I use an Apple Watch and often find myself in my head over the heart rate accuracy. I debate back and forth whether it really matters if it can’t keep up with intervals or lags after hard hill efforts. Then I contemplate a chest strap again which I hated wearing, coupled with the hassle of keeping the sensors damp. Usually that conversation in my head ends with me trying to focus on my trail surroundings which is why I’m out there in the first place.
I love the analytics but it is very easy to get lost in them and become obsessive.
The HR thing is such a mystery to me and I've had the same experience with intervals. Never gone the chest strap route, it feels so complicated? I love the immersion of trail running, and you're so right that the data can be obsessive. Balance, right?
I've done the bare minimum to calculate a reasonable HR Max for someone my height/weight/age and I use my Apple Watch mostly to make sure I stay in roughly the range I've planned for the run.
Even if the upper HR bounds of a low intensity run is supposed to be 149 or something according to the calculation, I let the watch tell me if I'm some where close by and then I check my breathing.
So I'm kinda doing a mental-physical-digital triangulation. If I check in with my body and I'm breathing heavier than expected, I check the watch and see where I'm at.
After about 7ish months of training with target HR ranges in mind, I can do it by feel and just use the watch to help me stay dialed in.
I've done that too and gotten really discouraged when it feels like I'm in chill mode and my HR is going through the roof. Think I'll make that a goal for this year to stick with it. Good stuff.
Hey Paul, I use a myzone chest strap for heart rate and I find it to be pretty accurate. The chest straps seem to be more accurate compared to wrist straps or arm bands.
So I'm very new to the running thing. Really started getting serious about 15 months ago - run about 3-5 times a week miles per run between 3-8 and I'm looking into getting a watch -- (I run with an iphone) I'm debating between the garmin 245 and the Apple watch series 5 gps, anyone have any suggestions?
I see pros and cons for both like with the apple watch I can transfer all my data from the nike run app that I've been using (which may not be the greatest but it's got everything in there already) and it looks nice. Whereas the Garmin may be a bit bulkier but seems to have more bells and whistles. What do you think? What's the better way to go?
First off, that's awesome. Without knowing the ins and outs of those models, my only thought is to consider which device will grow with you as you continue your evolution. If it's alright with you, I'd like to highlight this question for Friday's ramble and see if we can generate some crowd wisdom.
The only bad part (to me) is that (at least on Garmin) you need to wet the sensors before you strap it on and wow that is not pleasant this time of year.
The $50 version does the basics. There is a fancier $90 version that will tell you how crappy your running form is. There's a limit to how much I want my technology to judge me.
I love my FR230 and use my Garmin chest strap HRM on about 30% of my runs. Unless it's a specific pace workout, I'm not really paying much attention to the numbers on my run, but I'm a little obsessed with reviewing them afterward. (My pastime is looking at my training times from five years ago.) I might upgrade the watch in the next year to add in support for courses -- that's the biggest thing the 230 lacks, to me.
"Throughout each run I carry on a long conversation with my body." I do this too, and wasn't sure if I was the only one!
Legs are feeling good... I'm sweating a bit more than I expected... jeez the glare is bad, should have worn sunglasses... my gait feels really natural... why am I clenching my fists?... I am breathing easy... my heart feels like it's beating too fast... god DAMN this feels good... god DAMN this feels bad...
Great timing with this! I've been looking over some options. Prior to the pandemic, I would usually run with my phone attached to an arm band and use blue tooth ear buds to listen to music. I used a running app for a couple years, but stopped in early 2019 and just used my phone for music.
Since the pandemic started I stopped using my phone and ear buds initially b/c of the paranoia about touching stuff and whatnot. I've gotten to the point where I've grown really comfortable having no phone, no music, no app.
Now I'm trying to figure first if I even want to get a watch for running and if so, what kind. Obviously, the first question is the more pressing. I run mostly sidewalks and streets here in DC. It feels like I have a fairly consistent pace, but without an app I don't know.
All of which is a long-winded way of saying I'm still not sure what I want to do. And given the cost of some running watches, I don't want to spend too much if I get something not knowing if it's going to be something I use for the long haul.
Loving your evolution, man. I do think a proper running watch makes a huge difference, but I feel ya that cost is absolutely a primary concern. It looks like Garmin is having a nice sale right now if that's a way you're thinking about going.
For now it helps. I’m mostly a street and sidewalk runner right now and since I already own an Apple Watch, it’s useful in the sense I can set a distance, start it, and forget about it — and I know the distances I usually cover, so if it screws up I can enter it manually later on.
My Samsung Active Watch 2 is great for tracking my workouts. I need it for heart monitoring but it was inconsistent, dropping out wit a null reading, sometimes for the entire workout. I finally solved it by testing various positions on my wrist, and found the sweet spot. For me it is right where the nurse would take my pulse. Duh. I got used to wearing it there for workouts and haven't had a problem with dropouts since.
I have a similar sentiment toward Strava. While a great tool for motivation and accountability, I've also debated deleting it more than once. There are more times than I would like to admit, when I would head out just because I felt pressured to record something on the app.
Glad you brought it up. I didn't mention Strava specifically because I've never used it, mainly for the reasons you're articulating. But I don't want to slag it either. I know a lot of people get good use from it.
I use an Apple Watch and often find myself in my head over the heart rate accuracy. I debate back and forth whether it really matters if it can’t keep up with intervals or lags after hard hill efforts. Then I contemplate a chest strap again which I hated wearing, coupled with the hassle of keeping the sensors damp. Usually that conversation in my head ends with me trying to focus on my trail surroundings which is why I’m out there in the first place.
I love the analytics but it is very easy to get lost in them and become obsessive.
The HR thing is such a mystery to me and I've had the same experience with intervals. Never gone the chest strap route, it feels so complicated? I love the immersion of trail running, and you're so right that the data can be obsessive. Balance, right?
