Polar F6

My Polar A5 has been acting up. In the middle of a workout recently, I looked down to view my HR and it only read 60. I knew that was wrong because I was huffing and puffing and sweating like a pig. (Isn't that an odd saying, since technically, pigs can't sweat. They don't have sweat glands. But I digress, I have drifted off topic.) So after my workout, I tried everything I could think of doing to revive my HRM. But finally at 9:30, according to the clock on my cable box, I had to call it. "Time of death, 9:30." I closed my eyes for a moment of silence and reflected on all the good times. I bought it back in 2002 and it has been good to me.

I waited a few days before venturing online to look for a new one. I almost felt as if I was cheating but I knew she would want me to go on with my life. So I went online to Heart Rate Monitors USA and bought me an F6. It is very similar to my A5 but it is pink. I usually don't buy pink things but my choices were black (masculine shape) or this funny green. I would have preferred it a brighter pink but it will do. There is a brighter pink one for the F11 but it has more bells and whistles than what I needed.


I have used it three times and I am in love with it. It has a diary that stores up to twelve weeks worth of work outs. It will tell me information, by day, by week or a summary of all. But that isn't even the best thing. I can upload, for free, all my workouts to the Polar Training Site. Now, I do this on my laptop and it has a sound card and a microphone, both are necessary to use this feature.

First you create a user at the training site and download the free software. You enter your login information for the training site into the software. Ok, here is where it gets cool. You open up the software, pick up your F6 and travel to your files and there is a "send" button. Click "listen" on your software then place the F6 next to the mic and press "send". You will hear a screeching noise and that is normal. But when it is all said and done, your work out information will auto populate to your online training site.

You can add other information such as distance (the F6 does not calculate distance), free text field for personal notes and you can name the exercise. I name it the day of C25K. For example, the one for May 28th is labeled "W3D2". It also can set up training for you. Just tell it your goals and it will do the rest. I will probably use that once I finish C25K.

It is a great little tool. It also gives me a better idea of how many calories I have burned and I am able to determine my AP points more accurately. If you are a Weight Watcher user, you will understand.

W3D1

Okay I finally moved up in my C25K and it felt good. It was hard but it was good. Here are my stats:
Distance: 3.34 km
Duration: 40'38"
Pace: 12'09"
Calories: 458
Average Heart Rate: 144
Maximum Heart Rate: 182

I can't believe it there were moments (that only last a few seconds) but there were moments where I felt in rhythm and seemed graceful. There was a song that was about 13 to 14 minutes into the podcast that really had a nice pace to it. I also noticed that my fingers no longer swell when I run.

Afterwards, I did Yoga for runners for the first time. I read an article in Women's Running Magazine that mentioned yoga helps counter some of the stress caused by running and it also strengthens the core. I tried yoga once before in my life and well...I just tried it. This article has about 9 poses and one builds upon the other. They were hard for me. (Fluffy has a lot of fluff that gets in the way but I focused on my core and that in turn improved my balance.)

Tip:
I have read some threads on the Weight Watchers Boards about lacking a routine for working out and thus not working out. One of the things I do I learned from my scrapbooking hobby. I keep my post important tools in one area. I have this small chest on my desk in my bedroom. It sits next to my computer. It contains all the gadgets I need and use to work out, my IPod, my hotsync chord, my armbands for my IPod and Iphone, my HRM, and my HRM band. I also leave my shoes on the treadmill. If I go for my run outside, I still take my shoes off and put them on the treadmill. Knowing where my tools are is just one less frustration and one less excuse for not working out.