It was a sad morning in the Graduate Meghann household today.
As I’ve done a hundred times in the past, this morning I turned my Garmin on and sat it in the stairwell to gain satellite signal. I went back inside my apartment to place Maddie in her crate and lock the door.
I couldn’t have been gone for more than a minute when I returned to the stairwell to discover my Garmin was missing. 
I spent the next 40 minutes checking every nook and cranny of that stairwell. I checked my apartment to make sure I hadn’t accidentally brought it back inside with me, then I did a quick jog around the perimeter of my building and complex to see if any neighbors were out and about that I could question. I looked under the stairs. I looked in the surrounding bushes and grass. Hell, I even checked my car and the trash bin outside my door, but no such luck – it was gone.
In less than a minute my garmin had either walked away on it’s own or a random neighbor/stranger had picked it up.
I’m hoping that it was either picked up by accident or by someone who assumed it wasn’t supposed to be there and that it had not been ‘stolen’ on purpose.
At lunch time I will be posting the above flyer and hoping for the best. We all have to believe in the good in people, right? :/
The worst part is, it wasn’t even my Garmin! Ashley and I had swapped garmins halfway through the Crooms 50k last month and technically the now missing garmin is hers. I feel awful. Of course she can keep the one that is technically mine or if a new one is purchased then I would insist the new one go to her. I’m so sorry Ashley!
Blah. What a way to start the day.
Breakfast just doesn’t seem as fun after you’ve spent over an hour crying over a lost garmin.
I tried to perk myself up with an old favorite – two frozen van waffles that I topped with almond butter, strawberry jam, flax seeds, and cacao nibs.
With an apple dusted with cinnamon on the side.
Let’s hope there is still a little bit of good left in the world and the garmin will be returned to me quickly. If not I’m not sure what to do.
{ 75 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh no! That is SOO WEIRD! What would the average non-runner do with a Garmin? It sucks even more that it was not yours. But you are a good friend!
Ugh, I’m so sorry Meghann! I hope you find it!
I’m sorry to hear that someone would do that… What’s the world coming to? Also, I hope Ashley doesn’t kick your ass!
I hope whomever took it feels guilty and returns it!
Good luck!! Hopefully it was just a Good Samaritan!
Oh no what a bummer, I hope it turns up!
wow, i hope you get it back. Hopefully it was turned in to lost and found or something like that. Or someone thought it was left there accidentally, not just that you ran inside for a minute and do that every day. I bet putting up posters will help for sure. I’m choosing to believe the best in people as well!
What an awful way to start the day! Hope it turns up
Aw don’t worry about it. One time I left my boyfriends iPod at the gym and thought it was gone, but someone handed it into the front desk and I picked it up the next day. I definitely didn’t expect that! Maybe it was another early morning runner who knew the value of it and took it for safekeeping. Good luck!
That’s horrible!!!! Fingers crossed it turns up…
:O Oh no, that’s awful!!! Maybe one of your neighbours picked it up thinking it had got lost? I hope it turns up
That’s devastating! I would be bawling.
Chances are it was stolen. Maybe someone knows your routine and finally took advantage.
So sorry about your loss! I hate that feeling in your stomach when you misplace something valuable. But like you I will keep the faith that someone took it out of good reason rather than stealing.
This is terrible! I definitely always hope for the best and see the good in people too, but since it went missing so quickly I almost wonder if someone had noticed your routine and was waiting around to take it? I really hope that’s not the case though! I’m crossing my fingers that it is safely returned to you in no time.
Oh no!!
I’m thinking maybe someone picked it up thinking that it was left there by mistake?? Or maybe a squirrel got it…? I hope you get it back!
Ahhh! How awful! I hoooope that one of your neighbors saw it, thought, “Wow, that’s expensive! Someone’s probably looking for that!” and took it in for you!
You would think since it’s a GPS watch that you could somehow track the location when it’s on. I tried to google how to do it but couldn’t find anything
I hope someone returns it! I would cry if I lost mine, too.