I've done the bare minimum to calculate a reasonable HR Max for someone my height/weight/age and I use my Apple Watch mostly to make sure I stay in roughly the range I've planned for the run.
Even if the upper HR bounds of a low intensity run is supposed to be 149 or something according to the calculation, I let the watch tell me if I'm some where close by and then I check my breathing.
So I'm kinda doing a mental-physical-digital triangulation. If I check in with my body and I'm breathing heavier than expected, I check the watch and see where I'm at.
After about 7ish months of training with target HR ranges in mind, I can do it by feel and just use the watch to help me stay dialed in.
I've done that too and gotten really discouraged when it feels like I'm in chill mode and my HR is going through the roof. Think I'll make that a goal for this year to stick with it. Good stuff.
Hey Paul, I use a myzone chest strap for heart rate and I find it to be pretty accurate. The chest straps seem to be more accurate compared to wrist straps or arm bands.
https://www.myzone.org/mz-3
Cool, thanks so much. I'm def going to need a chest strap. My latest HR had me at 190 ... which is impossible.
So I'm very new to the running thing. Really started getting serious about 15 months ago - run about 3-5 times a week miles per run between 3-8 and I'm looking into getting a watch -- (I run with an iphone) I'm debating between the garmin 245 and the Apple watch series 5 gps, anyone have any suggestions?
I see pros and cons for both like with the apple watch I can transfer all my data from the nike run app that I've been using (which may not be the greatest but it's got everything in there already) and it looks nice. Whereas the Garmin may be a bit bulkier but seems to have more bells and whistles. What do you think? What's the better way to go?
First off, that's awesome. Without knowing the ins and outs of those models, my only thought is to consider which device will grow with you as you continue your evolution. If it's alright with you, I'd like to highlight this question for Friday's ramble and see if we can generate some crowd wisdom.
Oh yeah I’d love that. Happy to get any and all feedback as possible. Thanks!
Hear rate monitor. The ones that wrap around under your chest are most accurate. Wahoo, garmin, polar all make great ones.
The only bad part (to me) is that (at least on Garmin) you need to wet the sensors before you strap it on and wow that is not pleasant this time of year.
Running just became a lot kinkier than I ever imagined.
The windchill was 18 this morning.
I've heard good things about the wahoo. HR training is on my list of 2021 goals for sure.
The $50 version does the basics. There is a fancier $90 version that will tell you how crappy your running form is. There's a limit to how much I want my technology to judge me.
I love my FR230 and use my Garmin chest strap HRM on about 30% of my runs. Unless it's a specific pace workout, I'm not really paying much attention to the numbers on my run, but I'm a little obsessed with reviewing them afterward. (My pastime is looking at my training times from five years ago.) I might upgrade the watch in the next year to add in support for courses -- that's the biggest thing the 230 lacks, to me.
I dropped Strava due to the privacy issues: https://qz.com/1191431/strava-privacy-concerns-here-is-how-to-safely-use-the-app/.
Can't wait until I tell you about my training notebooks. You never know when a workout from 2014 will come in handy.
"Throughout each run I carry on a long conversation with my body." I do this too, and wasn't sure if I was the only one!
Legs are feeling good... I'm sweating a bit more than I expected... jeez the glare is bad, should have worn sunglasses... my gait feels really natural... why am I clenching my fists?... I am breathing easy... my heart feels like it's beating too fast... god DAMN this feels good... god DAMN this feels bad...
You're in my head! (The sunglass thing is so real)
Photochromic sunglasses are great for potential changes in light conditions. Also doubles as clear eye shields in cold blustery weather.
Great call.
Great timing with this! I've been looking over some options. Prior to the pandemic, I would usually run with my phone attached to an arm band and use blue tooth ear buds to listen to music. I used a running app for a couple years, but stopped in early 2019 and just used my phone for music.
Since the pandemic started I stopped using my phone and ear buds initially b/c of the paranoia about touching stuff and whatnot. I've gotten to the point where I've grown really comfortable having no phone, no music, no app.
Now I'm trying to figure first if I even want to get a watch for running and if so, what kind. Obviously, the first question is the more pressing. I run mostly sidewalks and streets here in DC. It feels like I have a fairly consistent pace, but without an app I don't know.
All of which is a long-winded way of saying I'm still not sure what I want to do. And given the cost of some running watches, I don't want to spend too much if I get something not knowing if it's going to be something I use for the long haul.
Loving your evolution, man. I do think a proper running watch makes a huge difference, but I feel ya that cost is absolutely a primary concern. It looks like Garmin is having a nice sale right now if that's a way you're thinking about going.
For now it helps. I’m mostly a street and sidewalk runner right now and since I already own an Apple Watch, it’s useful in the sense I can set a distance, start it, and forget about it — and I know the distances I usually cover, so if it screws up I can enter it manually later on.
Absolutely. There's a lot of good stuff in there. Sometimes I wonder how I ever got along without it.
My Samsung Active Watch 2 is great for tracking my workouts. I need it for heart monitoring but it was inconsistent, dropping out wit a null reading, sometimes for the entire workout. I finally solved it by testing various positions on my wrist, and found the sweet spot. For me it is right where the nurse would take my pulse. Duh. I got used to wearing it there for workouts and haven't had a problem with dropouts since.
Good tip. I'll keep looking for that sweet spot.
I have a similar sentiment toward Strava. While a great tool for motivation and accountability, I've also debated deleting it more than once. There are more times than I would like to admit, when I would head out just because I felt pressured to record something on the app.
Glad you brought it up. I didn't mention Strava specifically because I've never used it, mainly for the reasons you're articulating. But I don't want to slag it either. I know a lot of people get good use from it.