I am learning how to leverage this software after using the basic functionality for a few years now.
What I have is a circular jogging trail, varying in altitude (flat, up, flat, down, flat) mostly obscured by trees. It is not currently listed.
The trail is about .20 mile per loop. I want to do 1 mile.
I am using a Tactix Charlie. It cannot decide how long the loop is; some days 5 laps is 1.02mi, other days it is .90.
Looking at the map created, it appears I am all over, and I never finish where I start, even though I consistently use the same crack in the asphalt (with unobstructed 30+ degree view of the sky for at least 20 yards, and I hold the watch out in front of me, face up to the sky for at least ten seconds before arriving) to log start/laps/finish. ( I also let it soak for about two minutes prior to starting, as well). Clearly, the GPS isn't highly accurate. This is frustrating to say the least considering what I paid, and what I normally use it for.
Yesterday, I went out with both the watch and a phone-based GPS logger to try and make a, I'm not sure what the Garmin term is, but an accurate representation of one trail loop. Due to the overhead canopy, even pausing at points to let the GPS receiver catch up, this did not go well.
I was able to hand draw the trail in some software in .gpx format, which I transferred to a course in Garmin Connect. Due to canopy coverage, I had to guess for most of the trail. It was a one-lap course; which also is useless, and I could not figure out how to add four more laps. Also, due to the GPS variability, the watch pretty much determined I was off course the entire time, and never quite made it to the finish line.
What I want, I suppose, is to get to my starting crack, hit start, go, then the watch automatically picks up the laps and end, and records heart rate, and when I add a foot pod, perhaps cadence data.
What I absolutely want, is for this thing to accept that I am running the same distance each time, so that I can better judge my times and other data.
What is the best way to accomplish this, or can I?
