MBlog

Latest News on Garmin Connect & Edge 605/705

While we've been updating the new site, Garmin Connect, over the last few months, most of you have not been able to see what's been cookin'.  Well, we've got some good news for you. Yesterday, we launched support for the Edge 605 and 705 -- which should be hitting stores this weekend.

You will be able to upload to BOTH Garmin Connect and MotionBased utilizing the Garmin Communicator Plugin only.  You are welcome to upload to both MotionBased and Garmin Connect, but keep in mind that you'll have duplicate activities to manage once the final merge of Garmin Connect and MotionBased is complete.  For more information, check out the Garmin Connect Status page.

Hong Kong Marathon - MotionBased Winner!

As I'm sure you've already read, I had a few friends travel around the world to compete in the Greatest Race on Earth.  I asked our marathon runners at MotionBased to step up to a challenge and make sure these 4 marathons appear on the MotionBased TrailNetwork.  We are fortunate enough to have had 3 of the 4 marathons uploaded.  Of the four marathons (Nairobi, Singapore, Mumbai and Hong Kong) only Nairobi is missing (next year!).

The final marathon in the series took place in Hong Kong on 17 February 2008.  It was a perfect day for a marathon; cool enough and no wind.  The only negative was the actual course.  Run on highways and through tunnels, there are absolutely no spectators on the course until the final few miles.  After observing the paltry spectating conditions first hand (my holiday was awesome!), this is definitely a marathon that will break you if you're not prepared.  This is why I was shocked when I found the winner of the upload challenge.  User fyleung didn't just run a stellar 4:23 marathon, but it was their FIRST MARATHON!!!  You can see the marathon as run by fyleung below.  Please note that the race to upload was also tight . . . just 17 minutes separated the first two uploads.

Tour of California

The Amgen Tour of California is set to kick off in just 5 days, with the Prologue riding through the streets of Palo Alto on Sunday, February 17th.  Like last year, Garmin will have a booth at the finish line of each stage.  We'll be featuring our newest GPS enabled bike computers, the Edge 605 & 705.  If you're a long time friend of MotionBased, you're likely to see some new faces, as well.  Our office has doubled since this time last year and we're sending some new engineers into the field to see what the Tour is all about.

One of the highlights for this year's Tour will take place during Stage 1 in Santa Rosa on February 18th.  For the first time, the Tour will host a Women's Criterium.  The Women's Criterium will be raced on portions of the men's finish circuit, prior to the men's finish.

Another exciting addition to the Tour, from a Garmin perspective, is our support of Slipstream Sports.  Just weeks ago, Garmin announced that we will be sponsoring this elite cycling team, and that they'll be training with the new Edge 705!  Look for the men in argyle to shake things up in this year's Tour of California, and in the Tour de France later this year.

This year's tour Stages are similar to last year's, with stages starting and finishing in some of the most beautiful areas in California.  Don't forget to stop by our finish line booths to say hello and get a peek at the new Edge 605 & 705!

Mumbai Marathon - MotionBased Winner!

On 14 December 2007, I put our world traveling marathoners to a challenge.  Four of my running friends and teammates were selected to compete in the Greatest Race on Earth marathon series.  I wanted to see if the Mumbai and Hong Kong Marathons would be added to the TrailNetwork by the MotionBased faithful. 

One MotionBased user did upload the Mumbai Marathon, receiving a year's subscription for free . . . and it wasn't my friend Allison!  Check out the elevation profile from nkstar's race.  Amazingly enough, the Mumbai Marathon has the "easiest" elevation profile of the 4 marathons in the series. 

The Hong Kong Marathon is swiftly approaching.  Flora gets underway on the morning of 17 February.  I can't wait to see it uploaded to MotionBased!