HRM, starting out and boobs

Boo

28/11/2002 at 07:13

hi all,

i'm aware there are quite a few threads on HRT monitors which have been useful when i bought mine recently (polar 'wireless').

there are a couple of things i'd like your advice on though - very simple but i'm new to all this!

1) am i wearing it in the right place? (yes it is round my chest!). what i mean is being a girlie and having boobs, i can't put it across my chest like my male friend wears his. instead i have to fit it around my ribcage under my boobs. i mean this is really the only place for it - but is fact that it is not going across my heart make a difference to the reading? what do other female forumites do?

2) it says you have to wet the contact pads - i'm quite fair and don't sweat very much even when i'm running at my hardest (just turn a lovely shade of beetroot!). do the contact pads dry out over time? is there a gel or something that may be more effective than just tap water.

3) am i correct in thinking that as i get fitter my resting heart rate will decrease slightly too?

4) the HRM came with a chart to work out what HR you should be aiming for. for my age (25), it said i should be aiming for 130 - 160 to be working in the 'increase your fitness' range. i haven't a clue - so does this sound right?

sorry of all these questions, but i hope you can help.

thanks

The Evil Pixie pirate

pirate

28/11/2002 at 08:35

Boo!
I am getting a HRM for crimbo (how much was yours.. what model etc please!) but I currently use an older very simple model.
I stick my strap under the elastic of my bra (crop too style as I am rather large!) and this gives me the same reading as the gym machines which you hold onto!
HR sounds about right but remember that running will probably give you a higher rate untill you get fitter (my target rate is about the same but i run/wadle at 170-180!)
Yes your rates will drop with fitness to!
The orignal wetting should be just fine too!!
Goo luck and let me know how you get on!
EP

Dark Helmet

28/11/2002 at 09:05

My wife bought the Polar crop top bra thingy which has a special slot for the transmitter. It wasn't too expensive and she says it is much more comfortable than just using the strap. I have to say it looks good as well!

nick cooper

28/11/2002 at 22:11

On calculating your heart rate. I used the calc that they give you. 220 minus your age and then take away the number that you first thought of, but was not convinced. So I did my own measurement 800m flat out, 2 min walk, 800m flat out(info from running book). the difference was about 15bpm, which i think is a lot. If I had trusted the average calculation I would have been running slower than i needed to. I'm sure that a wise person would advise you to only try the second method if you are medically up to it.

Hope this is helpful. I have had great fun with mine over the last year or so. The best article that i have found was in "road racing for serious runners" isbn 0-88011-818-0

G-Sport

pirate

30/11/2002 at 19:52

sally edwards book on hrm training , i got from amazon has been an amazing help to continuously learning me.
no i dont get commission for the sales plug
best of luck
macky

Boo

02/12/2002 at 10:52

thanks for all your replies.

EP- i bought mine on e-bay actually (brand new). it is very simple which suits me. i'll have to double check to model though - i'll let you know!

MACKY - i'll put the book on my christmas wish list to santa - thanks!

Puffer

06/12/2002 at 18:01

Will ask my g/f later on this -she has had *horrible* problems with HR straps. Nasty sore marks after long runs and plenty of times when the crop top (& polar top) seem to lift the strap into the wrong place and she gets a rubbish reading and messes up the download to the pc.
There are though a couple of tops (nothing obviously different -to a bloke!) she can wear without any problems -it just took her a couple of years to find them!!
She always now also puts vaseline round the transmitter which does help as well.

Dangly Spice

09/12/2002 at 16:08

I put a dob of vaseline under the centre front of the monitor round my rib cage and underneath where the bottom of my crop top rubs as it is lifted off the skin by the depth of the HRM.
Good book is Heart Rate training for compleat idiots by John L Parker.

Dazzle

09/12/2002 at 21:49

There is a very good article about training with HRM's in the April 2002 Runner World. You will find it on page 62. It tells you all about the different target zones and how to determine your Working Heart Rate.

Hope you find it helpful. I did ,and I have been using a HRM for a couple of years now.

Mike Airhead

10/12/2002 at 17:25

I have used an HRM for a few years. Really useful except most HRM guides err on the side of caution and you find that if you stick religiously to the heart rate percentages that are suggested your training quality may suffer. Still, Im a bit old, so maybe this info only applies to vets!

ALSO... don't be concerned that you are having a heart attack whilst running near railway lines, telephone transmitters etc - these can interfere with your monitor.

Good luck - thank god I don't have the boob problem!

Alan Wison

10/12/2002 at 23:56

Thing that really got me going with my monitor was a book by a geezer called John L Parker Jr (guess what, and American) called "Heart rate Monitor Training for the Compleat Idiot." which pointed out how inmportant it was to build a really strong aerobic base before p-iddling about extensively with speedwork etc. Looking at my log, the guy was right, because I slowed down, chilled out, and took about a minute a mile off my easy runs within about 6 months. Highly recommended.

Debstir

05/05/2004 at 20:59

I've owned a HRM for a few years but only started training within my target zones for the first time last year, and in 8 years of running got my first sub 2 hour 1/2 marathon and sub 50 min 10K!! So I'll vouch that they work!

Muzzy

05/05/2004 at 22:33

Sorry Boo but you had to expect a pervy post. LOL

Know nothing about the HRM but am willing to help out with the boobs. ROFL. What seems to be the prob?

;-)

cougie

pirate

06/05/2004 at 09:54

I find licking (mmm) the transmitter seems to work nicely.

Muttley

06/05/2004 at 10:12

Muzzy, you're a bit slow with the pervy post given Boo asked the question in November 2002!

cougie

pirate

06/05/2004 at 10:58

Blimey Debstir - hell of a boing !!!

(quite apt I spose ?)

David Bennett 2

07/05/2004 at 15:24

Boo,

Agree with Cougie, gob is better than water on the electrodes. In fact its about the best stuff to use as you have a free portable supply of it you take with you :-)

Just don't lick a friends HRM strap if s/he doesn't wash it. Bleah!

djb

Puff

07/05/2004 at 16:15

Are all hRM transmitters suposed to be wet? I got mine from aldi and didn't notice it saying anything about it.

might explain why i'm not getting a reading from it though...?

Buney

07/05/2004 at 16:22

it helps to with conductivity

given that i spend a lot of time putting hrms on different peeps i think ill keep just putting them under the tap rather than lick them

can be a problem fitting them around chaps boobs too

Debstir

07/05/2004 at 18:39

I got my new HRM in the post today. Got the Cardiosport GO20 - it's a belter! Really good watch size cos I've got skinny girlie wrists and really easy to use. Try it out during the 10k I'm doing tomorrow!

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