Heart rate monitor - first use

I used my new Polar H7 heart rate monitor on this morning's long run. It worked great, despite initially not detecting my heart beat. But once I began to sweat a bit, it connected up and reported my heart beat the rest of the way. I was glad that the Strava app connected to it without a problem. In researching this particular monitor, I had not found anyone using it with the same phone as I. But it's working fine with my Motorola Droid Turbo.

Heart rate monitor

I've been thinking about getting a heart rate monitor for awhile and finally ordered one last night . After a bit of research, I ordered the Polar H7. It's a chest strap model that can connect to ios and Android phones via bluetooth 4.0 (low energy). It also is compatible with Strava - which I've pretty much switched to from Runkeeper. I'll post more about my experiences using it soon.

Monday Morning Humor

Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon!

Well, the deed is done! I've signed up for this year's Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon held on July 11, 2015 up near Duluth, MN. I really have no idea what's in store for me, but am pretty dang excited. I think I have a runners high from just writing this post!

Strength, balance and running

In the research I've been doing on how to train for a trail run, one thing that has become apparent is the need to include balance and strength training as part of my workout routine. So I've begun incorporating the following in my morning workouts:

- squats
- lunges
- single leg balancing
- sit-ups
- pushups
- planks

I will be modifying the components of the morning workout as needed.

Training plan

In looking around the web, I haven't had a lot of luck finding a suitable training plan for a beginning trail runner. What I found was either too basic or way too advanced. So I've begun devising my own plan. The times for the later runs will need to be adjusted, but I'll have to do that later. It's not complete and will undoubtedly undergo many changes, but this is what I have got so far. At least it's a plan. Run on.

	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total Hours
1	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	90	60
2	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	90	60
3	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	90	60
4	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	90	60
5	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	90	60
6	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	90	60
7	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	120	60
8	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	120	60
9	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	120	60
10	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	120	60
11	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	120	60
12	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	120	60
13	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	135	60
14	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	135	60
15	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	135	60
16	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	135	60
17	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	135	60
18	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	135	60
19	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	150	60
20	intervals	CT/easy	hills	60	CT/easy	150	60

My Running Partner

After I started running again a few years back, we added a member to our family in the form of a very energetic Border Collie we named Bella. To help her burn off some of her energy, I started taking her on runs with me. She loved it and had no regard for distance - she just kept going and going. Our normal distance is 4-5 miles, but she's run as many as 9 miles in the same day! That was by accident - a run with me, a run with one of the kids and a walk around the lake added up to 9. She didn't hesitate to run the next day but I quickly realized that she had worn a hole in one of the pads on her feet. So I had to leave her behind for a few days and she didn't like it one bit.

Bella is 4 years old now and still has some good running in her. I do try to keep a better handle on her mileage so as to not overdo it. Once in awhile I will sneak out without her, but can usually find her watching me from the windows of the house as I depart. Talk about guilt trip!

Why do I run?

I've considered myself a runner for a long time - not a fast one or even a good one. But, I enjoy running and the benefits of training. I took a few years off after having back surgery in 2007 and thought my running days were over. One day about four years ago I decided that I should try to run again. I did and I kept running and kept feeling better and better. My knees, my back, everything felt great - my blood pressure lowered back into the normal range, blood glucose was great.

I've been running on the country roads near home for the past four years. I haven't really had a goal in mind, other than to improve my fitness. I have run a couple 5k races, but other than that just running 3-5 times a week over varying distances. I would love to run some races and just need to make up my mind to pick some.