The garmin205/305 has three configurable screens:

• Main 1
• Main2
• Running

When the watch is turned on, you can cycle between these by pressing the up and down buttons.

My watch has the following screens :

Main 1 – 3 Data fields

Lap Pace – Displays the average pace of the current lap. A lap can either be auto started after x miles / km or whenever i hit the Lap / Reset button.

 Current Lap  – Displays the time for the current lap. A lap can either be auto started after x miles / km or whenever i hit the Lap / Reset button.

Lap Distance  – Displays the distance for the current lap. A lap can either be auto started after x miles / km or whenever i hit the Lap / Reset button.

Main 2 – 1 Data field

Time of Day – Simply the current time.

Running – 3 Data fields

Pace– Displays the current pace.

 Time  – Displays the time for the entire run.

 Distance  – Displays the distance for the entire run.

For 99% of my training I use the Main 1 screen as I find this more meaningful.  Here is why I use the following screens:

Lap Pace – Displays the average of the current lap. A lap can either be auto started after x miles / km or whenever I hit the Lap / Reset button.

 Current Lap – I have this on the screen so that if I need to do an interval or recovery for a set time, I can time it accurately. Its also useful as if the pace is showing very slow or quick, but the distance is very low then I don’t worry.

Lap Distance – I have this on the screen so that if I need to do an interval for 400m I can see how far I have travel. It’s also useful as if the pace is showing very slow or quick, but the distance is very low then I don’t worry.

By having this screen you can see all relvent information for running your intervals. At the end of my warmup wether thats 1mi or 1.768miles i simply hit the lap button, and it zeros all of my displays so i know the information is current.

To configure Main 1 to match mine above you would:

1.       Turn the watch on

2.       Select mode

3.       Click down until settings is highlighted.

4.       Click Enter

5.       Click enter on general

6.       Click enter on Data Fields

7.       Select Main 1, click enter

8.       Select 3 then click enter

9.       Click Enter

10.   Select Pace – Lap

11.   Click Enter

12.   Click Down

13.   Click Enter

14.   Select Time – Lap

15.   Click Enter

16.   Click Down

17.   Click Enter

18.   Select Dist – Lap

19.   Click Enter

20.   Click Mode

21.   Repeat steps 8 -20 for Main 2 and Running if required.

To set auto lap :

1.       Turn watch on

2.       Press mode

3.       Select Training

4.       Click enter

5.       Select Training Options

6.       Click Enter

7.       Select Auto Lap

8.       Select Enter

9.       Click enter to select how it auto laps.

10.   Click enter to confirm

11.   Click down

12.   Click enter to set interval

13.   Click Enter to confirm.

14.   Keep pressing mode until you reach the main screen again.

Only note with auto lap. I wouldn’t use this for running your races by. Although a marathon is 26.2mi by the time you zig zag around people and detour to the water tables etc your will clock more. Best option is to turn the auto lap feature off for the race, but then hit the lap button every time you pass a mile or km marker. If your running your race according to main 1 as above then even if you miss one, you know your pace will be pretty accurate.