Running + HRM = ?

runningagainstmyself
runningagainstmyself Posts: 616 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
For long distance running, is HRM useful or not useful? Interested in training with HRM but it's not worth the money if I use it twice as a novelty and never again.

What has your experience been with running distance and HRM training?

Replies

  • Kickinkim418
    Kickinkim418 Posts: 257 Member
    If you are seriously into running, I would suggest a Garmin watch that not only is a HRM, but also tells you the distance you run and the pace you are running...It seriously has transformed my running! :D
  • sammyneb
    sammyneb Posts: 257
    Well..my experience..I got a HRM last summer...after I ran my first half. I freaked because when I would run my heartrate would go up into the 170's...I even ended up going to the dr. and finding out I was fine (besides for my first anxiety attack because of it) i stoppped using it for 6 months. then I tried it again, and found it just wasn't accurate..It would dive down when I was running and make the results all scewed.....I have the Nike GPS watch so the heartrate monitor I have is the powerlink. I have become a lot more aware of the "feel" of the run and I just use that to judge my effort. But don't let my bad experience change your mind :) I know people who training very well with HR monitors...I just feel I don't need it...well that is how I feel now :)

    Unless you really know (not using those formula's) what your max heart rate is, the HR monitors can be hard to use...My max heartrate is higher than the charts...as I have seen my heartrate go pretty darn high, and I wasn't dieing :)
  • Tubbytucka
    Tubbytucka Posts: 83 Member
    I'll quote something I wrote in a post a while ago, I'm talking about cycling but I used a HRM to keep below 130 bpm

    ...I think there is still something to be said for steady rate cardio - I recently (August) strained my knee cycling, and after a few days off I got back on the bike, but concentrated on keeping my heart rate below 130bpm. I made sure I was always starting off in a low gear as well to reduce the strain as well, and spent an hour or so most days cycling to or from work.

    After about 6 weeks my knee was feeling better, so I did a few rides where I would ride as fast as I could, and pretty much every time I did that, I would set a new personal best (Strava & Sportstrackerlive) and I could keep going at a higher HR for longer.
    For example, before, I would be gasping when I was up at 168-170 or so and only manage it for 20-30 seconds; after the long slow training I could spend a few minutes at 170-173 (I'm 47y.o.) and feel ok after it, rather than wanting to puke.
    /quote

    I got the idea from a running magazine that had an article about heart rate zone 2 training - google it for more info. You can also use it for interval training.
    I got a Garmin 410 hrm/gps watch so I can look back and see what my HR/speed was on hills to see how my fitness improves. I had just a HRM before that, it was ok but I could never remember exactly what my HR was months later.
  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    It's been really useful for me. I've been tracking my pulse at a specific pace and it shows me that my endurance is greatly improving. It's nice to see that what once had my heart running at 180 bpm now only has me just over 160 bpm.

    Which run has me working harder? Don't be fooled by the pace or distance. The heart rate here says a lot about my effort for each run.
    AugRun_zps9e95889e.jpg
    APRRun_zps703d6803.jpg


    One other cool thing I encountered this last weekend on my longer run. My phone must have lost GPS signal because it managed to add in almost an extra mile between mile 2 and mile 6. The rest of the run my average pace was skewed but since I knew I was shooting for an 8:30 pace and that my heart rate should be around 160 for this effort I just kept trying to maintain 160 bpm. It was a success. I was able to get distance from some mile markers (and I've run this lots of times) and then just ran my time against the miles and found it was an 8:27 pace. Nearly dead on my 8:30 goal. I thought that was pretty cool that I knew that.

    14_Bad_GPS_zps575f8d9a.jpg
  • actlc
    actlc Posts: 84
    To me, certainly. Soon after I started running, I have been using my S3 + HRM + Runstatic to keep track of my distance/duration/pace/elevation/heart rate.

