I have decided to take my training “to the next level” as they say and start using my heart to gauge my training. I am an avid Garmin user but have heard great things about the Polar watches for heart training so I picked up the Polar RS200. I have always known that my standing heart rate (STR) was a bit higher than most athletes. Despite the fact that I ran two marathons this fall, one under 3:30 and finished a 95 degree Chicago at 3:50, my standing heart rate is still 70 beats per minute. Most of my training partners are in 40-50 range. With this knowledge I decided to try the Polar and see what’s up. Here are the details of what I’ve found:

1. My RHR is very high for a high mileage runner. A few things may contribute to this: One, I am on Synthroid to speed up my metabolism because my thyroid is slow. Two, I am 25 pounds over my peak weight. I do this every year. I put on the weight in the winter, despite my continued training, and then lose it right back.
2. My heart rate barely changes between running a 8:30 pace and 7:30 pace. It is abnormally high at 8:30 pace at 150 but doesn’t get any higher until I start to push the pace under 7:00. My lungs and legs certainly feel the difference but my heart stays steady.
3. My maximum heart rate (at an all out sprint) seems to be 180 which is completely normal. I was doing 6 X 800m interval speed workouts at 3:15 and I was at 170 bpm but really not very tired. The last one I sprinted got me into the high 170′s but again there was more in the tank (the track was snow covered and not safe to push harder).
4. That is the data I got from my first heart work out. Again, I am out of shape for me, but compared to most people I am in great shape. If there are any “experts” in this area, feel free to comment. I look forward to seeing what my improvement will be.

P.S. As I sit here and type my heart rate is still 83 but I did just work out an hour ago.

Garmin Forerunner 405

I’ve waited for this day a long time. My Garmin is my baby, giving me information about my running that only it can give. The problem: I have a VCR on my wrist. I have long anticipated the day when the receiver chip and battery would be small enough to fit in a regular-size watch. That day has come.

The Garmin 405 is a GPS-enabled sports watch packed with impressive features. It records an array of measurements, including your distance, precise maps of your routes, speed, pace, time, calories burned, elevation, and (optionally) heart rate. All of this data is stored in memory so you can review and compare your past performances, and the watch is even capable of sending it wirelessly to your computer.

Garmin says the GPS receiver sustains satellite reception whether you’re on a rural trail or surrounded by skyscrapers. The is also water resistant and has a simple interface to make on-the-fly adjustments easy. It can also be used indoors with an optional food pod that clips to your shoelaces.

Virtual Partners

Racing a Virtual Partner

One of my favorite features is the ability to challenge a virtual partner. Few things motivate me more than competition, even if it is with a computer. You can choose a pace for your virtual partner to run and the watch will keep track of how far ahead or behind you are compared to the partner. But this is even better: if your friends have a 405 you can exchange routes and performances wirelessly. So, someone you know can transfer a map of their favorite route to you along with their performance data for that route, and you can race against them on that route when they’re not even there! Lastly, you can download workout templates designed by experts and use those to supplement your training.

The Forerunner 405 is available in either black or green, and with or without a heart rate monitor.