Was a bit alarmed to see the posts re GPS accuracy and pace issues. Last night I looked at GPS tracks from my 235, 735xt, and my new 5S. Distances compared were between 8k and 25k running. Visually there seems to not be much difference between how each of these models recorded the same run. None track dead true, all seem to wander more around large buildings. So, for me the 5s is accurate enough and similar to the previous models. Guess I will be keeping mine as my daily wear and daily running watch. Good thing too as I just fitted a ISOFrane rubber strap:D
Hi, a follow up. Ran a marathon over the weekend. Countryside not urban for the most part. At as I crossed the finish line the watch was 100metres different from the official distance - not bad. Also lap times and pace were good. My verdict is that the 5s is a very useful running watch which is accurate enough. Only place I have had issues is around large buildings. When I compare with my 735 and 235 they had the same.
I had Garmin 410, 610 & 920xt. Also run few marathons. Never used autolap on the runs. Its good for trainings, but GPS is never exact enough. Do you know any pacemakers? Ask them if they are using gps watches and gps-based pace. Or I can answer - no they don't. They use stopwatches* and km markers. Remember, GPS precision is few meters. Thats why marathon routes are atested with bike not with Garmin, Polar or even military gps devices.
* the stopwatch can be even Fenix Chronos, if you can afford it.
PS. The answer is not directed to MKWillisSP, I am only quoting his post, as he mentioned the marathon run.
Just 2 cents from another 5S user... I did my typical run around the neighborhood last night, and the GPS short changed me 500ft on the first mile. I haven't done much running with this watch yet since I'm getting over an injury, but I can say with confidence that my $250 vivoactive HR that this watch replaced had better GPS tracks than the 5S. I'll typically walk a mile or so during lunch and the 5S tracks are all over the place compared to the VAHR. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it can be fixed with firmware... I would opt for the FR935 in a heartbeat if they had a version that was the same size as the 5S.
