seeking a sports watch that doubles as an interval workout timer tool.

Interval Timer Watch Choices

			Interval Timers
	Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor Price: $299.99		∞
	Garmin FR60 Black Fitness Watch Bundle (Includes Foot Pod, Heart Rate Monitor, and USB ANT Stick) Price: $199.99		∞
	Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Orange) Price: $169.95		∞
	Timex Men's T5C291 Ironman Data Link USB Watch Price: $90.00		∞
	Timex Men's T5E231 Ironman 100-Lap Watch Price: $69.95		10
	Timex Men's T5H721 Ironman Triathlon Sleek 150-Lap Resin Strap Watch Price: $89.95		9
	New Balance Vent Mini Trail Chronograph Watch (Graphite) Price: $69.99		9
	Timex Ironman T5F011 Men's Bodylink Heart Rate Monitor Watch Price: $299.99		9
	Timex Ironman Men's Race Trainer Heart Rate Monitor Watch, Black/Grey, Full Size Price: $149.95		5

	Nike Midsize WR0129-002 Triax Speed 50 Super Watch Price: $59.00		5
	Nike Women's WR0090-609 Triax Swift Digital LX Watch Price: $79.00		3
	Suunto t3c Heart Rate Monitor and Fitness Trainer Watch (Black Polished) Price: $189.00		2
	Timex Women's T5B721 Ironman Triathlon Sleek 50-Lap Watch Price: $59.95		2
	Timex Women's T59201 Ironman Triathlon Sleek 50-Lap Resin Strap Watch Price: $59.95		2
	Timex Unisex T54281 Ironman Triathlon Sleek 5/1 Resin Strap Watch Price: $54.95		2
	Nike Men's R0100-056 Anvil Comold Regular Watch Price: $89.00		2
	Timex T5E451 O.V.A. Ironman Triathlon Watch Price: $79.95		2

	Timex T5E451 O.V.A. Ironman Triathlon Watch Price: $79.95		2
	Nike Men's A0024-064 Oregon Series Digital Super Watch Price: $69.00		2

Other Considerations

The standard watch with interval timer features just two timers, for an effort/recovery sequence, however many watches have a lot more and some even allow complete flexibility in session design – some can even accomodate the creation of complex sessions comprising of multiple session “stages” or “steps” with perosonal goals at each stage. These advanced watches are often programmable, can hook up to your PC and are configured with bundled software that also provides tools to analyse variables of your workouts and a history of past exercise.

But for most of us, the latest high-tech interval timer software is not needed, a simple two timer is perfectly adequate for a wide range of different activities. The choice is a very individual one however. If you love playing around with technology or you are an elite athlete and need to push yourself through a complex set of workouts, then the more sophisticated choices offered from Garmin, Suunto or Polar are probably worth looking into. Timex offer plenty of affordable options for the rest of us, with many watches in the Timex Ironman line supporting an interval timer mode, although Timex offer more sophisticated watches too.

The most essential thing is that you ensure the sports watch you are keen on, supports interval timers if you need them as there are many cheap watches that do not.

For those who have not gotten very far into structured training, the Interval timer concept can be a tricky one to get one’s head around when you first start. But most people, with a little practice, can quickly learn to use interval timers and utilize them to their full potential and they do not even have to strictly be used in the realm of sport. They could – for example, be used by students to establish a set study ritual – say 50 minutes of study followed by 10 minutes of rest. They could also be used to time house work for 45 minutes followed by a 15 minute coffee break, the possibilities are endless and for the person who tends to gets sidetracked and distracted a lot (and in this realm yours truely is guilty as charged!) an interval timer watch is perfect!

Features:

• Large Size Digital Display
• 10 Run Memory Storage with 50 Splits per Run
• 5x Interval Timers
• Target Time

How can they make better watches when so many already have the features a runner needs? – stopwatch, lap storage and interval timers. A simple word – ergonomics, a sports watch that can offer more comfort and minimize wrist movement will do nothing but enhance your sporting experience.

The Nike Triax 50 WR0129-002 Super Digital Sport Watch is designed for serious runners and athletes. The watch features clear, large-sized, digital numerals and a unique S-shape design that not only fits your wrist perfectly, but sports an angular design presenting a natural view of your vital performance data with minimal wrist movement. The time-piece also lets you configure the display the way you want with a choice of lap time, total time.

The watch is also bundled with functional sports features including a 50-lap chronograph for taking splits while in your race or on the training track, five interval timers – a great feature for run/walk or hard/easy programs, Target Time that compares goal times with actual times and the Data Recall feature will display your total time, lap times, best lap and average lap at the end of a session.

The following, watch features are also included:

• Time and Date Display
• 2 Alarms
• Dual Time Zone
• 100m (330 feet) water resistance

This watch is priced at under $50 USD on Amazon making it an attractive option for both the casual or serious runner seeking a cheap, great looking, functional sports watch.

The watch allows 10 runs worth of storage, which might not be enough for some athletes. If you require more you might consider these options from Nike, that have the same ergonomic shape:

• Nike Triax Speed 100 Super Watch
• Nike Triax Speed 300 Watch

Buy the Nike Midsize Triax Speed 50 Super Watch on Amazon.

