Half-Marathon Training Week 1 is in the books. I completed all the runs, but had some issues. My heart rate monitor is on the fritz. I noticed it at the 5K we did...how does one get 200 calories running 3.1 miles? The next runs were eh. Thursday, D and I were at the gym. He was running a few TMs down from me. I kept noticing my HR was not going any higher than 160, according to my watch. Considering it was a 2 mile run, I was trying to do speed. My heart felt a helluva lot faster than 160. Then it dropped to 87. WTF? I grabbed the water bottle, lifted my shirt and rewet the HRM strap. Yes, for someone who cannot change in a locker room due to modesty, I have no issue flashing an entire gym full of men. So, but .4 miles, I was pissed off, and told D I was going home. I went into the bathroom and pretty much doused my breasts in water in the sink.
Back on the treadmill. Stuck at 160. Worked fine while walking, sucked while running. I got the 1.6 done but WTF? Water was all over the floor next to me from where the water kept splashing off my strap/boobs/bra. During my cool down, I did get it to 170 by going 7mph on the treadmill. I know I'm not that freaking healthy.
Saturday, we went back to do 4 miles. Same shit happened again. I looked down the TMs and saw my heart rate reading on 3 of them. The gym got new TMs so maybe these sucked and had crosstalk. More flashing. The Personal Trainer giggled. At 1.85 miles I told D I was going into the other room (that is only 76 degrees, MY GOD turn down the heat!!!!). The HRM went up and stayed at 160, until I walked a minute. Then it went to 185. Every single time. I finally got done, but told D that without my gadgets I don't like running. (Yes, I'm one of *those* people, and you can lecture me 'til you are blue in the face...I will not run without my HRM).
Sunday, I meant to use the extra strap, but getting out of the house was an effort and I forgot. Stuck at 160 for 3 miles. The gym was 77 degrees so there was a lot of walking since I obviously wasn't properly hydrated for Bikram Yoga Running. I tried the upstairs TMs as there was 1 guy in the room on TM1 (he had TV1). I got on TM9 (I had TV4). All TVs were on HGTV. I changed mine to the AFC Championship. He huffed. I wonder if HGTV pays a premium for these things. I got .6 miles in before my HRM said 0. I flashed again, just to get it working again. Since I wasn't dead, I went to the other room. I had to turn on the game in there, although if there was huffing, I didn't hear it. I got home and D wanted to know why I didn't take the other strap. I forgot.
I put it on and went outside and ran up to the top of the street. Thought I was going to pass out. 154. Really? So, I'm going to try that one tonight, to confirm it doesn't work. If it does work, I will buy another strap. If it doesn't, I need to replace the Polar F6. I'm not happy. I don't like change.
5 comments:
Sorry to hear about the techno-dysfunction. Hope it clears up with the cheapest solution. Congrats on a good start to training. Cheers!
I'm with you on the "not running with gadgets" thing. Those HRM straps don't have as long of a life as you would hope and they are maddening when they start to go!
Sounds like your battery is going....if it is an old strap, you need to buy a new one, if it is newer, you can change it yourself. You can also wash the strap on delicate with woolite or dreft.
Bummer - sometime in my pregnancy, I lost my strap and it is $60 for a new one:( I keep hoping it will show up.
There must be something about sweating like a man that has to do with losing all of your modesty at the gym. I'm right there with you on that!
Ugh! I hate it when they have the heat turned up in the gym, especially the cardio room.
The Y usually has the temperature at 70 and even that is too HOT!
That's why I quit the Y and saved money for a treadmill at home. LOVE IT!!
By the way, you are tagged in my latest post. :)
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