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mode

reset

enter

lap

start/stop

QUICK START GUIDE

Forerunner 201 Features

Begin your Workout

After completing all of the steps on the other side of this Quick 

Start Guide, you are now ready to start working out with your new 
Forerunner 201.  The remainder of this guide explains the basic 
features and functions of the Forerunner.  

To Begin your Workout:

1.  Press 

MODE 

to switch to the Timer Mode, which displays three 

large numeric data fields.  

2.  Press and hold 

RESET 

for three seconds to reset the data fields, 

then press 

START/STOP 

to start the timer and begin your work-

out of running, walking, jogging, biking, etc.  

3.  The 

Timer Screen

 displays your current workout ‘TIME’, ‘PACE/

SPEED’, and ‘DISTANCE’. 

4.  Press 

the 

UP/DOWN 

buttons 

to view the 

Lap Screen

 that dis-

plays your current ‘LAP TIME’, ‘LAP PACE’, and ‘LAP DISTANCE’.  
Press the 

RESET/LAP 

button to complete and log a lap.  You can 

also set up your Forerunner to automatically log laps at speci-
fied intervals.  Refer to the Auto Lap section for more informa-
tion.  

5.  Press 

STOP/START 

at any time during your workout to pause 

the timer.  Press 

STOP/START 

again to resume the timer.  You 

can also set up your Forerunner to automatically pause and 
resume at specified speeds.  Refer to the Auto Pause section for 
more information.  

6.  When you have completed your workout, press 

START/STOP

 to 

stop the timer.  

Review your Performance History

To Review your Performance History:

1.  Press 

MODE 

to display the Menu Mode.

2.  Select ‘HISTORY’ and press 

ENTER

.

3.  Select ‘HISTORY TOTALS’ and press 

ENTER

.

The Forerunner displays your total workout distance, time, and 

calories burned.  As you perform more workouts with the Forerun-
ner, you will be able to view more detailed performance data that 
is automatically organized into day and week views.  For complete 
information, refer to your Owner’s Manual. 

Forerunner 201 Features

Auto Pause

®

The Forerunner tracks your pace and speed while you are work-

ing out.  The steps below assume that you want the timer to pause 
when you stop walking then resume when you continue walking.  

To Set the Timer for Auto Pause:

1.  Press 

MODE 

to display the Menu Mode.

2.  Select ‘TRAINING ASSISTANT’ and press 

ENTER

.

3.  Select ‘AUTO PAUSE/LAP’ and press 

ENTER

.

4.  Select ‘AUTO TIMER PAUSE’ and press 

ENTER

.  Then select ‘ON’ 

and press 

ENTER

.  

5.  Select ‘PAUSE WHEN’ and press 

ENTER

.  Then select ‘STOPPED’ 

and press 

ENTER

.  

The next time you begin your workout the Forerunner will 

automatically start and stop the timer.  An extra data screen is added 
in the Timer Mode to display your ‘REST TIME’, ‘REST DISTANCE’ 
if configured to pause while you walk at a low speed, and ‘TOTAL 
DISTANCE’.  

Auto Lap

®

The Forerunner tracks the distance you have traveled during 

your workout.  You can program the Forerunner to automatically 
keep track of your laps.  The example below assumes you want the 
Forerunner to automatically lap every mile.  

To Set Auto Lap:

1.  Press 

MODE 

to display the Menu Mode.

2.  Select ‘TRAINING ASSISTANT’ and press 

ENTER

.

3.  Select ‘AUTO PAUSE/LAP’ and press 

ENTER

.

4.  Select ‘AUTO LAP TRIGGER’ and press 

ENTER

.  Then select ‘ON’ 

and press 

ENTER

.  

5.  Select ‘LAP DISTANCE’ and press 

ENTER

.  Then select ‘1 MILE’ 

and press 

ENTER

.  

