heart rate monitor?

[hungrygreenhippo]

I'm thinking about getting the Garmin 205 or 305. I understand that the primary difference between them is the heart rate monitor. I've Googled and read a few sites, but I still can't figure out if or why I need a heart rate monitor. Any help would be appreciated.

For background, I started running around February this year. I'm self-training for a local 1/2 marathon in January then the Princess 1/2 in March.

 

[rKyDeX]

Why I use a heart rate monitor:

I like gadgets.
I like to obsess over data.

What a heart rate monitor does for me:

Instead of basing my running effort on on feel or pace, I regulate my runs by heart rate. It has helped me become comfortable with the fact that some days achieving a 9 minute pace is easy while other times trying to maintain an 11 minute pace is difficult even though my heart rate may be the same for both runs. My goal is to hit my heart rate targets I pre-determine for each run.

Your heart rate is affected by the condition of your health and by external conditions such as the weather and emotional state. If you are sick, your heart rate will be elevated and your speed will be less to achieve your "normal" effort. Likewise, high temperatures and humidity will cause your heart rate to be higher and so will running in the days after donating blood. I also find that "race anxiety" also increases my heart rate.

On the other hand, cool dry weather allows me to run faster while still keeping my heart rate at "normal" levels. The bottom line is that my effort levels are consistent even though my pace may stagger.

I hope this helps a little. If you have any further questions just keep asking.

Chester

 

[Steffwalks]

I have the 305 and DO NOT use the heart rate monitor. I have skin issues. It irritates my skin and leaves red marks for weeks and weeks. If I were to purchase again, I would just get the 205, for me and my skin. On the other hand, my skin is irritated by the wrong bath soap, laundry soap, laundry additive, shampoo, conditioner, etc!

 

[cdn_gal_eeyore]

I originally owned the 205, but a few months back I swapped with my mom for her 305 since she wasn't using her HRM.

Initially I didn't feel like I needed it. Now that I'm a bit more obsessed with performance improvement and have joined up with a triathlon group/coach I really get some benefit out of it. Coach will tailor a running workout for me, advising me to stay in a certain HR zone, or to run an interval in a certain zone.

It depends how much you like data and knowing the details of your run, and if you see yourself doing specific workouts like this at some point in the future. If the price difference isn't too much you can always buy the 305, but you don't have to use the HRM all the time. If you don't see yourself benefitting from it then the 205 works just fine.

As for the skin irritation...yes, I have some chaffing marks from my HR strap from when I ran a half marathon this past weekend. I'm curious to see what happens when I use it in a marathon..!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I've got a Polar HR monitor and got one of those long before my Garmin which I really love.

In the beginning, I used the HR monitor consistently. The reason I did that was to make sure I was training in the correct zone and keep myself from over doing it. After I have learned where I want to be in my training I've left the HR monitor behind. Recently I've begun packing it in my gym bag since the machines at our gym are Life Fitness and the Polar HR monitor will read into the machines and I get the info as I am on the elliptical, TM, or recumbant.

If you train within the recommended rate, I always push up to the high end of the recommendation, you will see yourself improving. If you are training above the recommended level, especially as a beginning level trainee, you will find that your body will not respond as well since it is being overworked and not maximizing the efficiency of the HR trainig, you are struggling too much.

 

[hungrygreenhippo]

Thanks for all the information. The replies were more informative and easy to understand than what I was able to find by Googling.

I'm still not 100% sure which I'm going to get, but I think I'm leaning towards the 205. It's frivolous, I know, but I like the blue of the 205 better. I also don't think I'm serious enough about running right now to want to deal with the heart rate monitor. Who knows, maybe by the time I'm ready for one Garmin will have come out with a sleek new model... 505?

 

[airtime247]

I don't know if you are a Costco member or not but they are having a special on the 305 for $159 which is pretty close to the best price I can find for the 205. If you think you may ever decide to use the heart rate monitor, it may be good to get the 305 now and just not wear the strap rather than to have to worry about buying and wearing yet another watch down the road.

I use a heart rate monitor and love it. It helps me to make sure I don't under or overdo it. It also calculates calories burned much more accurately than the exercise equipment I use.

I'm picking up my 305 tomorrow from our local Costco. It's also available on their website.

-steve

 

[Whiste Pig]

Check out the 405-very small-looks like a normal watch!