    - With these records, you know how your progress through your running.
    e.g. If you completed same 2 miles in 20 minutes, but heart rate used to be 160, now is 150. You know it's improvement.
    same average heart rate but now you run 2 miles in 18 minutes. That's an improvement.
    - You can train your run sessions in a specific heart rate zone.
    - You know it's time to slow down when your heart is pumping too hard.
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    If you can run by effort alone and at the appropriate intensities you don't really need one. Personally, mine has been very useful because once I started using it I found that what I thought was an easy run was really too hard and I was always training too hard and not improving. It is also useful in keeping the heart rate in the right place on tempo runs when running by pace is not appropriate such as on hills or in really hot weather.
  • runningagainstmyself
    runningagainstmyself Posts: 616 Member
    If you are seriously into running, I would suggest a Garmin watch that not only is a HRM, but also tells you the distance you run and the pace you are running...It seriously has transformed my running! :D

    I have a Garmin, but I didn't pick one up that had a HRM just in case I didn't need it. I'm starting to wonder now if I should have...
  • runningagainstmyself
    runningagainstmyself Posts: 616 Member
    It's been really useful for me. I've been tracking my pulse at a specific pace and it shows me that my endurance is greatly improving. It's nice to see that what once had my heart running at 180 bpm now only has me just over 160 bpm.

    Which run has me working harder? Don't be fooled by the pace or distance. The heart rate here says a lot about my effort for each run.
    AugRun_zps9e95889e.jpg
    APRRun_zps703d6803.jpg


    One other cool thing I encountered this last weekend on my longer run. My phone must have lost GPS signal because it managed to add in almost an extra mile between mile 2 and mile 6. The rest of the run my average pace was skewed but since I knew I was shooting for an 8:30 pace and that my heart rate should be around 160 for this effort I just kept trying to maintain 160 bpm. It was a success. I was able to get distance from some mile markers (and I've run this lots of times) and then just ran my time against the miles and found it was an 8:27 pace. Nearly dead on my 8:30 goal. I thought that was pretty cool that I knew that.

    14_Bad_GPS_zps575f8d9a.jpg

    Thank you for this! Seeing the visuals is really helpful for me. If I get a HRM I'm going to get one that connects with my Garmin Forerunner 210. What kind of HRM are you using?
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    If you have a Garmin 210 all you have to do is buy the Garmin strap and sensor. It will connect to your watch. You can order it from the Garmin website. https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/running/forerunner-210/prod83280.html
  • runningagainstmyself
    runningagainstmyself Posts: 616 Member
    If you have a Garmin 210 all you have to do is buy the Garmin strap and sensor. It will connect to your watch. You can order it from the Garmin website. https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/running/forerunner-210/prod83280.html

    I just fear that once I invest in this monitor that I will use it twice and not again. :( I'm a starving student so I really can't afford to be frivolous with money on gear that may or may not prove useful.
  • ALH1981
    ALH1981 Posts: 538 Member
    If you have a Garmin 210 all you have to do is buy the Garmin strap and sensor. It will connect to your watch. You can order it from the Garmin website. https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/running/forerunner-210/prod83280.html

    I just fear that once I invest in this monitor that I will use it twice and not again. :( I'm a starving student so I really can't afford to be frivolous with money on gear that may or may not prove useful.

    I love my HRM - i use it to challenge myself each time i run - i get really annoyed if i forget it or if i forget to set it one day, it means i miss my day's challenge - its as addictive as MFP!
  • runningagainstmyself
    runningagainstmyself Posts: 616 Member

    I love my HRM - i use it to challenge myself each time i run - i get really annoyed if i forget it or if i forget to set it one day, it means i miss my day's challenge - its as addictive as MFP!

    That is way cool. I'll give it some more thought then. The HRM isn't going anywhere.
  • alli_baba
    alli_baba Posts: 232 Member
    If you are seriously into running, I would suggest a Garmin watch that not only is a HRM, but also tells you the distance you run and the pace you are running...It seriously has transformed my running! :D

    I have a Garmin, but I didn't pick one up that had a HRM just in case I didn't need it. I'm starting to wonder now if I should have...

    If you're going to buy one, buy one from a source where you can easily return it if it doesn't work.

    I have a Garmin 310XT and the HRM that it came with (fabric strap) gave crazy readings all the time. I did a google search on the topic and it seems that this is a known problem that Garmin fails to fix. I bought an old Garmin HRM (the rubber kind) that seems to work better, but it still isn't great. My very old Timex HRM that I bought at Target works far better. So, caveat emptor -- buy from a retail outlet that will replace it or refund it if it is a bust (like REI). Garmin is not super helpful.
  • lunglady
    lunglady Posts: 526 Member
    If you are seriously into running, I would suggest a Garmin watch that not only is a HRM, but also tells you the distance you run and the pace you are running...It seriously has transformed my running! :D

    The Garmin Forerunner 610 is awesome. if you have the footpod, it is quite accurate on the treadmill. The HRM works flawlessly. It's cool to see the HR variations with hills and speed intervals.

Categories