Sorry Meghann! Hopefully a concerned neighbor thought that you left it there accidentally. Good luck!
Ugh…that does suck!! I’m sorry your day started off so crappy!
-emily
Meghann, i’ve got my fingers crossed for you. Recently I left/dropped my wallet in the middle of center city philadelphia on a busy friday night and the entire thing was mailed back to me by some kind soul. I even had $200 worth of gift cards in there that were untouched! I hope that you are blessed with the same luck that I was – there are still some good people out there somewhere, I promise.
i hope you find that garmin!!
Jenna
Meghann, I hope you find your Garmin. Usually hoodlums are not out at 6am, so hopefully a janitor or neighbour brought it to lost & found for you. Fingers crossed for a safe Garmin return!
Oh noooo that is so not cool
Here’s hoping someone just found it there and picked it up because they thought you had lost it!
Oh that’s horrible. I literally GASPED when I read the title of your post. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you!
Oh no that is such a bummer! Let’s hope for one of those good people…
how awful! SO sad someone would do that! It was probably some kid!! Maybe their parents will see and make them put it back!
oh mehgann! i am so sorry
i hope it turns up!
Hope some good person turns it in to you Meghann
Keep your head up!!
Sorry about your missing Garmin but calm down. In the scheme of things a missing watch is not that important. A garmin doesn’t prevent you from running. Crap happens. It’s life.
@Kelly: It just sucks to lose something and it was not her’s. Garmin’s are pretty expensive so I would be pissed if mine was stolen.
How about you have some sympathy? It’s not just a watch, it’s an expensive piece of equipment and it’s not even technically hers.
I’m not saying it doesn’t suck that the watch was lost but I’m sure someone will send her a replacement Garmin in a week. Plus, the girl who has hers will just keep that one. Meghann said it herself. I just get so frustrated when people get so upset of such little things. If losing a “recreational watch” is the worse thing that happens today I’d say it was a good day. Just my opinion. Not yours.
The girl who has my Garmin is having problems with it at the moment. My garmin is on the older side and doesn’t charge properly, but you’re right if hers is not found, then I will pay for a new one for her.
I know losing the garmin is not the end of the world, but I think I have every right to be sad and upset about losing such an expensive piece of technology. I think losing anything that means so much to a person is a good day to be sad. I would feel the same way if I lost my favorite tea mug, my running shoes, or my ring. No one likes to lose anything and that person has every right to grieve.
Keep your chin up! I am continually surprised by people’s caring nature. I think the “pay it forward” concept has really stuck with some who will go out of their way for others.
When I had a bike accident a couple weeks ago I was stunned at the number of people who stopped to check that I was okay and had a way to get home! Maybe a kind stranger is holding it thinking someone dropped it and doesn’t want it to actually get stolen
that really sucks!! you should call your apt’s leasing office to see if someone turned the garmin in. good luck- i hope it get returned.
Oh no
Your Garmin never works for me
Sorry about your Garmin
Hope someone finds it soon and your day gets better!
That really sucks, I would be upset too. I hope it’s returned.
Oh no! Good luck finding your Garmin!
What a shitty way to start the day! I am sure someone will turn it in!!
That sucks! I hope you get it back, but if not, you can still run and train without a Garmin! My fiance has never used one, and he is a sub 3 hour marathoner.
So keep your chin up!
Good luck Meghann! Praying for it to have fallen into the hands of a good samaritan…
Oh Meghann I hope the flyer works and someone feels incredibly guilty and turns it in!
Unbelievable! I hope someone is nice enough to return it. Sorry you had to start your morning off like that. Did you ever make it out for your run?
I didn’t. I was too upset scouring my complex looking for the garmin
Oh no I hate losing stuff!!Why oh why would you walk away without your Garmin attached to your body!?
Oh no! I really don’t understand some people…
I’d like to believe someone thought you forgot it there and will return it to to you.
