the Way of the Turtle

ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEING A CYBORG TURTLE...
9.1 Mile Run Along the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Wednesday, September 5, 2007

A while back I ordered a Sigma Sport Heart Rate Monitor from Nashbar (they had a good sale going on!) Once it arrived, I used half a dozen different formulas to calculate my approximate maximum heart rate (amusingly, all the results were within about 5 bpm of each other) and then set the low/high values on the watch. Unfortunately, nothing I did could get the unit to work! I was almost ready to return it when I e-mailed customer service at Sigma Sport USA - and they sent me a new transmitter, free of charge! That did the trick, and I've been waiting to try it out ever since.

Today's run was set to be relatively flat, so it seemed like a good time to give the HRM a try. And I have to say... it was an interesting experience.

Apparently my typical pace is within the zone I was looking for, mid-to-higher end aerobic training (ie. endurance, baby!) Once I was warmed up, I hovered pretty consistently around 80% of my max HR. When I stopped to walk, I typically dropped below my low value in 30-45 seconds. I also exceeded the higher level twice, when I was running up two of the steeper hills along the route...

I may try using the HRM during the marathon in a week and a half, to help me manage my pace... while the 12 min miles I was running tonight felt decent, I don't think I could maintain that pace for 26 miles... and I'm hoping to run the first half somewhat conservatively, to try and leave some energy for the 2nd part. I'll have to take it on some of my runs over the next week and paly with pace a bit...

It was a nice night for a run, though it got a bit chilly toward the end. Lots of other folks on the bike path, and the usual birds and bunnies. I was a bit surprised near the end when a deer burst through the bushes and leaped across the path - I knew they were there, but I don't see them very often (I suspect the path is usually too busy.)

From here on all my runs are short - 6 miles or so. I don't really feel ready for the marathon, so I'm feeling more than a bit intimidated... but all I can do is go there and give it my best shot. And if I end up walking a lot of the last miles... well, I've been there before!

JMH