When I was using TomTom GPS watch I had HRM chest strap. But that wasn’t best solution for me. Never liked anything on me which could in any way interfere with my movement. And when next TomTom arrived, cardio one, I was very happy. It was using optical sensor to read heart rate from wrist. That was great solution for me. But there was small flaw with TomTom watches – battery life. Watch is ok for activities up to 8 hours, so any longer ultras that wasn’t good enought. TomTom had to go giving room to badass Suunto Ambit 2. Long lasting battery with more functions but no HRM again. Cause it is supporting ANT+ just and I don’t like chest straps my options were really reduced. Option 1 – Mio (two models from which one was old and confirmed to be not accurate), option 2 – Scosche rythem+ (first model wasn’t great this one apparently not so bad). Mio you are wearing on the wrist where as Scosche on the forearm or arm…
Now I’m in the phase of testing it and it is looking very promising. Used it already with watch and mobile. With watch it is working via ANT+ and to sync ok it should be on the same hand. When used on the treadmill with Endomondo on mobile device there was no problem at all either via ANT+ or bluetooth. During couple days of testing I learned a little bit about myself. What is that new info? It looks like I’m almost whole the time working in the high level of heart rate. When checking graphs for my runs I could notice that almost 95% of length of my run my heart rate is above 155 bits per minute with average of 150 – 151. Even when running about 8 minutes mile.
Looks like I will need to learn how to relax more during running and to get my heart rate down. That should allow me to be faster in the long run. Now I have the tool to do that. Thanks God for Canada and US. You can get here equipment for resonable price.
Heart is not a servant
