Heart Rate Monitor vs GPS

How do you tell how far you run? Before GPS I used to pre-mark my routes on my bike, spray painting the road at 1/2-mile increments. The GPS certainly freed me of that task.

Also frees you to do intervals and tempo runs; I haven't set foot on a track since I started using one.

GPS also gives you pacing information in real time.

Best feature IMHO: I can upload my workouts directly from my FR305 to my logs here on BT in just a few clicks of the mouse. Can also map them out on the route tracker.

I'll speak a bit about the Garmin 305.

It's a GPS which will show you how far, how fast, and how much climbing you did.  But it also saves your entire training session at one second intervals. 

You get full charts on everything that you did.

Take a look:

http://connect.garmin.com/player/20833446

So they main benefits are that it's simple and accurate to see how far you have gone, the speed and the route. Also good for seeing improvements in these speeds and times on laps etc?

If your training by heart rate and time (ie not distances) do you really need it?

Edited by TRI G33K 2009-12-21 8:16 PM

For training, nope.  For racing, - ?
I know that i keep my pace/lap (for the current mile i'm on) displayed on my garmin 310xt when racing, and it is a great way to keep me on track for the race.

I agree with Bear, it's unbelievably freeing to have one.

I would say it's the most important gear I own.  I'd take a crappy bike and the 310 over a hot bike and no 310.  It's that big a difference in making the training count.

And don't forget, HR training is a bit of a fad.  It's cool now, and certainly will be around for a long time, but ultimately is "boxing" you into a rigid and thus limiting training methodology.  Just my 2cents.

steve

So if you don't use heart rate on the garmin then what do you use

I am going to tread lightly here since I work for Polar. I think in most cases , not all, HR should be the main feedback over pace, unless your on the track etc. I have a few friends who are chasing a pace and blow up in a race because their hr was off the charts.  Pace is nice to see improvement, or the opposite and signs of over training, I avg this HR but my pace was off 10 sec a mile.  I learn a lot from early season running races, I know my sustainable HR for a 5K, 10K etc, so when I do a local 13.1, I have an idea what HR I can maintain and hopefully it is a certain pace. If I chase the min/mile regardless of HR, I could crash and burn late in the race.  I also do a 3 mile running time trial once a month or twice and it is HR based but I do get my mile splits thanks to markings on the boardwalk and also from my footpod/GPS
If you can afford it, grab a device that provides speed/distance

Edited by WVarta.PolarRep 2009-12-22 6:03 AM

My swim training sessions are done by distance.  My bike and run sessions are by time.  I seem to see several training plans that are organized by time.  I also travel a lot, so I train in areas where I don't know any routes.  What I try to do during my training sessions is hit the intensities that are prescribed for that particular workout.  I use my HRM to help me with this.  My bike has a computer, so I get the distance info off that.  I was using USTAF America's Running Routes to determine my run distance after my workout, but since I got my Polar RS400SD, I have been wearing the foot pod.

I did use a GPS to train for my first marathon since the training plan was mileage based, but I sold it after the marathon.  I really don't miss it and I like the size of the HRM compared to the 305/310XT.  I had the Garmin 301.

Look at both.  If you really want GPS, then get it.  If not, go with a smaller, waterproof unit that will be great for the swim, bike and run.  I admit, I am a fan of Polar products, and I don't work for them, but they have always been good to deal with and the products are great.  I am waiting for the new bike computer to come out and keeping my fingers crossed that they won't be too expensive.  My eyes are having trouble with the close up reading and I don't want to wear my reading glasses while riding!  The new one supposedly has a larger screen!

No one NEEDS a GPS.  But I find it fun to have.  It helps in logging workouts to know how far I've run, and it's nice to be able to check my pace in real time.  I wear a GPS/HR monitor combo, but to be honest these days I run based on RPE, and just use HR and GPS data after the fact for logging purposes, and to monitor improvements.

I found a HR monitor to be great when I was starting out (i tended to over exert, having the HR helped me keep it in check).  Now I've developed a feel for my body, and find RPE to be just as good.

I like that I can lace up the shoes and just run.  Then later at home I can find out exactly how far I ran, what my pace was, and what my HR was.  It's all good data to have, for comparisons sake and to track improvement.

I guess a basic HR monitor plus bike computer would give me the same info on the bike, but with the GPS/HR combo it works on either the bike or run, and is combined in one unit that downloads to my computer quickly and easily.

i have the 310xt, before i had just a fr50 which is a hrm. 

the 310xt is a gps watch but lets me swim with it, bike and run.  for the swim gps doesn't work but it records the time, for the bike and run it gives me, pace, milage, and route. 

its not necessary i did a full year with fr50 but it makes things so much easier and fun.

and in my last 10k i used the 310 and was able to maintain a perfect pace as it is in real time and i know i was running at 7 mile / min pace.  it was pretty amazing. 

I started with a 305 Edge for my bike. I loved it and ended up taking the magnet  off the wheel and the speedometer/computer off the bike. I liked the Edge so much I started using it on my runs. I went ahead and bought a Forerunner 305 to use for running and bricks. Nobody really "needs" a GPS but it is a great luxury

It's almost sad, but I _do_ have a $350 watch on a $550 bike.