If you are into athletics, such as running, walking, cycling, cross-country skiing or windsurfing, the Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver with Heart Rate Monitor may be exactly what you need to advance your training program.

The Garmin Forerunner 305 is a wrist-mounted training tool that provides athletes with precise speed, distance and pace data. In addition, the wireless heart rate monitor keeps track of your pulse. The model 305 is also waterproof, so it can be used with wet sports, such as windsurfing and skiing.

The 305 uses a simple two-button layout that have a nice tactile feel with good pressure response. The buttons allow you to switch modes, even when you are on the go. The Forerunner 305 features an integrated, highly sensitive SiRFstar III GPS receiver, which allows more precise tracking than previous Garmin models.

This isn’t a typical GPS navigation device, but the 305 does have some rudimentary waypoint marking, mapping and routing capabilities. You can mark along your trek and can zoom in or out of a very simple map that displays your current direction and path. The 305 can also display a range of data, such as distance, elevation, grade, and heading, as well as calories burned.

Train smarter and more effectively with the wireless heart rate monitor. The wireless heart rate monitor itself is mounted on a chest strap. It can record your heart rate, lap heart rate, average heart rate, and heart rate zones. A separate wireless cadence and speed meter is available (not included) for tracking biking performance data.

The system includes a Training Center CD that includes software that interfaces with the 305 via a USB port The Training Center software adds the ability to track and analyze your training progress.

Check out the Garmin Forerunner 305 at Amazon.com.