My only negative is I should have bought this when it came out but that's on me. So many great features and beneficial data to review (the usual pace, heart rate, tempo, with additional performance metrics vertical oscillation, ground contact time, cadence...........

I started training for my first marathon in the last year. Ran it in April, started training in December. I decided then that I was running "seriously," and so I bought a "serious" gps watch. I had been using my Fitbit connected to a phone to get my running data. I bought two of these for my wife and I on black Friday, 2016, complete with the HRM.

I was torn between this watch and the 230/235. I was, and still am, wearing my Fitbit blaze as my daily watch and activity monitor and only wear my Garmin when I run. I ultimately decided against the 235 because I like my Fitbit and it already offers a wrist-based HRM. I figured adding it on the 235 would be redundant unless I intended it to be a replacement for my Fitbit. Also, I read up on wrist-based vs chest strap HRMs and determined I wanted something more accurate if I was going to use it for training. I then decided on the 630 because, despite it being more expensive, I do love an overabundance of graph points and progression data.

I've run with my FR 630 now for over 10 months and it's provided me with exactly what I want: a dedicated running watch that maps my path, provides instant read-outs of running data like heart-rate, pace, distance, and cadence. And when I finish my run and upload it to Garmin Connect, I get to see things like L-R balance and vertical oscillation. For a while, I looked at the "advanced running dynamics" as gimmicky, but I am actually using my cadence, vertical oscillation, and balance in running as I recover from injury. And I figured I would run with the HRM strap occasionally or on long runs or speed run days, but I've found it to be fine for everyday running and I enjoy the extra information it provides.

There are days when I enjoy the ease of just putting on my watch and shoes and taking off. If that were the norm for me, I would have gone with the FR230.