Polar FT60, a Swiss Army Knife.

This is a review of the Polar FT60 heart rate monitor (HRM). I've been using the FT60 for about 4 months. Prior to using this HRM I was using a Garmin Forerunner 305, so I got the FT60 with the S1 foot pod to track my mileage. I was leery of the accuracy of the foot pod versus the GPS. This was quickly put to rest. My experience to this point is that the foot pod is actually more accurate and consistent than the GPS unit on the 305.

The FT60 is easy to use, once through the manual and the watch functions are pretty intuitive. The highlights of the FT60 are these:

1. Can be paired with the S1 foot pod or the G1 GPS unit from Polar.
2. Has a built in training program called STAR.
3. Doesn't look like you father's HRM

The fact that this HRM works with either foot pod or GPS is what makes it so versatile. This HRM can be used to for any outdoor fitness activity. Run a lot, get the foot pod. Bike a lotor are a triathlete, get the GPS.

The STAR program is built into the device is kinda cool. It assesses your current fitness level and after asking a few questions it builds a fitness program for you. Every Monday you get a summary of your previous week's workouts, and if you followed the STAR program, you get a trophy on the face of your device. I have yet to attain this, but it something to shoot for.

Some of you follow your own training schedules, but for those looking for a fitness program it is certainly a place to start.

As for asthetics, this watch is sweet. I have gotten numerous compliments on and I even had a non-fitness friend ask me where I got it on the "that's a great looking watch" factors alone. You can wear it working out, casually and even in dress situations.

In summation, as far as HRM's go if you are into all sorts of physical actvities, and don't really know what your want or need in a HRM, this is a great unit. You can just the HRM and then add either the foot pod or GPS later, or both. Can you get a device that provides more detailed or sport specific inforamtion, yup, but if you want a do it all and looks great doing it watch, you have to go a long to beat the FT60.

Endurance Sports Thrive on Social Media... Who'd a Thunk It?

Maybe it's through the enjoyment of what some would call suffering that thickens the bond amongst those who are endurance athletes. It could be that smirk and knowing nod exchanged between the runner and cyclist both soaked to the skin from plying their craft in the rain when most are knee deep in beer and chicken wings watching football.

Can you blame our non-endurance friends for thinking we're nuts? Well, having been one of those folks not too terribly long ago the answer is short, no you can't. However, after you experienced "it" (fill in the blank with your reason)sitting inside on that same rainy day seems absolutely crazy!

Fear not fellow "loons" there are a lot of us, and they can be found pervasively on sites like Twitter and The Daily Mile, a link to both can be found to right of this post. They will take you directly to my not so handsome face. Click at your own risk. But, if you fancy yourself an endorphin junkie, or want to be and you really want to learn A TON about it in a short period of time then click away. You'll find plenty of support, help, motivation, tough love, sarcasm and even some really cool give aways! I haven't really run across anyone that wouldn't want you to meet or exceed your goals and not get hurt doing it.

There is a wealth of information available to you (most learned the hard way by some very intelligent people) I'll give you a bit of a head start on Twitter with some of my favorites:

@hellasound - He's listed first because this list concept is shall we say borrowed from his 110 people to follow in 2010 list, and because of his rockin' tunes

@coachprs - He was Chi running before it was cool (or called that) and loves to help all levels of folk have fun and train smart

@ironbrandon - He has a passion for endurance sport like few I've ever seen and would help anyone who asks accomplish their goals. His podcast is informative and fun

@alitherunner - She's a regular mom running, and I'm pretty sure we were siblings in a previous life

@bemadthen @krystheilen @ragdoll_inc - 3 girls from San Antonio that should have their own TV show. Very funny!

@shootruntri - She video blogs her runs even the ones in -10 degree days or nights. I think the girl is part polar bear

@kelownagurl - She's Canadian, but will converse with us Yanks anyway. Always there when you need her.

@shutterbitch - She could be the funniest person I've never met. Just started following her, and feel somehow deprived for not following sooner

@landicefitness - They are a treadmill manufacturer that is really doing a good job getting their arms around runners on a personal level and they give away cool stuff

@brooksrunning - They are really good at this social media thing. They are a large company that makes you feel like you're the only one wearing their shoes. Awesome!

There are loads more people out there willing to help, finding them is half the fun. It is great to be reminded daily how social running is, you don't have to do this yourself if you don't want to. We here waiting for you!!

What are Your Goals for the TEN?