But that sucks.
So. Not. Cool. Very sorry to hear that…I really hope you get it back!
that stinks. what a crappy way to start the day- i really hope someone is guilted in to returning it. don’t beat yourself up about it- there’s nothing you can do now except live and learn.
What a crap ass way to start your day, Meghann!
Hope you’re able to locate it!
Aw, poo. I hope the Garmin finds its way back to you! I usually carry mine (with the device in my palm and the strap around my hand), because it’s too heavy for my feeble wrists, and I clutch it tightly whenever I pass a sewer grate or anything else that might want to claim it via gravity.
I would be heart broken!! Not only are Garmins not at all cheap, but now I can’t run without mine. Also, it kind of messes with your sense of security. Report back and let us know if you hear anything!
Tomorrow, go there the exact same time frame and watch for people. Since most people are creatures of habit..you might find your man or woman. I love sleuthing:)
Good luck and that really bites!!!!!!
B
I hope your garmin turns up! That is so disappointing when stuff like that happens.
Try to keep your chin up!
That stinks, I hope it shows up. You must live in a really nice place that you feel comfortable leaving belongings unattended! I can’t imagine doing that where I live. However, good luck with relocating it!
That sucks! I hope you find it!
Oh no! I hope you find it! Keep the faith
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sending positive thoughts your way! i lost my garmin on a rainy race day a couple months back (it fell out of my pocket where i was hiding it from the rain) but a good person found it and listed it on the lost and found on craig’s list! nice people are out there, i promise!
I’m so so so sorry!!! I really hope it turns up
I am so sorry…that is awful! I hate it when people steal….ugh!
I hope that someone picked it up (thinking someone had lost it), and maybe turned it into management or maintenance for “lost and found.” I sure hope it turns up!!!
Maybe it will turn up! I’m sure Ashley will forgive ya… keep on believing in the best of people!
I am so sorry, that is horrible! It really does sound like it got stolen, but lets hold hope it turns up. My Garmin is my baby, so I really feel for ya. What is wrong with people!
Ugh, I hope someone turns it in!! I can’t believe how quickly that thing disappeared! I’m guessing someone knew what they were taking, if thats the case. Sheesh!
I lost mine last summer after a run – I set it down to stretch, walked away (w/o thinking, obviously) and it was GONE. That was a Loooooong day – NOT FUN. I feel your pain!
How horrible! I just about died when mine went black and it was under warrenty! I feel sooo bad for you. I hope you really did post those fliers and someone gets back to you!
Meghann this is such a bummer! I have faith that someone will return it.
Good luck finding it, Meghann! Yes, let us hope there is still some good left.
Oh no, I hope whoever took it has a good heart and returns it to you! Keep us updated!
If someone doesn’t return your Garmin, find out if you can file a claim with your renter’s insurance. Don’t know if you purchased renter’s insurance but my sister was able to file a claim with her renter’s insurance w/her purse snatching situation and she received a check for the contents of the purse less $50 deductible. It usually involves police report and notarized claim form so it’s a time-hassle but worth it for a pricey item like your Garmin.
I’m so sorry! I really hope you find it! I know they say people do just fine running without them, but I would feel naked without mine. If…when you find it, I bet you will never walk away from it again! Good luck!
Sorry to hear about your Garmin!!! I almost cannot run if I don’t have my Garmin, so I feel your pain!!! I will keep my fingers crossed that some kind soul will return it to you safe and sound. I had a race last weekend (half marathon) and my Garmin decided to kick the bucket the night before!!! Needless to say, it wasn’t the best race for me:)
It’s probably not going to get returned especially since it is so expensive and nice
I adore you and your blog, and I’m so sorry about your Garmin………but, I hope you’ll not leave your expensive devices unattended anymore. Things like that left alone, even for a second, are so snatchable! I hope it will be returned to you soon.
So sorry about your Garmin- what a bummer! Maybe it’ll turn up or be returned.