The next time you begin your workout the Forerunner automati-

cally logs your laps so you do not need to press the LAP button.  
Every time you complete one mile, the Forerunner notifies you with 
a beep and displays the lap completion time.  Lap-related perfor-
mance data is stored in the Forerunner for later review.  

Forerunner 201 Features

Virtual Partner™

The Virtual Partner (Goal Oriented Training Feature) allows 

you to have fun while keeping you motivated and focused on your 
performance goals.   The steps below assume your goal is to run five 
miles in one hour.

To Setup your Virtual Partner:

1.  Press 

MODE 

to display the Menu Mode.

2.  Select ‘TRAINING ASSISTANT’ and press 

ENTER

.

3.  Select ‘VIRTUAL PARTNER’ and press 

ENTER

.

4.  Because you have distance and time goals, select ‘SET DIS-

TANCE & TIME’ and press 

ENTER

.  

5.  Select ‘DISTANCE’ and press 

ENTER

.  Then select ‘5 MILE’ and 

press 

ENTER

.  

6.  Select ‘TIME’ and press 

ENTER

.  Then select ‘1 HOUR’ and press 

ENTER

.  

7.  The PACE/SPEED to achieve your goal is computed and dis-

played for you.  If the goals do not seem realistic to you, revise 
your distance and time settings.

8.  Select ‘DONE’ and press 

ENTER

.  

After you have set up your Virtual Partner, a Virtual Partner 

Mode (showing two people resting at the starting line, the bottom 
person being you) is added to the Forerunner.  When you are ready 
to begin your workout with your Virtual Partner, press 

START/

STOP

.  

On the Virtual Partner Screen, the Forerunner uses visual and 

numeric data to tell you whether you are ahead of your partner or 
behind.  By simply pacing yourself and keeping up with the Virtual 
Partner, you will stay motivated to complete your training goals.  

During the workout, you can press 

UP/DOWN

 to access other 

information such as ‘DISTANCE TO GO’ and ‘TIME TO GO’.  At the 
end of the workout, the Forerunner displays your report card!  

To stop the Virtual Partner training, select ‘END PARTNER RUN’ 

from the ‘TRAINING ASSISTANT’ menu and press 

ENTER

.

Forerunner

®

 201

Forerunner 201 Features

Other Features

By this time you should be familiar enough with the basic opera-

tional concepts of the Forerunner to explore other features.  Below is 
a summary of features found in the Menu Mode:

History Menu 

shows you detailed lap performance in day or 

week view or history totals. 

Training Assistant Menu 

contains training features mentioned 

earlier in this sheet, as well as interval training, fast/slow pace/speed 
alarm, time alarm, and distance alarm.  

Navigation Menu 

allows you to mark and save you current 

location, find a stored location, and guide you back to a stored loca-
tion or your starting point.  It also allows you to add a map mode 
that plots your breadcrumb trail on the screen.  

Settings Menu

 allows you to personalize your Forerunner by 

entering your body weight, pre-setting your workout pace, custom-
izing the data screen, and more.  

Optional Software

Use the Garmin Training Center software on your personal 

computer to plan your workouts before you run and analyze them 
afterwards. With Garmin Training Center, you can plan, analyze, 
and store data from your workouts. You can also view your workout 
history, complete with maps and graphs of your performance. Install 
Garmin Training Center from the CD that came in the product box. 
For help using Garmin Training Center, click the 

Help

 menu in the 

software or press 

F1

 on your keyboard.  

A Note About Forerunner 201 History

The Forerunner is a completely self-contained, performance 

tracking device.  

All 

lap data is 

automatically 

saved in the unit 

history for future viewing.  The device saves up to 

two 

years of 

workout history.  

Step-by-Step Instructions 

to Get You Started

(Turn this page and begin with Step 1)

*Flip this Quick Start 
Guide over for a 
detailed explanation 
of the Forerunner 201 
buttons.

Waterproof

Case

LCD Display

(with Backlight)

Built-in GPS 

Antenna

Power Button 

(Backlight)

Up/Down

Buttons

Part Number 190-00318-01 Rev C

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