HR Monitor During the Race

What distance are you referring to? I think a lot has to do w/ the length of the race you're intending to wear your HRM. The longer the distance, the more important/relevant the HR's are.

Brian Shea
www.PersonalBestNutrition.com

It's a sprint and it's my first one. It's probably a little overkill, but I like to collect information that I can look at to evaluate how I can get better.

It certainly can't hurt. I'm like you, I like to have info, data, all that good stuff. I would suggest trying out the HRM in the pool before race day, just wear your tri suit. Just to make sure it doesn't do anything funky. Don't want to find out on race day!

Good point on avoiding suprises on race day. I've tried the monitor out on an open water swim and it worked fine. I didn't have the tri suit at the time, but I can give it another test with the suit now. I can't wear it in the pool where I do most of my swim workouts because it ends up around my waist everytime I push off the wall. Actually, I could probably try it in the pool with the suit since I believe the suit would keep the water from pulling the chest strap down.

I agree wholeheartedly in using a HRM as a data collection source (if you've read any of my race reports you know I'm a stickler for the HR #'s!). My only suggestion would be to try and not look at the HRM during the race as the #'s you'll see will most likely be significantly higher than what you've seen in training. The last thing you want to do in your 1st race is know going into it that you're usually 'red-lined' in training at a HR of 170 and then when you're in T1 see it cranking away at 180!

With the athletes I work with, I've gone as far as recommending they place a piece of electrical tape over that portion of the HRM so they can't fixate on the #'s, but will still have the data collected when the race is through.

Good luck...see you at the starting line!

Brian Shea
www.PersonalBestNutrition.com

Brian,

Thanks for the feedback. I just checked out your IMFL race report. Awesome report. I just love seeing information like that. It's very useful to a complete beginner like myself to get some perspective from someone with some serious experience. The 145 HR that you maintained on the bike course at 21.7 mph, definitely provides picture of the differences! (my HR average in a bike workout is around 158 for 18.9 mph over just 18 miles)

BTW, cool site. There looks like a lot of info that I'll have to check out.

Brittain

I definately use my HR during each race. I agree with Brian that it's higher than "normal" but I use HR as just another "input" into my decision as to whether or not I should go faster.RPE is another "input" I use to determine my speed.But, nonetheless, I agree with Brian about the data. I LOVE and POUR OVER race data after a race!