Well, in running terms I am a newbie. I've been at the consistent running thing for about a year. When I started running I weighed about 270 pounds. I lost 45 pounds in 2009 through running and better eating habits. I went from the couch to running a half marathon. I now have completed 3 half marathons, and I have some big fitness goals for 2010:

1. Run a Half in less than 2:30
2. Duathlon
3. Sprint Triathlon
4. MS150
5. 5k in sub 30:00
6. Race my first 10k
7. Stay Healthy
8. First Full Marathon
9. Represent Brooks Running with enthusiasm

This is the time of year when people do this sort of thing, write your goals down. Your odds go up dramatically when you write down your goals. Don't let another go by before you commit to your goals, fitness or other wise. Time goes by too quickly. What are your goals?

A big few weeks!!

Well, for me it was an exciting few weeks in my short running career. I was preparing for my second half marathon and was feeling extremely prepared to have an outstanding run. And I was accepted in the Brooks ID Member Program. Here’s what Brooks says about their ID Program:

Brooks I.D. stands for Inspire Daily. These two simple words guide the principles of the program. Brooks I.D. is made up of over 2,000 members who are active in their running communities and share a passion for the Brooks brand. They are runners who are winners in their own right: Winning their age divisions, accomplishing their personal goals, pushing their own limits, and, by extension, encouraging others to do the same. They are coaches, mentors, and leaders.

I applied for this on a whim. I certainly like to think this statement applies to me, however, I truly thought that a company like Brooks was looking for someone that performs at a more elite level. Seriously, I’m not even a threat in my age group… yet!

That said I have been inspired by their choosing me to be a grass roots representative of the company. I have never been more passionate about a hobby, and being an ID Member makes me very proud to be a member of the running community. These folks stick together. Do you know why? Because weather your marathon time is 2:10 or 5:10, the road to get to the finish line is the same for an elite or running enthusiast. You can’t get there without doing some hard work.

Thank you Brooks for choosing me, and if you’re reading this I ask that when shopping for your running please keep Brooks in mind. No other company is as concerned about the “regular” folks as them, and no other company is as environmentally conscious as them. I’m proof they listen to their end users on level where a 10 minute for 26.2 is still a great goal.

Now for the inspiration, I started running consistently last December. I have lost 70 lbs, and have never felt better. Before you say, “I can’t do that” it just takes a few simple changes, consistency being chief among them. Just get started 30 minutes (that’s giving 1 bad sitcom 3 days a week) a week 3 times a week. You’ll see a difference. I promise.

Now, back to that second half marathon, I felt really ready. I was going to hammer this run. My training went great, my food was spot on, my weight was down. I felt bullet proof.

BUT… Texas weather is always fairly unpredictable, and my wife and I were enjoying the San Antonio sites in the warm south Texas sun. We were both really hoping that it would cool down for the run. It didn’t. That morning it was warm and humid. I had no idea how warm and humid, but it wasn’t going to be a banner day for a PR. I found out after the race the humidity was over 90% and temps were touching 80 degrees.

I hit my first split dead on and was close on the second at 10k, but after that is was pretty much the death shuffle. Brutal.

But running for me has become an analogy for life. Not every run is spectacular and not every endeavor in life is successful. But, if you keep at you will have success. Every failure leads one step closer to success. History is on my side. Almost nothing great was achieved by trying it once or even twice.

Running is indeed more forgiving than life, and your mistakes can be erased in a matter of days not years. This bad half marathon will be a memory, probably after this weekend’s long run. I’m already looking forward to running another half, because I know I can do better and I expect better. And again much like life putting one foot in front of the other and inching my way closer to my goals makes me feel like a better person. So until the next starting line I’ll be a regular guy running.

Muddy Buddy plus a Dozen

My wife and I ventured out into the pre-dawn cool that often pervades a Dallas October morning, with a bit of apprehension. We were on our way to Cedar Hill Park south of town for our first ever Muddy Buddy race. It seemed like a good idea when I signed us up for it, but now that the day was here it was kind of an after thought. We are also in the midst of training for a half marathon, and that has taken center stage in our athletic endeavors.

Only one day earlier we had run our longest scheduled training run of 12 miles. Both of us were feeling the effects of that. The training run was the important thing this weekend. We both had a real need to see where we were in our training for the half. The run went well, for the most part, and gave us both an indication that we were thankfully on track there.

Now that the 12 miler was out of the way the Muddy Buddy was going to be a have fun thing, with no expectation. Just before we pulled into the park we had passed a number of convenience stores and my made the suggestion of stopping for a bio break. Did I listen? That'd be no. Well, as we pulled into the park, then drove another 5 miles to the parking area, we were both ready for a porta-potty. Which by the way were about a 15 minute walk fro where we parked. NICE! So after the pit stop we headed to the start line which goes off in waves based on combined. The sun was just starting to peek out which would have made the weather perfect, then clouds rolled at light speed and kept it pretty cold during the event. Which was fine until the mud pit. The mud was COLD!! George Castanza type shrinkage!!

