I’m always up for trying something new when it comes to fitness. So when I heard Coach Jenny Hadfield talk about ElliptiGO, an outdoor elliptical bike, I couldn’t wait to give it a whirl. The concept is brilliant — a device that replicates running, at a similar exertion level, but without impact. And, the best part, you’re not in a stale-air, sweat-infused race to nowhere. You’re outside, covering ground with the wind in your face and, quite possibly, bugs in your teeth. Want to see it? Here’s a video snippet showing the ElliptiGO in motion.

ElliptiGo ride, Chicago from Peg from Garmin on Vimeo.

My chance to ride the ElliptiGO came during my recent visit to the Garmin Store in Chicago for the event announcing our sponsorship of the Girls on the Run SoleMates program. Jenny Hadfield, Chicago-based coach, endurance athlete and author, was one of our featured speakers at the event and had offered to take me for a ride (or should I say glide?) on the ElliptiGO. Jenny, who’s a huge Garmin fan (at last count, she and her husband, John Bingham, have owned about 8 Garmin devices), has been using an Edge bike computer with cadence sensor on the ElliptiGO. When she wheeled the bikes into the Garmin Store before our ride, she instantly had a small crowd of gawkers. Customers, young and old, came up for a closer look and wanted to know where they could get one, what the bikes cost and what it was like to ride one. “It’s a fabulous workout and a lot of fun to ride,” Jenny told them. “The only problem is you might get bugs in your teeth because you’ll be smiling so much.”

I was more than a little anxious for our ride. Excited for the experience, nervous about maneuvering this bigger-than-a-bike device through pedestrian-choked Chicago sidewalks and streets. Jenny gave me some quick tips, assured me we’d be fine once we got on the Lakefront Path, and away we went. I pushed start on my Edge, pushed off, and in no time felt like I had the hang of this thing. About six minutes into our ride, Jenny checked over her shoulder and asked how I was doing. “I think I’m getting bugs in my teeth,” I shouted back. I felt like a kid who’d just ditched the training wheels. This was all-out fun, and I’m not sure what I enjoyed more — the ride, or witnessing all the head-turns we were causing.

Round trip, our ride was 14 miles long and our average speed was just over 11 mph. Check out the full stats in Garmin Connect, including cadence data recorded by Edge 705. As for the workout itself, I got a great cardio workout and felt like I’d truly worked/stretched the muscle groups that typically get really tight through running. Like hips and glutes. The ElliptiGO was the ideal cross-training workout for me since I was just returning to running after an injury had me benched for most of the summer. Jenny explained that one of the two guys who developed ElliptiGO is a former Ironman triathlete who’d suffered knee and hip injuries. Read their story of design by necessity here. See more video and stories about the ElliptiGO as well as Jenny’s recent appearance with her Edge-equipped ElliptiGO on Chicago’s Midday Fix. If you get a chance to take one for a test ride, go for it. Just be prepared for a few bugs in your teeth.

We like to think we know a thing our two about location and timing. So when it came down to planning an event to announce Garmin’s new sponsorship of SoleMates, the charity running program for Girls on the Run, we set our sights on Chicago. More specifically, the Garmin Store at 663 N. Michigan Avenue. And we dialed in a date of July 31, the day before 30,000 runners beat the streets for the Chicago Rock’n’Roll Half Marathon. Two more big pluses to making our announcement here: Chicago has one of the largest Girls on the Run councils and is home to Coach Jenny Hadfield, well-known Chicago-area coach and author. A supporter of GOTR who wote the training plans for SoleMates runners, Jenny gladly accepted our invite to speak at our event.

Perfecting our plan was the appearance of Molly Barker, the founder of Girls on the Run, plus staff members Liz and Katy. We soon found out that these ladies had a secret talent or past experience as sandwich boarders, and on the morning of our event, they did a fine job of luring passing shoppers into the Garmin Store with a promise of a chance to win a Forerunner 110.

As young girls, parents and runners of all interest levels wandered to the presentation theater on the 2nd floor of the store, they had a chance to meet Molly and Jenny, sample snacks provided by Clif Bar and snag a raffle ticket for a chance to win water bottles from CamelBak or the Forerunner grand prize. Jake got things kicked off with some background on Garmin as a company and our evolution into the fitness market. He also talked about how Garmin’s core values to improve lives and help people explore their world aligns with the Girls on the Run mission. Then Coach Jenny Hadfield took the stage and provided some solid training advice that resonated with the runners in the crowd, some suffering pre-race jitters for the next day’s 13.1-mile foot race.

“This is like Oz to me,” Jenny commented on being in the Garmin Store. Jenny and her husband, John “the Penguin” Bingham, are huge Garmin fans and have used our products for running, cycling, hiking, driving and motorcycling. One of her training tips to the crowd was to use tools to track progress. “Seeing the distance and pace data in front of you is so motivating.” She also had some tips on using Garmin Connect to track information beyond the data recorded by Garmin watches. “Use the notes to record how much sleep you had the night before and how you’re feeling.” Jenny added that many injuries can be curbed by simply listening to your body and cutting back your training when needed. She also talked about using Forerunner’s pace calculations as a speed governor of sorts for the early miles of a race. “A modest pace means you are investing in the final miles.”

