Yvonne came the closest to producing results as her mom dropped from 3:30 to 3:10 by slowing down her long runs. Hell, with those results from your mom, I’m surprised you don’t have one already. Eric mentioned some generalizations, but didn’t give specific results. I can see the benefit for an ultra, a long tri or the Tour de France. Dirtrunner, it sounds like you haven’t run an ultra without one.
I got 15 comments and the general consensus is that they’re nice toys or tools. My kids already have way too many toys. With another birthday party around the corner, I’m sure they’ll get more. And I already have tools that I don’t use and don’t make me a faster runner.
Yes, I’ve worn a HRM before. I trained with one for a long time. I ran a HRmax test, calculated all the zones, slowed WAY down on my easy days, etc. In fact, I still attribute my slow base-phase pace (relative to other 3 hour marathoners) to my HRM days. Maybe that’s a good thing and I don’t realize it and don’t want to give the HRM the credit it deserves. Maybe I should be running faster than I am and it’s the HRM’s fault. In any case, I never saw faster race times from strapping on a HRM.
I’m with Duncan and the “bro’strap” though. While going shirtless with your monitor on, try running passed a group of teenage boys. Then come back and tell me how cool your new toy is. If nothing else, a HRM in that scenario will get you to run faster.
WARNING: If you email me anything, it could end up on my blog. Here’s a photo of my buddy Woody with a guy named Frank.
Since I just ran 100 miles AND just got done devouring a piece of apple pie at lunch, here’s the quote of the day.
“If you run 100 mpw, you can eat anything you want – Why? Because (a) you’ll burn all the calories you consume, (b) you deserve it, and (c) you’ll be injured soon and back on a restricted diet anyway.” - Don Kardong
Eat up Zeke. You deserve it.
ReplyDeleteYou might want to clarify why a guy named Frank is important. Not everyone is a running fanatic and knows who that Frank is, and yes I know.
Nice job on the 100, Zeke! Welcome to the 'club'.
ReplyDeleteYou want specifics, huh? =) After that summer of running with the HRM, I ran 31:55 for 10k on a lightly hilly golf course. Prior to that season, my best time on a similar course was 32:50ish. Of course, the HRM didn't do the training for me, though it did allow me to complete, without burnout or injury, the training that I needed to do to improve my 10k time by about a minute.
As ever, YMMV.
For those that don't know who "Frank" is, he invented the heart rate monitor.
ReplyDeleteEric, thanks that was actually the 2nd time I've reached 100. Now I just have to keep it going. Yes, I like those kind of results.
You've stumped me with YMMV. Not sure what that means.
I've owned 4 or 5 HRM's and I had no idea who Frank is.
ReplyDeleteI guess the biggest credit I can give the HRM is that it showed me exactly what pace I could run while keeping my HR in an acceptable zone for a marathon. (This is simple to do on a track) I guess I could give a little credit to the HRM for helping me drop my marathon PR from 3:01 to 2:39.
I'm with you on the numbers. The more the merrier.
Your Mileage May Vary.
ReplyDeleteThank you to my 18 YO sister for that...LOL!
LOL the quote rocks!
ReplyDelete