If you want to level up your fitness, the Garmin Forerunner 265 delivers precision tracking, adaptive training plans, and the tools to crush your goals. Just be careful listening to everything it tells you.
A few years ago, I would have laughed at the thought of a watch telling me how to live my life. A device strapped to my wrist that thinks it knows my body better than I do? Hilarious. But here I am, wearing a Garmin Forerunner 265, and I’ll admit—this thing is a game-changer.
The Garmin Forerunner 265 tracks my runs, maps out my training, and helps me push my limits like never before. It’s like having a coach, a drill sergeant, and a data scientist rolled into one. But let me tell you something: my relationship with this watch isn’t all sunshine and record-breaking miles. There’s one thing it does that really grinds my gears, and we’re about to talk about it.
Let’s start with the good stuff because credit where credit is due. This watch has made me faster, more consistent, and more focused. When I first strapped it on, I thought, “Alright, let’s see what this thing can do.” Turns out, it can do a hell of a lot. It doesn’t just measure how far I run or how fast I go—it dives into the gritty details. Heart rate, cadence, VO2 max—you name it, this watch is on it like white on rice.
The training programs that are included are top-tier and what I love most. I’m talking about personalized schedules that adapt to how I perform. If I crush a run, it adjusts. If I suck wind up a hill, it adjusts. It’s like it’s watching me, learning me, figuring out how to make me better.
And better I’ve gotten. Since I started following the training programs, my running has gone from decent to damn good. I’m shaving minutes off my times, feeling stronger in my strides, and hitting paces I didn’t think I could reach. I’ve even started looking forward to the workouts it spits out every day. There’s something satisfying about letting go of the guesswork and trusting the process. It’s like having a blueprint for success right there on my wrist. And when I nail a tough run or hit a new personal best, the data on that watch feels like a trophy—proof that the grind is paying off.
But—and here’s the kicker—this watch doesn’t know me as well as it thinks it does. Every morning, like clockwork, it tells me the same damn thing: “You didn’t get enough sleep. Maybe you shouldn’t train today.” Oh, really? Is that so? I didn’t ask for your opinion, Garmin Forerunner 265. I asked for a training plan. And let me tell you something: I don’t care if I got four hours of sleep or fourteen. I’m showing up. I’m lacing up. I’m getting out there and doing the work. Sleep deprivation be damned.
Now, I get it. I really do. The watch is just doing its job. It’s programmed to analyze my sleep data, compare it to some algorithm, and give me a recommendation. But let me ask you this: when did we get so soft? When did a little fatigue become a reason to bail? Life doesn’t stop because you didn’t hit eight hours of REM. Your goals don’t pause because you’re a little tired. Fatigue isn’t a stop sign—it’s a speed bump. Slow down if you have to, but keep moving.
That’s the thing about discipline—it doesn’t care how you feel. Discipline is about doing the work regardless. It’s about showing up when it’s inconvenient, when it’s uncomfortable, and yes, when you’re tired. Some of my best runs have been on days when my body felt like crap, but my mind was sharp. Because here’s the truth: your mind will quit long before your body does. That little voice telling you to take it easy? It’s a liar. It’s a coward. And it doesn’t deserve a vote.
So when my Garmin Forerunner 265 tells me to take it easy, I laugh. Literally, I laugh out loud. “Oh, you think I should rest today? That’s cute.” And then I go train. Because I know myself, and I know my limits and my thresholds. I know the difference between being tired and being broken. And trust me, the line between the two is a lot further than most people think. The watch doesn’t get that. It doesn’t understand that sometimes, pushing through fatigue is the whole damn point.
Think about it: life isn’t going to wait for you to feel 100%. Your responsibilities don’t care if you’re tired. Your family doesn’t care if you didn’t sleep well. The world doesn’t care if you’re dragging ass. And honestly? Neither should you. Because every time you show up when you don’t feel like it, you’re building something bigger than strength or endurance—you’re building character. You’re proving to yourself that you can handle hard things and keep going when most people would quit.
And let’s be real—this watch, for all its fancy features, isn’t perfect. It’s a tool, not a gospel. I use it to track my progress, guide my training, and challenge myself. But it doesn’t dictate my decisions. I do. And that’s how it should be. Technology is great, but it doesn’t replace instinct. It doesn’t replace grit. It doesn’t replace the voice in your head that says, “Get up. Get moving. Get after it.”
Now, I’m not saying you should ignore every warning sign your body gives you. There’s a difference between being tired and being injured. If you’re hurt, rest. If you’re sick, recover. But if you’re just tired? Get over it. Fatigue is temporary. Pride is permanent. And there’s no better feeling than proving to yourself that you’re tougher than your excuses.
Despite its annoying little messages, I keep wearing the Garmin Forerunner 265. Because for all its flaws, it’s still a damn good tool. It helps me measure my progress, hold myself accountable, and stay consistent. And consistency, as we all know, is the name of the game. You don’t get better by showing up once in a while. You get better by showing up every day, no matter what. And if that means ignoring a watch that thinks it knows better, so be it.
So here’s my advice to anyone who feels like their tech is running their life: take control. Use the tools, but don’t let them use you. Trust your instincts. Push your limits. And don’t let a little fatigue—or a condescending message from your watch—stand in your way. Because, at the end of the day, it’s not about what the data says. It’s about what you say. It’s about the choices you make, the effort you put in, and the results you earn.
The Garmin Forerunner 265 is a great watch, no doubt about it. It’s helped me become a better runner, a stronger athlete, and a more disciplined person. But it doesn’t own me. I own it. And every time it tells me to slow down, I smile, lace up, and prove it wrong. Because that’s who I am. That’s what I do. And that’s what discipline looks like.
Stay disciplined. Stay resilient.
Jim Lunsford
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