Polar F6 Watch

[Miranda]

So I got my F6 today and immediately took it for a run, what a cool gadget. The green is a little loud but it is already growing on me. I wear blue Sidis, I kinda like loud. Of course the green will not match my pink helmet, blue Sidis or blue bike, I am a mess on matching. I don't care so I guess that is enough then!

I will have to figure out the HR training but I am really excited to see I burnt 368 calories, ran 33:10 and spent the whole time going hard. I don't think that is what you are supposed to do since it was sqwaking the whole time. Oh well, it is a tool for learning I suppose. I guess I should stop it once I am done cooling down, which is a walk and stretch?

Ummm, mine doesn't sqwuak as I permanently shut it up..."shhhh, ya lil taddle tell... you're really raining on my an-aerobic junkie party" lol. There is a setting in the watch to "shut off alarms". Actually, I think it takes the average fitness level for age, height, weight. If a person is more fit than average, those pre-set zones may not be right for you. You can use the "own zone" test, and put your own. If you got a book with it, they tell how to do it, amoung others ways to customize this. Glad you like it. The calorie burning visual is great. I don't know what the green looks like (too lazy to google now)... but I matched mine out by getting my wrist RoadID in pink. I just have pink on both my wrist all the time when I ride. I think it ties the outfit together.... "green wristed was all part of your master plan...", work it GF.

[teigyr]

Ama, you will love it!! I have the F11 which does not squawk because I told it not to. Before I knew what I was doing with the HR training, I'd just love to watch the calories burned number go up. I don't trust it but if I'm out and am at 700 calories and decide I want to go to 1,000, it still ultimately helps.

HR training has made a huge difference. I don't know if there's a book for simple people out there because if there was, I could've used it. I learned a lot by experience and a bit more from my doctor after he did a stress test. It's helped me do greater distance and it has let me know when I'm feeling a bit off and I don't have the mental fortitude just to realize it on my own.

Have fun!!! I still love looking my watch on Monday because it gives me the total calories burned and exercise time from the previous week.

[Aggie_Ama]

The "sqwaking" isn't nearly as bad as my husband's bike computer, good night I want to take a hammer to that thing. I may leave it on once I set my own zone. I run by myself and stopped wearing headphones for now (I like the sounds of the park) so it would be a good tool. Plus with the kids playing football/baseball and the park being on the semi-busy loop, there is even more noise to drown it out and many times last night I couldn't even tell it was beeping even though I was over my zone the entire run (oops).

The silly part? I had no idea what zone they were using, so I thought it was beeping because I was under my zone. lol I am so eager to see the times of my workouts, I brought the strap to wear commuting home. I will have to figure out the pause feature for doing organized rides with rest stops or maybe just let it go as a low period, don't know.

There is a book at REI for $18 might check it out to see if I want to buy it, otherwise trial and error will work for me.

[teigyr]

You could always look online to get a rough estimate of your zones. If you really wanted to, a lot of PT and sports medicine places have testing that will let you know what your specific zones are. I have the Triathlete's Training Bible, which I like, but it is really complex. Each time I read it, I grasp one concept. At this rate, I'll know what I'm doing in ten years

You have a fun and practical toy. You will have a great time with it!!!

[Aggie_Ama]

I figured out after my run what the zone based on my weight/height/age they had assigned to me was. I do think for my weight and height and probably in a slightly better than average shape so this zone may or may not be right. Tomorrow night I plan to program my Own Zone, if I have the patience for that! Also last night I got off work and just figured out enough prior to running to use it so a couple nights of reading up are in order. Maybe after that I will see if true HR training is for me, what I looked up this morning was way over my head!

I must say this thing is extremely easy to use though. I just pushed the button that the arrow marked on the face by the sticker (out of package) and put in the stuff. I didn't even read the book to program for me and then later I fumbled around and figured out the diary and file information. Which is cool since I didn't feel like reading, I wanted to play with it! I am not very good with gadgets, it needs to be pretty much I push the button and viola!

[jennecia]

Compared to the preceding model in the same series (Polar F4), the Polar F6 heart rate monitor has got much better capabilities to track and analyse the results of your training through the days and the weeks. It gives you a good picture of the progress you have been making.