I am a 37yr old Male runner. I am about 5' 11" and 183lbs. I run when I want, and when I can. I try and do a few races each year, just to keep me motivated and to show myself that I can run faster when I want. I usually run a 'B' shaped loop in my nieghborhood that is 1.8 miles long. I never used to only run 1 loop EVER, but now I am starting to like doing more frequent 'short' runs (I try to make daily 1.8mi loops), I fully expect to go back to longer less frequent runs as the weather gets colder.
[b?]OK, that being said.... I have a few friends that run, and one suggests the use of a heart rate monitor. I have never needed/wanted one, and I don't know why I should buy one. He says that it really helps you determine where you are physically at that time/day. He says there is no reason to push yourself harder, if you can see that you are already struggling with how you are running right then and there.

I like the idea, but:
1) I don't know how practical they are.
2) I don't know if I will ever keep on using it (I have an MP3 player I rarely use)
3) I don't know if it will help me improve as a runner
4) I don't know what features/brands to look for.

I live on Long Island, and the same friend has told me of a brand (?Polar? maybe?) that I can get from a wharehouse/assembly plant right here on the Island for a discounted price.

I figured that this would be a good place to ask these questions... Thanks in advance for your time and patience.

please note: I don't wear any jewerly/watches etc... I hate the feeling of stuff hanging on me. It has taken me years to get used to long sleeved shirts (I still roll up the sleeves without even realizing it). I don't wear my wedding band, and my Wife knows that I most likely never will. Even when I run, I usaully keep a watch in my pocket.  

Hi Deadken.
Sounds a little like me, about not liking to wear watches etc when running.
A heart rate monitor is useful when doing aerobic fitness training (such as running) to determine when you are working to a certain percentage of your maximum. This percentage changes dependant on who you are, and your maximum also changes on your general fitness and your age etc.

I dont personally know what the figures are for what your heart rate should be - but I am sure that one of the coaches will be able to help you out when he sees this thread. If not, I will ask one of the PT instructors at work (I am in the Army)

A heart rate monitor can be useful, but it needs to be used in conjunction with some know how to tailor your fitness program to your needs.

The Beat Goes On (And On)[/size]
New heart-rate monitors track speed, distance, and your ticker
        by: Sarah Bowen Shea  


Luckily, the days of gadget overload are behind us thanks to heart-rate monitors that multitask. I took the market leaders, the Nike Triax CV10 ($269; niketown.com; 800-344-6453), the Timex Speed & Distance System ($150-$250; timex.com; 800-367-8463), and the new Polar S625X ($350; polarusa.com; 800-227-1314), out for some runs to see how they compare.

Each of these speed-distance monitors comes with a chest strap, a distance-measuring unit, and a watch. To measure distance, Polar and Nike have shoe-mounted pods, about the size of a lighter, although Polar's weighs more than Nike's (2.6 ounces versus 1.7 ounces), which might be bothersome on long runs. The shoe pods are about 98 percent accurate out of the box. To improve the unit's accuracy, you'll need to go to a measured area to calibrate them. Timex uses an arm-mounted global position satellite (GPS) unit about the size of a deck of cards to calculate distance. As with any GPS unit, however, satellite signals?can be blocked by tree cover, tall buildings, or heavy fog.

The Polar model has the most bells and whistles--it automatically logs mileage splits, and shows you stats like altitude ascent and calories burned. The device also allows for max VO2 testing, and Polar has a partnership with Nokia that allows users to download their workout data to a Nokia cell phone. The 100-lap memory on the Nike Triax can tell average heart rate for each lap. The Timex gives a continuous readout of distance covered, pace, average pace, and best pace.

With so much feedback, it's not surprising the wrist monitors are beefy. The Timex and Nike function buttons have words like Mode and Stop/Reset, whereas Polar uses almost indecipherable icons. The Nike wrist monitor has the largest numbers and borrows the angled face of its watches, making it the most easy-to-read unit.





