I might break down and buy a HR monitor/GPS unit

[KSH]

OK, I am totally against strapping more equipment on me but I think I really need to know what my exertion level is when I'm running.

I have pretty much figured out that my side cramp is based on my breathing. As long as I am breathing easy... I'm fine. Sure, that sounds easy enough to judge and I suppose it is... but sometimes I can run slow and breathe heavy. I think those are the days my HR is through the roof, for some unexplained reason.

When I race in my tri's... I need to keep my running at a 11-12 minute mile, so I can run the entire distance. Unfortunately, I never have a watch on (haven't found one I like) and I never really know how far I have gone. I think being able to pace myself will help as I move into longer distance tri's.

And before I get to the run... I need to keep my HR down on the bike. I typically set myself up for failure on the run, by blowing out on the bike. I don't know... maybe a HR monitor beeping at me will make me slow down.

So... what HR monitor/GPS unit do you suggest? I am looking at Polar because I can get a sports bra with the sensors built in. Although, that might not work in tri's, as I probably can's swim in it. Hhhuummm.

[Pika]

Hi KSH:
I am looking for something too- the garmin 305 look very very techie cool
I think LBTC and Wahine use them?? maybe they can give us a review
I have a HR monitor and like to use it but now I want more info- + we need something for DH, maybe that is the excuse I'll use to upgrade

also with the gps I could also use it for sailing- we could monitor the different legs of the course - it is sometimes hard to tell if tuning the sail has made any impact- since our stripped out boat does not have any techie gear- no knotmeter or depth sounder which we could have used when we ran aground hard during the race yesterday!!

[Wahine]

I have the Garmin 305. It took me a year to figure out how to use it with some proficiency, but now I'm in looooooovvvvve.

It is very techie, with a novel for a manual, but check this out...

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/user/h2odiva

This is the data you can get from the garmin about your workouts. Waaayyyy cooooolll.

[Offthegrid]

I have the Polar (cs-300 I think) and I like it although the wrist watch is big. I wanted one unit I could use for the bike and the run, and I didn't have a cadence sensor so this seemed like a logical option. Although now that I can actually run, I do wish I had GPS, but I can pretty well estimate the distance based on time.

The HR has been a big help to me. It lets me know I'm jogging too hard. On the bike it's horribly slow (and frustrating sometimes) to keep my HR low, but I know it's what I need to do right now. I don't wear it to swim.

As for the strap, I don't mind the regular HR strap -- I don't even know it's there. (I'm too big to wear one of Polar's bras.)

[MINIskirt]

I have the Garmin Forerunner 205, which is similar to the Garmin Forerunner 305, but doesn't have a HRM. I absolutely LOVE my Forerunner.

You can even set it to beep when you start running too quickly.

[HillSlugger]

I think that Polar's sports bra will pretty much take any heart rate monitor unit. Basically it's a sports bra that has slots that the monitor and straps thread through.