By using a heart rate monitor while you train, you'll know exactly what impact your workout is having.Unlike trying to judge your own efforts, your heart rate is a completely objective measure of how hard you're working, so you'll be able to fine

. During your second run you should get a higher maximum reading than with any other method – although you or a helper should use a heart rate monitor to take readings throughout the interval, because your pulse may peak before the finish.

Untitled DocumentThe Runner's World Personal Best Awards aim to recognise and reward the products and services that have helped make your running so enjoyable and enriching.This year, to accommodate the Heroes of Running Awards, we had Awards

prone to injury? -->How can I spread my weightloss?Does a faster runner burn more calories?Can a heart rate monitor help me lose weight? -->When I run more I eat more. How can I lose weight? -->I've lost 8st through running. Now I'd like to build up

, without these major stressors, that I can see how they contributed.There are various theories, but the best advice I was given was to monitor and score a variety of "overtraining markers" each day; resting heart rate is only one of them. Things like stress

pace I was running on average 8:33 minute miles (current marathon pace plus 30 secs), but my HR was way lower than expected: average 145 BPM over an undulating route.Thought it might be the cold playing up with the Heart Rate Monitor (HRM

. Most runners try to run too hard on the way up, are spent by the time they reach the peak, and have to take a breather on the descent. Your goal should be to maintain equal effort both up and down the hill, and on level ground. With a heart-rate