A decade ago when I started fitness I wore a watch with a chest strap sensor, it scared the hell out of me because it was always setting off alarms so I binned it.

 

Now with the garmin watch there are so many other parameters I can look at, overlay graphs etc and gradually get to know my body and have faith in it, things that once scared me I now know when and why they happen so I can ignore them and concentrate on the real anomolies that I should heed.

 

Examples of the above, frequently within 200m of setting out with the group at such a slow jog I could equally walk my heart rate will hit 100%, I now know its like the boiler room getting up steam before the captain orders flank speed and you can clearly see that from the graph I posted, also when its very hot or very cold my heart rate will go up significantly as the heating and cooling systems are working overtime.

 

I can see the afterburn aérobic effect after exercise, after the sesion last night my resting heart rate was 20 higher than normal, through the night and it continues to be 15 higher even now, when I got up I could see that the calories consumed at rest from midnight were significantly higher than normal, thats the weight loss bonus of exercise.

 

I also get advanced warning of going down with a cold and even the CV19 when my RHR rises without any other reason, it nearly always is followed by a bug of some kind.

 

Sometimes I find myself just struggling on a run and I see that my HR has not risen as high as it should or it may drop off after an hour or so and I find i am struggling, both indicators that I have done too much before and am overtired (the thing is always telling me to rest 3 days after a session which I ignore) and then I know either to slow right down or to stop & take a break.

 

Not once under any of thes situations can I feel my heart racing or thumping out of my chest like it would through fright/adrenaline so the watch is a real benefit.

 

One thing that I have found is that vigorous housework like the cleaning and changeovers of my appartements is every bit as aérobic as running or a cardio class and burns as many calories.

 

Editted, the other important measure on the watch is that at the end of an activity it shows me how much my HR has dropped in 2 minutes, that is the most important measure of fitness and health, not some random figure like how many minutes to drop to under 100bpm which is pretty irrelevant if you were at 206 bpm.

Edited 18 August, 20205 yr by J.R.

On 18/08/2020 at 13:04, J.R. said:

at the end of an activity it shows me how much my HR has dropped in 2 minutes

 

i uused to love this metric...

at 16,17,19 i had a fitness assessment done at my nearby gym. the general cardio test was / is

-resting heart rate

-3mins standard exercise ( step on and off a step at a set pace)

-heart rate

-3 min rest heart rate 

 

my heart rate 3min post exercise was always lower than my initial resting HR. god love the poor gym instructors they could never figure out how my body did that. i always told i find exercising relaxing

 

you can do these on exercise bikes and stuff, and i always got "error, results outside of parameters" messages on them for the same reason..

 

i caused enough of a stir once that cctv cameras were checked. no-one believed that i could do the "100 floors challenge" on the step machines in under 10mins... it could be done - ram the setting up to the max level and just hammer it.

 

i miss those days when i do that... i couldnt run a mile on a treadmill, but could stair climb like an Ibex.. :)

 

 

Wednesday night... running when an Orange Wind and Rain warming is about to come into affect is tough. the extra layer of a light jacket, hivis, and still wet trainers cost me time..

 

 

However.. Friday night, my runners had nearly dried out, no jacket required, and so...

 

another new PB

i avoided time checking other than at the turn to set the lap. 

i was feeling pretty bashed on the home climb, so felt i was on a good time which pushed to keep the pace up. glad i did when hit the grass and saw my time

so last sunday night got bypassed as we were too busy packing for our break away and prepping the house for the bathroom refit. 

still incomplete due to factors but hey ho.

 

i had plannedomaking up for it during the staycation, but the roads around our holiday home were a bit too windy to running on in the dark, and... the weather was horrific a couple of days, and we were busy living out of suitcases etc and so time of evening was short anyway.

 

going tonight though... should be a horrible run after a week off!

so, i got to leave for my run at about 21:25hrs. gone cold and dark.

 

also, due to the storms during the week and increased flood risk the LA had put up a few of the lower land flood barriers blocking all access to my usual route. 

but equally the route i went instead is well street lit where the river side "Blue Way" is... not.

i have to google map it to see, as i ran to the same rough geographic location ust on road instead of by the river, but it may have been a tad longer by road.

 

anyway. . my time was. ..

 

26m 50sec. not quite meaningless, as this will likely become my winter route now. 

bp 2mins post run was about 120 according to a cheap app i downloaded. not sure what it was at peaks, didnt check.

 

i think a thread to find a good fitbit may be needed.

 

also need to get some decent under armour or something i think for the winter, it was a lot colder than it has been since i started running in july, but... still sweaty even though my skin was cold. 

 

we shall do some googling for the winter running.

 

 

interestingly, 1hr post run - after some food and a shower im at 95bpm.

 

Quote

i think a thread to find a good fitbit may be needed.

I picked up a sunnto spartan ultra for less than half price last year in black friday deals. I replaced the chest band tracker with a wahoo forearm.

 

In a way I'd prefer a wrist sensor on the watch, but it's already a beast. And if I'm out in rain, using the route/gps, I wear it over my jacket cuff...

 

The trade of like now, sat on my desk bike is I'm turning, but not logging. I did 30km yesterday morning admin session, for 300cal's apparently according to the onboard lcd. It didn't feel like either.

 

Quote

also need to get some decent under armour or something i think for the winter, 

 

Under armour is like audi is to skoda... it's overpriced. 

checkout: https://alpkit.com/collections/mens-legwear/products/koulin-trail-tights-mens && https://alpkit.com/collections/mens-merino-clothing for the chilly days. 
 

Edited 31 August, 20205 yr by ColinD

thanks colin, Ill look into those.