Being Muddy Buddy rookies we didn't dress in a silly costume. Not tragic, but I'd recommend it. Yes it's a race, but it's a fun thing more over. We wore older workout gear. Again, not a tragedy, but throw away clothes are better. See silly costume. I liked the Muddy Buddy, and I might do it again, but I could take or leave it. I'd rather do the 12 mile training run, just saying. However, if you are a thinking about doing one, here is my don't be a total rookie list:

1. Enjoy the spirit of the event and wear a costume.
2. You WILL get muddy!!
3. Bring WARM water to rinse off with. (one gallon is not enough, 2 might work, but more is better, this per person)
4. Be prepared to toss your clothes (you probably won't have to, but...)
   
5. Be prepared to toss your shoes (you probably won't have to, but...)
   
6. Take a bio break prior to event site entry
7. Bring a trash bag to put clothes and shoes in
8. OLD towels to dry off with
9. Stronger runner start running first
10. Stronger biker start biking first
11. Old blanket to cover car floor/seat when changing, or be used as a curtain
12. Take off any jewelry you don't want to lose, wedding band and engagement rings included
13. The packet pick up requires both participants to be there
14. Keep your mouth closed in the mud!!

That's it. Now you won't be a complete n00b!

Training With Purpose, or Shut Up and Listen to Jeff!

Ok, so my wife and I are training for our second half marathon. This one will be a Rock and Roll race in San Antonio. Neither of us have ever done a Rock and Roll event, but I have heard good things. We're both pretty excited about it.

So after having done our first half in February and feeling seriously ill prepared in hind sight, I set out to find a new and improved training plan for this one. I looked at Jeff Galloway, Hal Higdon, FAST, Marathon for Mortals, Runner's World, Ryan Hall, well I think you get the idea. So, after much discussion we decided on a modified Galloway plan and we headed into the sun rise with our confidence high and our running shoes tied tight!! A few weeks in, however, I got the nagging feeling I've been here before and was getting that chill down my neck about being under prepared, which wasn't on my list things to do. Having trained from the couch to a half marathon in 10 weeks was no easy task. I did a lot of work. I also saw, in my opinion, very poor results. I finished in 3 hours, my expectation was about 2:30. It has bothered me since. Taking some of the accomplishment away from finishing.

Through a set of slightly unusual, but not crazy circumstances, a gentleman named Jeff Kline and I stumbled upon one another. Jeff is a endurance training coach, who I highly recommend. His website is here, Anyway, we started trading emails and the next thing ya know we had signed up for his beginner half marathon plan.

The mileage went up, the purpose of each run was spelled out, strength training was introduced and I saw ALMOST NO CHANGE in performance... for a month. Then it happened on a Sunday long run, I didn't feel particularly different. I didn't eat or drink anything special. No new shoes or gear or music, but I was running almost 2 minutes per mile faster and my heart rate was only a tiny bit higher. So after about a week of calling BS on Jeff's grand plan, I actually stood in the walk way to my front door after running 9.5 miles and not breathing hard, I said out loud to no one, "Jeff is actually right"

I walked inside and felt none of the prior tiredness and exhaustion of my previous long runs. It in short it felt great. For the first time since starting this round of training I actually thought I'd run a time close to my goal. I've got a month left to train and I'm really looking forward to training on purpose!!

Running ... again, FINALLY!

It's taken a bit, but I have finally gotten back to it. After running the Cowtown Half I lost a BUNCH of motivation. I didn't have a good run on the day of the half. I did it, but after that, I can't claim much.

I have FINALLY started running regularly again. Two miles at first, slowly, but 2 miles. Then that feeling I'd been missing for months crept into my body. Gotta love endorphins! I'd missed that feeling. I'd forgotten how much.

This leads me to another point. Something I'd never dreamed I'd ever say. I am a runner. There I said it. Now, there are those of you that have known me for sometime that are catching your breath from the fit of laughter you have either just finished or are still in. It's OK. I understand. There are days when that guy wins. The Buffalo wing eating, beer drinking, couch potato guy wins. He just got done with a two month stint of winning. But, it's the running guy's turn.

Yeah there will be days when it's raining and I won't want to get up early and run before my kiddos wake up. But, there will be no more two month stretches of doing nothing. I miss it too much. I need to do it. My family needs me to. They like me better, I like me better. So, thankfully, I am once again a regular guy running!!