Running 2011

I started running in 1980 when I lived in Auburn. I've stopped and started five or six times over the years. I would say that I have been an active runner for about 15 out of those 30+ years. This current period of active running started October 1, 2006. What I like about running is it's effective, efficient, and easy. All you really need is a pair of running shoes and 30 minutes. Running also travels well. I've ran on beaches in Hawaii, the Arizona desert, and Welsh country side. But the bulk of my running has been near my house.

The reason I have ran so long is because I've used a heart monitor from almost the very beginning. I got my first heart monitor from DAK in 1982. What a heart monitor does is stop me from exercising TOO hard and avoid getting burned out. I don't care about how fast I run. I run at whatever pace that keeps my heart in the 'target zone' (70-75% of your maximum heart rate of 220 minus your age). That 1st DAK monitor was a digital watch that you activated by putting your finger on a metal sensor on the face of the watch. In about 5 seconds it started showing your current pulse rate, and would continue to update every few seconds as long as you held your finger on the metal sensor. That 1st one was tricky to read as I ran, but I could. The next few monitors used a chest strap that had a transmitter that sent data to a receiver built into the watch. They continuously showed my pulse rate on the face of the watch. My latest heart monitor is also the chest strip type, but it transmits to my 6th generation iPod Nano and not a watch.

The monitor snaps on and off of a washable chest strap. I can replace the battery which is nice since my prior Polar chest straps used non replaceable batteries. The Nano does not have a built in receiver, and requires a small device plugged into it (white rectangle in the next picture) . I mounted my Nano in a LunaTik watch band, so I don't wash this Nano like I did my 1st one. I had left that 1st gen Nano in my running short's pocket and washed it. I found out a Nano is not machine washable :-(

The device that plugs into the Nano is actually a dual receiver, and besides the heart monitor it receives the signal from the shoe sensor that I installed in my New Balance (NOT NIKE!) running shoes.

In the past I have used a holder that attached the shoe sensor to my shoe laces, but this time I cut a 'pocket' using my Dremel rotary tool. You can too. Just be careful, and make sure the sensor is a tad below the surface. I had it just barely proud and I noticed it when I ran. Another 1/16 of a inch did the trick. I cannot feel it at all now.

What I like about the Nano is it uploads my 'work out' data to the web, and will even post it to Facebook.

If you click that run data image it will take you to the details that shows the heart rate also. I really like that Nike+iPod tracks all my workouts. The Nike site will chart your progress and has challenges and groups activities you can participate in.

The Nano lets you set your heart rate target zone, but it does not alert you when you are above or below it like my old watch did. I think that is a MAJOR issue. The reason I wear the heart monitor is for it to nag me when I run too slow and caution me when I run to hard. If I press the button on the Nano the 'voice' says all the details including current heart rate and pace, but that really is not the same as having it beep in real time when you get out of the target zone.

All this technology is 'OK', but I have to say the fact that that I can't use the chest strap with my Touch is another draw back. Of course Nike, Apple, and Polar are in business to sell product so they aren't going to ever sell something that makes the ideal 'work out' companion. They want you to have a iPhone, so the Touch and Nano do not have a GPS. The chest strap does not work with the iPhone, so you have to have a Nano. The Touch has the receiver built in for the shoe sensor since it does not have GPS, but the receiver does not support the chest strap. Personally I think the Nano is the 'right size' for a work out companion. A future Nano might have a built in receiver for the chest strap and shoe sensor, but it will never have GPS. Nike provides the web side to track your runs. Nike needs the sensor so there is a reason for people to buy Nike shoes with the pocket for the sensor built in. I'm sure that soon Nike will sell the sensor built into the shoe and the external sensor will go away. That will stop non Nike runners from using the Nike site. Oh well, I'll enjoy the freedom to choose my own brand of shoes while I can. Come on Android!