Heart-Rate Monitors[/size]
Strap one on and gain valuable insight on how training affects your running
        by: Amby Burfoot  


For many years, the only thing runners had to strap around their wrists was a watch with a sweep second hand. Now the heart-rate monitor is also competing for wrist space, and no other instrument can give you so much feedback about your workouts. That's why heart-rate monitors have proven to be so popular.

Coaches and physiologists have known for a long time that a runner's heart rate is the best measure of a workout's effectiveness, but until recently, they had no direct access to this measure. Instead, they had to grab the wrist or neck immediately after the runner stopped moving to get a manual reading.

Now, with monitors, runners have direct access to their heart rates and can even get clear and immediate feedback in the middle of a workout. The monitor can indicate whether you should run faster, run slower, or even go home to take a shower and call it a day.

There are many different ways to use a heart-rate monitor. Here are some of the key ones.

To take your morning pulse
You can also do this manually, of course. The best time is just a few minutes after you have awakened, while you are still lying in bed. The idea is to keep track of your morning pulse rate so that you can spot changes quickly. When your morning pulse is elevated, you may be coming down with something or you may simply be overtraining. In either case, an elevated morning pulse tells you that you need a rest day.

To run at your aerobic training pulse (ATP)
This is the slowest pulse you can run at while still getting aerobic and health benefits from your workout. Your aerobic training pulse is important because it's the pace at which you should do approximately 80 percent of your weekly running, including easy days and long runs. First, you must determine your maximum heart rate, which is most simply expressed as 220 minus your age. If you're 40, your maximum heart rate is 180 (220 - 40 = 180).

Your ATP is 60 percent of your maximum heart rate. In the above example, the 40-year-old runner's aerobic training pulse is 108 (0.60 x 180 = 108).

By using their heart-rate monitors, many runners learn that they are training too hard much of the time. Once they learn to slow down on their aerobic training pulse runs, they recover better for other harder runs, and their fitness and vitality improve.

To control your hard running days
In particular, a heart-rate monitor can help you run your tempo runs and your max VO2 runs at the right effort and intensity. Some runners train too fast during these workouts, just as they do on easier days. The heart-rate monitor tells them that it's okay--indeed, even preferable--to slow down.



5 Principles of Heart-Rate Training



A heart-rate monitor gives you direct access to the simplest, most efficient feedback tool you have: your own heart. It can help you train smarter and more scientif?cally than ever before.


Your most important heart rate is your morning heart rate. By monitoring this on a regular basis, you can determine if you are overtraining or when you might be coming down with a cold or other illness.


Your aerobic training pulse (ATP) is the pulse at which you should be doing approximately 80 percent of your training. Many runners train too fast most days of the week, which is wasteful and inefficient.


With a heart-rate monitor, you can make sure you're training at your ATP. Simply determine your maximum pulse rate (220 minus your age) and multiply it by 0.60 to get your ATP.


You can also use a heart-rate monitor to correctly measure the effort of your other harder training days, so you'll run at the right pace when doing tempo runs and max VO2 training.

Well, I thank you for all of the information. I won't decide on whether or not to get a heart rate monitor until I get an idea of how much they cost. I can easily find a price range of several HR monitors, but that doesn't mean that I should buy one of those.

Does anyone use one now?
Do they ever wish that it had more features or even less features?
How many HR Monitors does someone who uses them have? (have they ever outgrown one or do they break frequently)

I have no problem spending $70-$80 on a good pair of running shoes, because I know that they will pay me back several times over. I don't know how much use I will get from a HR Monitor. If anyone uses one or knows someone who uses one, please let me know if it is something that gets used a lot, or collects dust a lot.

Thanks again for the help.  

None of the boys use one AFAIK, but some of them do take their pulses to get a idea on recovery time etc.But its a good question and I'll ask Coach Grady because he trains some adult runners also.

Deadken,
Sorry to jump in so late in the topic.  Looks like you have some good info from some of the other members.  If you are looking for any other info about Heart Rate Monitors in general, check out www.runnersworld.com.  There are some good articles about the topic if you search around the site.  Actually, in the November edition of the magazine, there is an article specifically geared to the different kinds of monitors-what they do, cost, weight etc.  If you can get your hands on a copy of the magazine  you should find some great tips.

Keep Running