Thank the lord–I am halfway through my training program!! My longer runs are getting easier, but it’s still difficult to get my booty to the gym with the wintery-weather mix… Spring is so close though I can taste it and I keep focusing on how much more I’ll get to train outside once the days get longer and I don’t have to bundle up to survive frostbite.
As for this week, this is what my tracker has me doing:
Monday: I ran 3 miles @ 10:20 pace; did arms/legs/abs
Tuesday: Rest Day
Wednesday: 4 miles @ 11:00 pace
Thursday: Rest Day
Friday: 2 miles @ 10:00 pace; arms/legs/abs
Saturday: Long Run Day: 7 miles @ 11:30 pace
Sunday: Rest Day
Though I’ll only be working out 3 days this week, I will be working it HARD, especially on Saturday. This will be my longest run so far so keep your fingers crossed my legs don’t fall off-haha!!
Now this is where you REAL runners come in: I have been on the lookout for a running watch/GPS/heart monitor for some time now, and I am just completely overwhelmed with all the brands- Polar, Garmin, the list goes on and on. What specifically do I need to be looking for? Sure, a Forerunner at $349 would be ideal, but with my budget, I just can’t afford an expenditure like that right now… any help or guidance would be sooooo helpful because I want to make sure I get something that will last–somewhere in the balpark of $150?? Please let me know what works/doesn’t work for you!!
I've been reading your blog for a bit but this is my first time to comment. You can get a Garmin Forerunner 305 which seems to be just as good as the newer version for around 150.00 at Amazon.com. Most of the healthy living blogs I read all use this version. I'm actually saving for one right now as well! Good Luck with your training!
Hi! Like the above commenter, I've been reading a while but haven't been commenting. Your training posts are so inspiring! I'm just starting to get back on track with working out. Do you have any workout music playlist suggestions? Thanks!
Are you looking for a basic HR monitor, or something that will track your mileage, has GPS etc?
This is just what I needed to read! This past Fall my coworkers and I started running and my sneakers haven't seen the pavement in about 3 weeks đ
So I've decided that you will be my motivation! I'm starting tomorrow đ
I completely agree with your training schedule.. running 3/4 miles a day is just enough when you're first getting started. I couldn't even run 1 mile and now I've reached 5 miles!
Good Luck and I can't wait to read more!
I envy your running! Although I'm finding I'm getting better at it I ran 3 miles on Saturday! That's as far as I've gone so far. Do you walk in between at all? Or straight running the whole time? Let me know what you pick for a heart rate monitor I've been looking into them too and didn't realize how pricey they can be.
Hey girl! I got my Garmin Forerunner on Amazon for $149…or was it $139? One of those! I got the 205 version (the one withOUT the heart monitor) thanks to my running buddies. I have running faithful friends who have both versions between them, and they admit that they wish they hadn't splurged the extra for the heart monitor because they don't ever use it. Why do you really need to know your heart rate? You don't. So go for the 205, more economical version off of Amazon. (I think mine shipped from Target.) I LOVE it. And right at your price range!
Good luck on your run on Saturday! I have some friends training for the marathon and I envy all of you for having that kind of motivation. I go to the gym 6 days a week, but I don't ever run that much.
As far as watches go– I have a Polar F6 and I love it! It's about $120 (although I won mine another blogger I follow) and it's definitely worth it. I'm not sure what all you're looking to track, but it's got a LOT of features.
You are doing awesome! Keep up the great work!
Good luck with your run and I agree with the other gals, a heart monitor is super annoying and does not stay on very well. A garmin is your best bet, or, if you want to save money, just figure out your minute mile. That way you know how many miles you are running without having a watch keep track. I actually had a watch and took it back because I figured out that my minute mile is about 13 via a treadmill or you can have someone time you around a track…hope you find what you are looking for! đ
My husband has the Garmin Forerunner 4O5 and he loves it…but he got his for Christmas and it was hella expensive.
I have a great heartrate monitor because I have heart problems and it is meant for running. I bought it at Target for maybe $5O bucks?
You are doing great!!!
And um, my garmin is freaking amazing. You can find the older version, the 305, for around $140-$150! It is nearly as awesome as the 405, promise đ
I agree with the others who say go for the Garmin 305. I received the 405 as a gift (thank god because it is super expensive) and I love it but I think the only major differences are superficial. The 305 is bigger which some people like better because there are more buttons, making it easier to use, and the other difference is that the 405 has a touch sensitive bezel instead of buttons.
Way to go! Good luck!!!