The New Balance Vent Mini is designed for the serious female athlete who seeks a stylish and economical sports watch with advanced running features. With an impressive 100 laps of storage and 9 interval timers, the Vent Mini more than adequately meet the needs of all but the most demanding runners.

Trendy, chic, this lightweight watch is available in two fetching colors options: Berry Pink and Graphite Green and features a mineral glass lens and simple styling that is not so sporty as to be out of place at work or in a casual environment, as much as the track or your next half marathon event.

This watch also features:

• 100 Hour Chrono with 1/100 seconds resolution
• Training Log for training recall and analysis with best lap, average lap and total segment
• User Selectable Split/Lap display
• Time/Day/Date/Month
• 3 Daily Alarms
• Advanced Backlight System
• 3 Independent Timers (Count-Up, Count-Down, Count Repeat)
• Dual Time Zone
• User Replaceable Battery
• Water Resistance To 50 Meters (or 165 Feet)

This New Balance Vent Mini is currently available for under $45 on Amazon, which we feel represents outstanding value for money for a great looking watch that performs!

Follow the link to browse to the product page, read user reviews or to purchase the New Balance Vent Mini Trail Chronograph Watch.

This article explains how to use Interval Timer Mode, on Timex Ironman Watches that support this feature. A comprehensive collection of Timex Watches that support the Interval Timer Feature can be viewed at: Timex sports watches with interval timer mode To view a more comprehensive guide on Timex Watches, visit our Timex Ironman Watch Page

Every now and then we will take a closer look at a features of the Timex Ironman Watch. In this article we look at a specialized training feature called Interval Timer Mode.

The optional Interval Timer Mode, is an alternating countdown system. When one countdown interval timer interval ends, an alert sounds and the next interval starts.

It is one of the more complicated features of the Ironman watches that few people really understand how to use to it’s full potential, but a little time invested into learning to use it properly and there are some truly wonderful benefits for activities that require repetitive timed periods such as interval training.

I attempt to keep this information as general as possible, but there are many Ironman watches so this information might not apply precisely to your particular model.

To use Interval Timer Mode, take the following steps.

1. First, navigate to Interval Timer Mode by pressing the MODE button repeatedly until the words “Interval Timer” are displayed on the screen.

   When selecting a fresh Interval Timer, “int 1″ will be displayed. The number of slots available varies from model to model. My Timex Datalink watch has 10, but 10 is on the higher end. Most Ironmans have two or three.

2. Use STOP/RESET (-) or START/SPLIT (+) to cycle through the available timers.
3. Press NEXT to set a timer. The value of the timer will flash.
4. While the number is flashing, pressing next again will cycle through units (hours, minutes, seconds), STOP/RESET (-) or START/SPLIT (+) will change the values
5. When you are done, press NEXT again and you’ll be prompted on what to do at the end of the current interval. The standard options are:

   “stop at end” (the session will finish when all timers expire)
   “repeat at end” (the session will repeat over and over)

6. When you are done, press DONE to confirm and exit.
7. Now navigate to interval 2 and repeat the process until all the timers are set up the way you want them.

   To un-set a timer, set all it’s value to 0 and it will be ignored. This even applies if there are gaps in the sequence. For example if you assign values to int 1 and int 3, but set int 2 to 0, when int 1 expires, int 3 will start next.

Use the following diagram for button references:

Running the Interval Timers

• When you are ready to begin your interval session press START/LAP to start the timer. You can exit Interval Timer Mode and the timer will continue to run.
• When the timer for int 1 reaches zero, an alarm will chime in to notify you that it has run it’s course. If you configured any other of the interval timers, the next highest one will start at this point.
• The sequence of timers will run until the last (non-zero) timer has run it’s course. The sequence will repeat or stop depending on your settings.

You may stop the session at any time by pressing STOP/RESET.

The Interval Timer in Practice

Interval Timer Mode is a useful tool for athletes wishing to alternate between running and rest periods.

For example if you wish to run for three minutes with a one minute recovery break and do it over and over, you could set int 1 to 3:00 and int 2 to 1:00, with the “repeat at end” option.

It seems that Interval Timer Mode can even be used for less than conventional activities. I read the other day how one runner uses it in all areas of their day-to-day life:

I am in a running group. We use the interval timer so that we can take walk breaks on a regular basis. What we do is set one interval timer for maybe 5 minutes and the second for one minute and repeat both. This allows us to run for 5 minutes then the watch beeps to tell us to walk for one minute.

Since the watch is set to repeat, this cycle of beeping for five minutes, then one minute continues for the duration of the run. You could not do this with the “timer” function because it repeats the one time again and again.

I also use the interval timer for house cleaning. I set one interval timer so that I can work 45 minutes and the second so that I can take a 15 minute break . I do this if I will be working for several hours.

It seems Interval Timer Mode is limited only by your ability to find creative ways to use it. How will you use it?

Timex Interval Watches

View a more comprehensive collection of Timex Interval Watches with Categories

Our information page has much more information about the Ironman Watch’s features and great buying tips.
Check it out here. Timex Ironman Watch.