Posted on Aug 22, 2008 under GPS Heart rate monitor, garmin |
Why should you consider using a GPS Heart Rate Monitor?
I took up competitive running later in life and started with a marathon as my goal. I took advice from various distance coaches and they recommended using a heart rate monitor as part of my training. I have now been using heart rate monitors since 1998. My first HRM was just a chest strap and a digital readout of the heart rate. I think it was a Polar heart rate monitor. I still had to wear a running watch on the other wrist to measure my time!
Technology moved on and I got a GPS time and distance monitor, a Garmin forerunner 201, and I was still wearing the HRM on the other wrist! This was better as I could download my time and distance to the computer. It was still a bit irritating as I still had two “watches” when I was running.
Finally a company developed exactly what I was looking for, a GPS Heart Rate Monitor all in one timepiece. My first one was a Garmin forerunner 301. This was great and all the data could be downloaded to my computer for analysis and route planning.
Since starting running with a heart rate monitor in 1998 I ran my first marathon in 1999. I went on to join Carnegie Harriers running club in 2003 and have run many races from 1 mile to 45 miles. For the last couple of years I have stopped running road races and run trail, cross country and my favorite hill races. In hill racing the GPS element comes into its own as the routes are not marked and navigation is important.
So here are my 7 reasons why you should get a GPS Heart Rate Monitor.
1. Using a Heart Rate Monitor is like having your own rev counter. This means you know immediately if you are going into the “red zone”. Once you have worked out the numbers of your upper and lower heart rate zones, you can keep an eye on it at all times. Even better some of the new HRM’s have an audible alarm so you can hear if you are over or under your heart rate zones. Having this information at your fingertips really helps you train effectively, stops you overtraining and really importantly helps you to manage your self during long races.
2. Having the GPS helps you know exactly how far you have run. This can be really useful if you, like me, have to travel with work or on holiday. All of a sudden you do not have your usual measured training runs so you are not sure if you have run far enough, or perhaps too far. Having a GPS HRM lets you know the distance exactly. You also know your pace or speed so you can practice getting your tempo right.
3. The third benefit is that it helps you with your motivation. Once you know your numbers for heart rate zones, pace or speed rates you can challenge yourself to stick to these levels as you train. It is like having a coach out with you sitting on your wrist. One of the GPS heart rate monitors also has a “running buddy” that is a virtual training partner. The GPS HRM tells you if you are in front or behind your partner. This certainly keeps me motivated. Would you like to be beaten by a computer?
4. One of my favorite benefits is that you can download the data from your GPS Heart rate monitor to your computer. This means that you can download and compare your data to see how you are progressing and improving. It also means you can set all your zones, paces and routes including full training plans on your computer. You can then up load them to the gps hrm watch to use when you train next. The computer software lets you see graphs and visual representations of where you have been. I really like this feature as most of my running is off road. This means you can see your route and also the shape and height of the hill you have just run over.
5. As you might imagine you can use the GPS Heart rate monitor for navigation. You can plan way points in and you can use previous routes to follow. A small arrow appears on the screen pointing in the direction you should go. This is a great help and provided you set it up well it can save you a lot of time. I still like to use maps and compass for navigation in the hills and it is important to have them in case of equipment failure. On the web there are route sharing websites where you can download other peoples routes, load them onto your watch and run somewhere you have never been before. Pretty cool eh?
6. Being able to record and store your running data allows you to fine tune your training. This can show you exactly where in a training run or event where things started to change. You can also compare pace against elevation and other variables that might not have been so obvious from separate pieces of equipment. Knowing elevation is really important to hill runners as we can climb up to 8,000 feet in one race. This can let you know why a 14 mile race takes longer than a marathon!
7. Having a GPS heart rate monitor is fun! It can be great to be a bit of a techie and play around with it to customize it for your exact specifications. If you are more like me I just press on and start and off I go and enjoy keeping an eye on my heart rate to make sure I am training or racing at my optimum level. You can then go back after upload it and share it with your friends or post it on a blog. I often post race profiles on our club blog.
Well these are my thoughts on why you should consider a GPS Heart Rate Monitor. It can help improve your training and fitness. It can even make it a bit more fun.
There are quite a few GPS Heart Rate Monitors on the market. It is important you find one that suits your needs.
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Posted on Aug 19, 2008 under GPS Heart rate monitor, garmin |
Garmin Forerunner Series Review
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ty_Thomas]Ty Thomas
Looking for a Garmin Forerunner? I outline each of the 5 choices and some of their benefits and weaknesses. These are the main features of the models, but by no means do I cover every feature!!
Rechargeable?
The Garmin Forerunner 101 is the only one that is not rechargeable, it uses 2 AAA batteries. All others have a rechargeable lithium ion battery that lasts between 10-15 hours depending on usage.
