Benefits of training with a HR monitor
happytofinish
Posts: 74
in General Chat
I don't have a HR monitor and don't do any of my training with one. I usually listen to my body and know if I'm working hard or if I need to take it easy.
What are the big benefits of using one?
I worried that I won't really utilise it the way it should be used as I find it hard to ease off when I know I can do more!
What are the big benefits of using one?
I worried that I won't really utilise it the way it should be used as I find it hard to ease off when I know I can do more!
0
Comments
I bought myself a polar RS200 and later on a CS 200 to stick on my bike.
If i think back to when i bought them i think i was planning to use them to structure my training around HRs, but it never worked out that way.
Whilst training i do look at my HR to see what kind of effort i'm putting in and then adjust myself to either work harder or lighter.
If your looking to count the calories when your exercising then the HR monitor will let you know.
One bit of kit i would thoroughly recommend though is a training log I started of using a homemade excel spread sheet then splashed out around £30 on a programme called iSMARTtrain. if your HR monitor is compatible then you can download your exercise details direct into the program.
Gives you a great visualization of how much training you've been doing.
Have fun.
I think it is really good. But i think it depends on how you train. If you are going on RPE then i think HR is good as it gives you an idea of what RPE is in 'real' terms - well it des for me anyway.
On my runs I try to keep it at a steady level and then look at the results over a period of time to see where I am improving speed against same HR.
I also found it very useful in my first duathlon - on the 2nd run my HR was way too high so I slowed down until it was acceptable, this enabled me to complete the race running as apposed to collapsing 500 yards from the line and getting a DNF.
Races, I don't bother personally. There's enough things to remember, I just stick to perceived effort.