(Long and Less Long) Runs - 1/8 to 1/14

[colby]

I had a good run - a little over 5 miles with 20 sec form and 30 sec sprint intervals. My best pace was 5:41 min/mile according to my crazy large Garmin GPS/HRM. (No I didn't buy it, I'm not that geeky, it was a gift. I am geeky enough to say that it is a pretty cool gift ). I didn't even know that my legs could move that fast. So that was pretty enlightening. What isn't cool is that my legs are now putting out heat like hyperactive radiators and I don't think I'll ever go to sleep tonight.

Do you wear the Garmin on your wrist? Some of those GPS units look pretty large. I've debated between a nice HRM (like the high-end Polars) or a GPS unit (like the Garmins with HRM) before, but never really came to any conclusion. The Polar units seem to cram a lot of information into a tiny screen, and the Garmins seem big.

Nice work on the running. Hopefully your radiators died down and you got a good night's rest.

[KSH]

Wednesday: 4.20 miles, 44 minutes, 10:29 minute mile.

I was not going to run today, but the weather is BEAUTIFUL! Warm and sunny!

My legs were still stiff from Monday's run and I told myself I would only go around 2 miles.

I get out there, and decide I can do a LSD run. The backs of my legs were tight... and my knees starting hurting... but I pushed through it.

Even when I could have cut the run short, I did the extra loop to get in the extra distance.

It was a nice run and I enjoyed just being outside. With bad weather coming very soon, I like soaking up the good days when I can.

[Wahine]

Do you wear the Garmin on your wrist? Some of those GPS units look pretty large. I've debated between a nice HRM (like the high-end Polars) or a GPS unit (like the Garmins with HRM) before, but never really came to any conclusion. The Polar units seem to cram a lot of information into a tiny screen, and the Garmins seem big.

Nice work on the running. Hopefully your radiators died down and you got a good night's rest.

Colby,

The Garmin is HUGE. And I am not big boned, read - the monitor is actually wider than my wrist. So I carry it in one hand like a stop watch. I actually like this better - it's easier to see the data because I don't have to rotate my arm to see the screen and I have better access to the buttons. I use the garmin for running only and I mostly use it for intervals so I'm constantly pressing the lap button and changing mode screens. Although the Garmin is fun, especially for working pacing and speed drills, the HR information is in a tiny corner of the screen and is pretty hard to see, so I don't like that.

I also have a Polar S120 that I bought before I was given the Garmin. The HR information is much easier to read on the go so I use it for the bike and for my LSD runs. The watch is comfortable and the information on the screen can be changed from larger to smaller for different factors depending on what you want for that workout. For eg: for intervals I might use a mode where the lap time is prominent but for LSD I would have HR at the forefront. One word of warning about the Polar, if the battery in the transceiver (the chest strap) dies, you have to buy a new one (the last one I bought was $75) and if you need to replace the battery on the watch, it has to be sent to Polar to be done. Polar will not honor their warranty if you do it yourself. This is related to maintaining the waterproof nature of the unit.

Lastly, no matter what unit you buy, if you use it in the water do not press any buttons under the water or if the watch is quite wet. Even if it's "waterproof" moisture will get in this way.

I think that's enough procrastination for one day. Time to go swim. My legs are a bit sore from yesterday and I'm tired from lack of sleep. That'll teach me for putting off a workout until the later evening.

[colby]

Thanks for the input, Wahine. Your comments confirmed what I thought. Of course, that doesn't make it an easier decision.

[alpinerabbit]

One word of warning about the Polar, if the battery in the transceiver (the chest strap) dies, you have to buy a new one (the last one I bought was $75) and if you need to replace the battery on the watch, it has to be sent to Polar to be done. Polar will not honor their warranty if you do it yourself. This is related to maintaining the waterproof nature of the unit.

Ha, ha Wahine. They can't even do it properly themselves.

I gave both our polars for a battery change. DBF's came back no longer waterproof!! So another trip to the sport store; then Polar calls up my DBF to tell him they want him to pay another 50 bucks for a new watch casing, upon which he said the standard favorite "I'll only talk to your supervisor" and they ended up having to provide a new casing for free.

Apparently they had the monopoly on HRM's so long they are really arrogant.

[tattiefritter]

Newer Polar monitors come with the Wearlink transmitter which you can change the battery of yourself - just be very careful when opening the back that you don't damage the little slot that allows you to get a coin in to turn the battery cover (luckily I had another one). Its also a very comfortable strap to wear as its textile rather than the plastic.

My BF has a Garmin Forerunner and I'd never wear it as its humungous. I am thinking about upgrading my Polar S410 at some point this year to one of the Speed/Distance ones: possible an S625x (can use as bike computer too) or RS4000SD/8000SD. I'll wait a bit until the newer models have been in circulation for a while.

[tattiefritter]

My ankle has improved somewhat and if its wasn't so windy outside (60mph gusts today) then I'd be going out for a tester but I'll save that for Saturday morning.

The thing that bugs it most is actually driving, particularly in queueing traffic when I'm on the clutch all the time (its my left obviously) it really annoys it. Other than that its ok and I was slip sliding about in the mud pushing my bike up an unrideable (for me) short climb on last nights night ride and it was absolutely fine. So fingers crossed for Saturday and I'll look where I'm putting my feet!

[btchance]

Was supossed to do a spin class last night, got there in plenty of time to get a bike (it's crazy full w/ all the New Year resolution people), only to discover that something is wrong with the bike. Went to get a new one, there were none left. So I tried to figure out what was wrong, figured that out, simple enough to fix. However, they don't have the tool I need, and of course mine is at home in my bike bag. Tried to ride the bike, but quickly gave up as it was annoying me.

So, off to the track to run again. Got in a couple of miles at 9:05 -9:10 pace, and quit when the spin class ended. I actually need to run more so than bike, so it wasn't that bad of a thing, just annoying.

[alpinerabbit]

Hi Wahine - I was trying to be a good girl today - slow run.

I had an avg HR of 136 but it got boring . I had to run all available loops behind work twice to get up to 40 min. I could not make myself do a 3rd repeat.

And guess what: I feel tired! and I have PVCs. This is so weird.

[Wahine]

Hi Wahine - I was trying to be a good girl today - slow run.

I had an avg HR of 136 but it got boring . I had to run all available loops behind work twice to get up to 40 min. I could not make myself do a 3rd repeat.

And guess what: I feel tired! and I have PVCs. This is so weird.

Good job on the average HR. But WTF on the PVC's. Is it possible that you have an electrolyte imbalance? Doesn't have to be potassium, it can happen with too little sodium or calcium. It's possible that it could happen with other minerals as well but I don't know too much about those.

If there's nothing seriously wrong with you and it's not your electrolytes, you might want to try acupuncture. They do treat these sorts of things from time to time and apart from the cost, you really don't have anything to lose. Oh, in case you were worried, they're not going to stick needles in your chest. Usually in the arms, hands and lower legs.

Yes, running slowly is boring. I do drills sometimes on slow runs to break it up. And remember, you must run slow to run fast, Grasshopper.