Why I enjoy my HRM, and it has nothing to do with calories

yc4king

I took up running this spring. I always wished I could run when I was in highschool etc, but I was always fat and lazy :P Now that i'm 34, less fat, and significantly less lazy, I made it happen. Just ran 14km this morning before work...

There are a lot of people constantly asking about what HRM they should get. I'm not going to try and answer that question. What i'm going to answer is WHY you might want or enjoy a HRM.

There is only one use my HRM provides, and that is a general indicator while running (or doing any physical activity) of how hard i'm pushing my body aerobically, and also an indicator of how much my aerobic fitness level has improved. I'm not saying that is the only thing they are good for, i'm saying that is the only thing I use mine for, but I think it's a significant help for me and I think it was one of the best $50 i've spent on fitness gear.

Example, on my run this morning at around the 8km mark at a 5:30/km pace my heart rate was holding steady at 155bpm. Only a month ago it was holding steady at around 162-165bpm at the same pace over similar distances. Early in the spring when I was starting out trying to run at any distance at 5:30/km would have had my heart rate up in the high 170's or low 180's.

So obviously as my body gets more efficient my heart rate lowers, which is a good indication for me that it's time to up my pace again if I want to push myself aerobically to the next level, or if i'm pushing for more distance I just keep my current pace and go as far as I can.

For interval training I also use it to measure how long it takes my body to recover after sprinting etc. Instead of just using "sprint for 1 minute then walk for 2" I can do things like sprint for 1 minute and walk until my heart rate is back down to 100 or something, and keep track of how long that takes over time to trend recovery time.

Anyway, I just figured after so many posts about heart rate monitors for tracking calories, some people might benefit from hearing a few other benefits of having a HRM.

Hornsby

So....you use the HRM for exactly what it is intended for?

I'm confused at this post, honestly.

yc4king

How many people that are asking for advice about HRM are asking about them so they can use them for exactly what they are intended for.... That was the point.

_sirenofthesea_

I took up running this spring. I always wished I could run when I was in highschool etc, but I was always fat and lazy :P Now that i'm 34, less fat, and significantly less lazy, I made it happen. Just ran 14km this morning before work...

There are a lot of people constantly asking about what HRM they should get. I'm not going to try and answer that question. What i'm going to answer is WHY you might want or enjoy a HRM.

I've been on the fence about one - and reading this simple, yet educated analogy made me decide to do it - thanks for the info - for some 'seasoned' people, it may seem redundant or 'duh' but it was exactly what I needed to read! Thanks

yc4king

You're welcome and thanks for that reply, it's exactly what I was hoping I could do for somebody

dopeysmelly

I took up running this spring. I always wished I could run when I was in highschool etc, but I was always fat and lazy :P Now that i'm 34, less fat, and significantly less lazy, I made it happen. Just ran 14km this morning before work...

There are a lot of people constantly asking about what HRM they should get. I'm not going to try and answer that question. What i'm going to answer is WHY you might want or enjoy a HRM.

I've been on the fence about one - and reading this simple, yet educated analogy made me decide to do it - thanks for the info - for some 'seasoned' people, it may seem redundant or 'duh' but it was exactly what I needed to read! Thanks

Yeah, me too. I just got the Garmin Vivofit with the HRM and tried it out yesterday on my daily walk. I've been feeling that this isn't enough for me, and now I understand why.. my HR went only up to 130 bpm, and I was walking FAST. It's time to take it up a notch.

_sirenofthesea_

Now i just need to decide which one

yc4king

Bumping as i've seen more HRM questions lately.

hurricanelena

Thanks for this post.

I've had a heart rate monitor for about a year and I've used it for the same reasons as you. It was also enlightening as to how "off" the exercise calculators/machines are for my weight in terms of calories burned. Apparently I am way more efficent than the "standard".

My trainer also likes it as she can see my heart rate (I have a chest strap/wrist watch combo) and tell me to modify something or increase the pace accordingly while I'm concentrating on the exercise itself.