Waterproof?
All the Forerunner units have a IEC 60529 IPX7 rating, which means the GPS case can withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Notice it says ACCIDENTAL….do not use these devices for the swimming leg in triathlons, they will not hold up for long!! Running in the rain will not cause issues that I have found, they are not immersed.
Computer downloadable logs?
Again, the 101 is the only device which does not have a computer interface, so the information that is kept must be deleted at some point. All the devices are capable of holding approximately 5000 laps, which equates to around 2 years of data.
Size & Weight?
The 101, 201, & 301 are virtually identical in size and weight. The 101 is slightly larger at 3.3″W x 1.7″H x .9″D compared to the 201 & 301 at 3.3″W x 1.7″H x .7″D. Believe it or not these are extremely lightweight. The 101 weighs in at 2.6 ounces with batteries, the 201 and 301 both weigh in at 2.75 ounces. The 205 and 305 have a different design which looks more like a watch. They both have the same measurements at: 2.1″W x 2.7″H x .7″D and 2.7 ounces in weight. I have used both designs and they are very comfortable and lightweight. My opinion….there is not enough difference in weight or designs to make a decision from.
GPS Signal Strength
The Forerunner 101, 201, and 301 all have the same antenna and the 205 and 305 share a antenna design. Between the 2 groups, the 205 and 305 have the stronger signal strength with an improved antenna design which points at the sky while running. I have noticed the 101, 201, and 301 all will occasionally lose signal while running under dense tree cover or around large buildings. The 205 and 305 don’t seem to have this behavior.
Heart Rate Monitor:
Only the Forerunner 301 and 305 have a heart rate monitor option. This allows you to display and track your heart rate and configure audible alarms if your heart rate goes above or below certain thresholds.
Cool things:
All 5 devices have AutoLap, AutoPause, Virtual Partner, Pace Alerts, Time or Distance Alerts, and Interval training options. AutoLap creates a lap for you at an interval you define (1 mile, 1 minute, 30 minutes, etc…). Auto pause will pause the timer if your pace falls below a threshold you specify. This is a nice feature if you have to cross a lot of streets and are waiting a lot. The Virtual Partner feature is for those of us competitive types who have to have the sense you are beating something!! You set up a predefined time/pace and it shows this 2 little people on the screen, one is you, one is the computer. It then tells you who is ahead of who and by how much! Talk about motivation….can’t let a stinking computer beat you!!!
Specific features for the Forerunner 301 and 305:
As already mentioned, the 301 and 305 have a heart rate monitor capabilities. They also have the ability to have multi-sport profiles (biking, running, one other sport) and advanced workout features. The advanced workout features allow you to set up workouts with specific durations and targets (speed or heart rate) so you can follow them. Things like 4 1 mile intervals at a 8:30 pace with a 1 minute rest period between intervals. It then beeps to alert you on your intervals.
Do they tell time?
Believe it or not, this is one of the most asked questions and yes, you can configure one of the screens with many different pieces of data. Time of Day is one of them.
Foreign Language and Units of measure?
All units allow to change the language on the console and the unit of measure to meters if so desired. The manuals only come in English however.
The Forerunner 305 also has an optional GSC 10 speed cadence sensor you can purchase for bicycling.
All 5 of the Forerunners are extremely valuable in your training and you can’t go wrong no matter which one you choose.
More GPS information and resources can be found at [http://4runnersports.com]4Runner Sports.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ty_Thomas http://EzineArticles.com/?Garmin-Forerunner-Series-Review&id=362045
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Posted on Aug 18, 2008 under GPS Heart rate monitor |
Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Tracking Watch Review
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dave_Thinel]Dave Thinel
Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Heart rate monitor
The Garmin Forerunner 305 is very similar to the Forerunner 205 in fact; it is identical in size, shape, performance and features with only a coupe of exceptions. The primary difference is the 305 includes a heart rate monitor and may include a cycling cadence counter. These options make the 305 a good choice for even the most serious athletes. Notable Features; Unit Size (W x H x D) - 2.1 x 2.7 x .7 inches Screen Size (W x H) - 1.3 x .8 inches Weight - 2.7 oz. Battery type - Rechargeable Lithium- Ion Battery Life - approx. 10 hours Water resistant - Yes (IPX7) Heart rate monitor - Yes Lap memory - Yes, 1000 laps Waypoint memory - Yes, 100 Routes feature - Yes, 50 max Warranty - One year If you are interested in getting the most out of your training efforts, we feel the heart rate monitor is a must. It works well and there is no other accurate substitute for measuring your heart rate and adjusting the intensity of the work out, to maintain the desired cardio targets. When training on varying terrain the effect on heart rate is very pronounced, it would probably surprise anyone who has not used a monitor previously. In use, we found the readings to be fairly steady enough so that we had confidence that they were accurate.