Molly took the stage next and immediately reached out to the young Girls on the Run participants in the audience, playing the name game that signals lesson one of every GOTR season. “Your name’s Grace, right? You must be Amazing Grace.” And in a way that no one else can match, Molly began telling stories that engaged everyone in the audience — male, female, young and less young. Molly’s final message encouraged the audience to get involved with Girls on the Run at some level — as a coach, running buddy, supporter or SoleMates charity runner. She described how young girls’ lives are changed through the empowering lessons gained from Girls on the Run, and how seeing them cross the finish line for their first 5k is like nothing else. “It is a privilege to experience that,” Molly said.

As audience members were swiping eyes, moved by Molly’s words, Jake jumped in and brought the laughter back with some short infomercials on the CamelBak water bottles he was about to give away. With help from a couple of audience members, he doled out bottles ranging from sporty styles for fitness fans to cool and colorful ones for kids. Then came the drawing for a Garmin Forerunner 110 fitness watch — a perfect pairing for a woman in the crowd who was gearing up to run the half marathon the next day.

Many thanks to the Garmin Store sales staff and product experts for hosting this event; Molly, Liz and Katy from Girls on the Run; Coach Jenny and Girls on the Run of Chicago.

Summer’s here and there’s always something new to do at the Garmin Chicago Store. Become a summer star and record your own voice onto your nüvi with Garmin’s new Voice Studio application. With Voice Studio, you can record custom voices that you later download to your Garmin navigator for voice prompts. 30-minute appointments on the Voice Studio Booth at the Chicago Store are offered to nüvi owners and can be made online or in-store. It’s a great way to add more personality to your device – all you have to do is record phrases like “traffic ahead” or “proceed to highlighted route” and we’ll make sure it’s downloaded to your device.

While you’re at the store, be sure to check out the stylish new nüvi 3700 series that’s now on display and bundled with a portable friction mount, wall charger and case. Models with a “T” also include subscription-free traffic alerts so you can avoid delays on the way to the pool or summer BBQs. Customers can even try one out for a day through the Garmin Store’s Rental Program – or, if you want to test it for a few days, three- and seven-day specials are available. We offer a wide array of products in the rental program including the Forerunner 310XT and Approach G5. And if you decide you can’t live without it, all rental fees are credited toward a device purchase.  

Later this month, you’ll see us at the Chicago Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon at McCormick Place. In partnership with Girls on the Run, you’ll be able bring in your old GPS-enabled Forerunner and receive $25 off the purchase of a new one. Older units are donated to Girls on the Run as part of Garmin’s recent sponsorship of SoleMates, the adult charity runner program benefiting Girls on the Run.

 

Last Tuesday more than 100 guests visited the Garmin Chicago Store to welcome the FRASCA Mentor Simulator featuring the G1000 glass cockpit avionics suite. In partnership with Chicago Magazine, Garmin and FRASCA entertained pilots, Chicago VIPs and Garmin enthusiasts alike.    

While guests enjoyed refreshments, FRASCA showcased the simulator and Garmin associates demonstrated the latest and greatest including the new nuvi 3700 series and the Garminfone from T-Mobile. Garmin Aviation Regional Sales Manager Dan L. joined the Chicago team to lead an in-depth, interactive presentation
on Garmin’s wide range of products.  After the presentation, guests
remained close to the simulator, asking questions and hoping to be one
of the first to fly at the Chicago Store.

 Congratulations to the entire event team for a successful evening and for bringing flight simulation to the Chicago Store.  

Lately things have been busy here at the Garmin Chicago Store! In addition to helping customers find the perfect devices for the dads and grads season, and launching the Garminfone last week, we’ve been participating in a number of events around the downtown community of retailers. Last week the Chicago Store accepted an award from Oak Street Design for the “Best Use of Light” in the 2010 Show Your Style window competition. The Garmin-blue light towers that caught the judge’s attention were featured in the seasonal marine windows from mid-March to early June. Judges from the downtown retail community voted for the best in nine categories including “Best Use of Color,” “Best Use of Light,” and “Best Call to Action.” Congratulations to the Garmin design team back at home for their creative design!

Then on Sunday, June 13, the Chicago Store hosted “As Good as Gold” rescue shelter in conjunction with the annual “Angels with Tails” event. Each year PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) Chicago brings over 50 local animal shelters to the avenue, where visitors can meet rescued cats and dogs and learn more about adoption. Garmin hosted two golden retrievers, Rex and Sergeant, who entertained the customers just outside the store. Thanks to everyone who came out to support this great cause!  

The Garminfone is now available! If you’ve been waiting for an all-in-one smartphone that gives you the
advantages of the Android platform plus built-in Garmin navigation, the
wait is over. You can get your Garminfone today from T-Mobile stores and the Garmin Chicago store. We’re also launching a national Garminfone advertising campaign today. Here’s a sneak peak of our commercial that will air tonight during Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals on NBC. If you miss it tonight, you’ll likely see it while watching your favorite shows throughout the summer. Enjoy!