 

i just mapped the route i did on Sunday night, its 2.6km each way so 5.2km total. so my time wasnt as much off my pre break pace as i thought

also the fact its a bit hillier *not very, just more than the river bank ...* orobably added to the overall workout. 

im happy

 

so i got myself an arm strap for me phone. just a cheapy universal type, which was going to make button pushing awkward for the stopwatch. so i dug out the auld crivit sport (Lidl) heart rate watch. didnt bring the HR strap, no battery for it 

 

Ran the "Winter Route" again. 

 

26m 10sec for a 5.2km. 

 

Happy.

@ColinD

whats the fit like on Alpkit stuff? 

by measurements im a small, but itsborderline to medium.

i know tighter is better (to a point) for base layers, but if the fit is tight i may be better going med. but dont want it bagy either.

oh my god...

thursday was tough. i was tired after the week to that point. and running after a steak dinner it seems isnt a good idea.

 

today, its a worse idea to run after a delicious take away Steak and Pepper Loaded Fries. cramp at about 3k, and heavy running with it.

running at 930 at night also mightnt be a great idea... ahwell. push harder monday night after a chicken dinner..

running on Roast Ham loin, potatoes and veg tonight ... 

spotify started acting the 97ick and faffing with it definitely cost me time on the outward leg, hitting the turn in 13m 4sec.. i gave a bit extra on the start of the return leg to make back some if the time then realised after about 600m that i had hit the stop button, not lap button the watch 🤬🤬🤬

so i dont know my actual time, but i knew from "clocktime" when i left so  was able to ball park it that i wasnt far off 26mins in total. 

made me happy. then, while still annoyed with myself for the stupid mistake i had a sweaty epiphany. if my route is, by google, 5.2km so i turn at a nice big easy to spot landmark, and im doing that in just over 26mins....

 

yip, im running about 200m per minute. which means i need to run an exact 5k on Wed night, because i may have hit my original target of 5k in under 25mins by the start of sept. remember that i lost a week the end of August, so i think goal 2 may be awarded! ( goal 1 was running 5k without a walking stint)

just have to remember to have chicken for dinner wed... not steak...

Sorry, fit on all kit, erm it depends 🤪

 

if your right on the border, call them up, I’d go for the look your after, shrink wrapped or shabby sheek.

 

Can’t recall if it’s free returns. One hot wash and it all shrinks right 😱

ill have to get swmbo to measure me properly, and then see i think.

 

theyve no small or medium stock in the vaypor kit atm anyway, which seems to be lighter and softer than than the koulin gear.

On 07/09/2020 at 22:15, mac11irl said:

running about 200m per minute. which means i need to run an exact 5k on Wed night, because i may have hit my original target of 5k in under 25mins by the start of sep

 

Ffffffuuuuuuu........ it. 🤬🤦‍♂️

 

anyone know accurate the fitbit gps is???? and.... how to change it to metric?

still another minute to find..

figured out the metric swap. 

given the covid test development i wasnt really feeling like  a run but went anyway. and took it handy.

last night....

goddamit i cant crack 26 mins

 

i was too hard on myself

 

 

8 seconds per kilometer to find. holy god thats gonna be tough, considering tonights attempt hurt so much 😳

But you have lost 9" in height!!!!

Run much slower for the first 5 minutes, say 6 minutes per km = 10km/h gradually work up to your current pace in the next 5 minutes and then run as fast as you feel comfortable & you will probably do a personal best.

ugh. twas a tired day. and so ..

 

 

lost 8 sec/ km. i dont mind though, ill pick it up on Saturday

gick. thats how i would describe tonights run.

that horrible heavy feeling when your stomach is processing too many chipper chips and chicken. 

 

need to buck up on Monday!

 

@ColinD

Alpkit Koulin base layers ordered.

thanks for the tip and they curently have a spacesaver sale on incase you need any trail equipment

i couldnt face a run wed night, or friday night. something about 5 hrs broken sleep and 11 hr days out in the wind cold and rain put me off wanting to go running..

 

so i went tonight, in my new Alpkit base layers. 

ill do a post on them tomorrow.

 

 

not a brilliant time, but given ive not been out since Monday and that im knackered anyway i was happy. it was a solid run that i was comfortable with the pace i held throughout, so it was grand.

@ColinD. thanks for the tip!

 

Alpkit Koulin base layer tops.

really comfortable, snug fit, good price, teeshirt over it was alot less sweaty than usual.

 

trail tights.. really snug, but comfortable. i like the thigh pockets, hold the phone fully immobile during the run so not slapping off my thigh.

 

last night was the coldest run ive done so far, but my torso was just lovely and comfortable. hands were cold during the outward leg. legs.. could feel the cold air coming through, but it was alright since i was moving. 

 

 

 

 

need to clean that mirror.....

 

Arh the dreaded mirror shot

 

Hey at least you remembered to wear your kegs.

 

Glad they fit and you approve.

 

I'd missed that they had a thigh pocket, that is indeed handy, I tuck my phone... well it works for me No I have a little bag which to be honest I hate with a passion. I'd toyed with one of these wrap/cummerband things.  I tried the arm sleeve things and the wires just snag on brush, I have a common behind me and I like the lesser trails as they are roots and earth over tarmac.

 

I've also got to get a top as I've lost my quite old mountain hardware base to SWMBO.

 

I also use flat, or zero drop shoes like these from freet: https://freetbarefoot.com/product/freet-respond/

For me, as mentioned before they got me off the couch and running didn't feel as hard, yes a bit more painful on gravel but once moving, ok.

I have a pair of normal runners too for when I'm going on the fells as they aren't for running then, just light grip over boots.

Edited 29 September, 20205 yr by ColinD