these thing be not inexpensive , especially for a college student , but I run a lot and want something to help chart my progress . the first thing I notice be the poor reception . it take about 5-6 minute of clear sky to sync with you local satellite , but that be not as much of a hassle as it might seem . just turn on the unit when you leave the house , do you stretch outside , and it should be ready by the time you be . the other issue be that it lose the signal often ; if you live in a area with tall building , mountain , wooded area , telephone pole , or flock of goose fly overhead , you can expect to hear the `` Sync lose '' beep at least a few time whenever you go out . this be not a huge issue unless you be run around the block in a urban area as the device be smart enough to `` connect the dot '' between where you be when it lose the signal and where you be when it regain the signal . if you be run in more or less a straight line the result will come out within 10 % of true distance . if you be the type of person who care whether you have go 8 mile in the last hour or 9 , invest in a map . despite the signal issue , I would have give the unit 3 or even 4 star . you can account for the syncing time by stretch outside , and you can adjust for the distance error by add 5-10 % at the end of you run . the reason it get two star be that my lcd display start fail after about a month and less than 100 mile . it be still usable for another month or so -lrb- in that I could figure `` ok this be either a 6 or a 8 , and I know I run more than 6 ... -rrb- , and then the display fail completely and the device become a gp paperweight . I realize this be almost certainly a qc issue and you be not likely to get a bum unit like I do , so it get 2 star instead of 1 . it be useless to I , though .