Is a GPS worth the money (i.e. are they accurate) and if so, what are the best ones to buy for training (mostly running)?
Garmin Forerunner 301 or 305 let you download your results to a nice database as well as to www.Motionbased.com where you can see your runs on a map and exactly where you slowed and sped up. While YMMV depending on location. I live in NC and have not had much trouble with reception. Are they worth it? In my opinion yes they are as garmin has a very simple to use menu system (far superior to anything from Polar) and their customer service is top notch. And if you want to use one for biking the Edge 305 is great and you can download the course you just rode onto a Computrainer file and race it all winter long. So yes they are great in my opinion.
Andy
Can anyone comment on the usability with a mac? I noticed that they’re claiming “partial support”, so I’m wondering if its the good parts or the boring parts.
Sorry can’t help you there as I use a PC. I’d ask them and see if money back if not compatible.
They are accurate if you get good reception. Trees & clouds together tend to be a tough match. Trees OR clouds seems to work okay. I’ve been pleased with my Timex system. The watch is a normal sized wrist-watch as compared with the Gamin, which seems quite large. I only have experience using a Garmin 201 (but have seen the 205/305’s up close which is how I know how big they are), and was pleased with it’s accuracy, but found it to be very bulky. I liked some of the features the big UI offered (map mode was fun for trail running), but I prefer the wearability of my Timex Bodylink, since you can leave it on all the time and not notice it. If you like the waypoint/map features of the Garmins, I think that is your only option (I think Timex has discontinued their TrailRunner model, but I can find out for sure if this is important to you). But if you are looking for something that just records the metrics (ascent, speed, distance, etc.) then the Bodylink offers all those features in a more “normal” HRM watch.
EDIT: looks like the Timex TrailRunner still exists, but I don’t know much about it beyond that it takes 10 waypoints. Again, can find out more if that is of interest.
I got a Garmin Forerunner 201(I think) from Rappstar and I love it. I use the training center to record all of my workouts (even put it in my pocket on the bike). I get altitude changes, maps for future use, pace, speed, etc. I often will go out for a time run (i.e. 60 minutes as opposed to x miles) and find new routes to run set distances. It’s also quite fun to take along on a drive and see the numbers!
Shit, that is all we need…Konaexpress with more technology! I thought your best races are when your bike computer does not work and you race by feel!
Dev
“Sxxt, that is all we need…Konaexpress with more technology!”
At least he got rid of that ugly trek purple bike! 
Dirt
Hmmm… What are you going to use it for? I got mine ( Timex…) when they first came out and only used it for a month or so. I’m a creature of habit and run 95% of the time in the same places so… I already knew basically what the distances (and the mile marker locations) were on all my running routes. So for me I got nothing I couldn’t get just by pressing the lap key on my HRM. If I were you I’d put your money into a better bike computer…
First time poster here… do I have to ring a bell or something?
I’ve been using a Garmin Forerunner 205 for about 6 months now and love it. It’s my first GPS so have nothing to compare it to. I do most of my running in very hilly and treed areas (Victoria/Vancouver, BC) and have never really had any trouble with reception. In the steepest mountain valleys I’ve used it in (Goldstream Park north of Victoria) I was still able to get reception (albeit a little bit sketchy). Even in those areas the distance info seemed quite accurate. Don’t pay much attention to altitude - it’ll falsely pump you up!
I love running new routes and so love knowing distance/pacing info. If I were to do it over again I would have gotten the 305 but didn’t want to spend the extra $$ up front without knowing whether or not it would even get reception. Also a great tool for getting lost trail running (yes, on purpose) and finding your way home (though I wouldn’t trust my life to it with an advertised battery life of 10 hours!!).
And no, I have no connection to Garmin.
I have a 305 and used the 201 in the past. 305 works like a charm for what it does. Certainly helps to know the pitfalls of GPS rather than pointing the finger at the device (like many do).
With that said, perhaps it’s not a very good “training tool”, but it’s certainly a great toy and method to log workouts.
If I really need to know my pace, I head to the track up the street and I can check my pace every 100m. But all kidding aside, a toy like a GPS would be really nice to have while XC skiing where you are on some pretty hills stuff, so having the distances for the workout and the gross elevation gain is always nice, versus trying to estimate based on known workouts on known terrain!