This consistency is not to be taken lightly, if the readings varied constantly you would end up checking them more often which could become tiresome. Our take is that a quick glance would give a good reading and that very frequent checking was unnecessary. The Garmin Forerunner 305 is one step up from the Forerunner 205 so it might be helpful to read our product review for that model. The key differences are the 305 includes the heart rate monitor, a feature the 205 lacks. Another optional feature available with the 305 is a cycling cadence counter but we did not test that option. It should be mentioned that the heart monitor and cycling sensors will work indoors since they do not rely on the GPS signal to function.
Accuracy is to be expected and required for this type of product to be truly useful. In our use we checked the readings with several other GPS units and also checked with a measured mile. Moderate tree cover did not adversely affect the unit’s performance which is important since that could be encountered frequently. The overall accuracy was excellent, given the presence of a strong signal, and should be enough to satisfy literally everyone. One area where great strides have been made is the ease of use. The unit itself is not bulky to wear while training, it’s similar to wearing a regular watch, just a little bigger. Overall the design and functionality is excellent. The buttons become intuitive fairly quickly so you shouldn’t be long in getting up to speed. Establishing a regular charging routine will be needed, the average life of a charge is about 8 to 10 hours. We would opt for the 305 over the 205 since the difference in cost is only about $100, and the benefits are great. Garmin has made this generation of GPS tracking watches better than ever, you should not be disappointed.
Dave helps individuals to learn about [http://gpstrackingwatchessite.com/]GPS tracking watches, like the [http://gpstrackingwatchessite.com/review-garmin-forerunner-305-gps-tracking-watches/]Garmin Forerunner 305.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Thinel http://EzineArticles.com/?Garmin-Forerunner-305-GPS-Tracking-Watch-Review&id=1322888
Technorati Tags: garmin, gps, Heart rate monitor
Posted on Aug 18, 2008 under GPS Heart rate monitor |
GPS Heart Rate Monitor - GPS Heart Rate Monitor - Guide
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Brad_Cra]Brad Cra
All are conscious about their health, all want to know about their physical condition and ability. Let it be a businessman, technicians, white color bureaucrat, film artist or sportsman all need information about their persisting health condition. It is important know about one’s heart beats, body temperature and blood pressure, which gives all round information about one’s physical fitness that is one’s physical strength and weakness. Getting right information can help a person to check himself from the lacuna he has physically.
To have a systematic and logical study to analyze about one’s heath there is scientific approach, one can take help of GPS heart rate monitor.
What does GPS stands for? It is Global Positioning system and this technology is integrated into various scientific devices and instruments. The application of this technology is wide in the market. A GPS heart rate monitor is an innovative and powerful tool that enables us in measuring our heart rate and its exact performance. The GPS heart rate monitor is made with high sensitivity. There is GPS receiver in it, which regularly tracks and uses around 12 satellites to calculate and update the real position. There is also GPS antenna, there is also wireless heart rate monitor along with the strap to tie on the chest, there are cadence and speed sensors and there is a battery made of up lithium ion and that can operate for 12 hours without any break and the battery is rechargeable.
The GPS heart rate monitor can be very helpful and useful for sportsmen. It is because it can measure heart rate, speed, distance covered, calories burned, altitude of the place, cadence and many more things. The GPS heart rate monitor can also give vital information to a person, such as where he is now and how far he has covered by distance.
There is also in built barometer altimeter, which gives exact elevation information and readings. The chest strap monitor helps in sending the heart rate data through wireless transmission.
There are many more facilities in GPS heart rate monitor for the sports trainees. Such as when the training is going on in urban areas there are traffic disturbances and other obstacles so the information and data can be confusing. Therefore, there are some remedial measures to tackle this problem. The GPS heart rate monitor has some innovative technology like “auto pause system” that can pause the timer when one get slow down due to some obstacles from a particular or prescribed speed and the timer resumes its function when the trainee moves up again in his real speed. This can help the trainee not to get disturbed about the data but to focus and concentrate on his performances.
Now there are various GPS heart rate monitor in the market with different inbuilt technologies having great features. GPS heart rate monitor is friendly and easy for installation and application. [http://www.fitzz.com/Heart-Rate-Monitors-C38.aspx?BCEX] FITZZ.COM - Personal Health & Sports Products - Home Fitness Exercise Equipment Online [http://www.fitzz.com/Heart-Rate-Monitors-C38.aspx?BCEX] FITZZ.COM - Personal Health & Sports Products - Home Fitness Exercise Equipment Online
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brad_Cra http://EzineArticles.com/?GPS-Heart-Rate-Monitor—GPS-Heart-Rate-Monitor—Guide&id=529752
