HR monitor wacky during race
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Michele "1L" Keane
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Stephanie
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HR monitor wacky during race
A few weeks ago I ran a half marathon at Disney and was wearing my Garmin HR monitor. My HR readouts were INSANE!! I didn't realize until after the race that I must have been picking up readings from other people's monitors. Has this happened to you? The entire race I just ingonred my HR and figure it'll be useless to wear it during larger races in the future. Is this common?
Stephanie- Poster
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Re: HR monitor wacky during race
I have not heard of such. Mine did act a little peculiar, until I figure out the strap was sliding down my chest/stomach and giving me a funky reading.
ounce- Needs A Life
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Re: HR monitor wacky during race
Not recently; however, back when I had my first monitor in 2000 -01, it used to go nuts around some of the larger homes with security systems on this one route I ran.
Re: HR monitor wacky during race
Running past larger homes? Weird! Josh also ran with my Garmin (it was our relay exchange baton ) but he didn't have the HR monitor on and we have HR & foot pod data for his half of the marathon. I was very surprised that I was picking up others' HRs... that, or I have a max HR of 240.
Stephanie- Poster
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Re: HR monitor wacky during race
No one has a HR of 240 during a race. I'm guessing your HR strap was getting static interference from your top. Happens to me often when on the bike or if I run in the wind.
Re: HR monitor wacky during race
Ya I've had that happen to me too - it's a regular occurrence during the cold, dry winter months. Once I saw my HR was in zone 6.7 I knew something was up and I didn't look at my HR again.Mike MacLellan wrote:No one has a HR of 240 during a race. I'm guessing your HR strap was getting static interference from your top. Happens to me often when on the bike or if I run in the wind.
Stephanie- Poster
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Re: HR monitor wacky during race
Heh. Yeah, 240 might be a teensy bit high, eh?
That's happened to me, too, when my HR strap slips out of position. You'd think it'd simply show no reading when that happens, but noo...
That's happened to me, too, when my HR strap slips out of position. You'd think it'd simply show no reading when that happens, but noo...
Mark B- Needs A Life
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Re: HR monitor wacky during race
This happens all the time with the new-style Garmin HR straps and I'm fairly sure it has nothing to do with interference. I got so fed up that I went out and bought a Polar RCX5. I really prefer my Garmin 310XT, but it was no good for HR-based training. I have heard of two solutions:
1. Wash the strap with an anti-static fabric softener. If that doesn't work...
2. ...buy a Polar strap, without the transmitter. The Garmin transmitter fits and apparently works well. I intend to try this. I'm just a bit worried that, if it works, I shall have paid an awful lot for a strap :-)
1. Wash the strap with an anti-static fabric softener. If that doesn't work...
2. ...buy a Polar strap, without the transmitter. The Garmin transmitter fits and apparently works well. I intend to try this. I'm just a bit worried that, if it works, I shall have paid an awful lot for a strap :-)
Chris Coleman- Poster
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Re: HR monitor wacky during race
Thanks for the tips! I too have the 310XT. I will try the fabric softener first and if that doesn't work I will look into getting a Polar strap. So I just attach my Garmin transmitter to the Polar strap and I'm good to go?Chris Coleman wrote:This happens all the time with the new-style Garmin HR straps and I'm fairly sure it has nothing to do with interference. I got so fed up that I went out and bought a Polar RCX5. I really prefer my Garmin 310XT, but it was no good for HR-based training. I have heard of two solutions:
1. Wash the strap with an anti-static fabric softener. If that doesn't work...
2. ...buy a Polar strap, without the transmitter. The Garmin transmitter fits and apparently works well. I intend to try this. I'm just a bit worried that, if it works, I shall have paid an awful lot for a strap :-)
Last edited by Stephanie on Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:50 pm; edited 1 time in total
Stephanie- Poster
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Re: HR monitor wacky during race
Just found this link with details on how to swap out the Garmin strap with the Polar strap. I'm definitely going to go this route now. Thanks for pointing this out to me Chris!
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/08/solution-to-heart-rate-dropoutsspikes.html
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/08/solution-to-heart-rate-dropoutsspikes.html
Stephanie- Poster
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Re: HR monitor wacky during race
I tried it a few days ago and it works perfectly. I didn't need to spend all that on a Polar RCX5, when all I needed was the HR strap.
Chris Coleman- Poster
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Re: HR monitor wacky during race
That's wonderful - glad it's working so well! Is it as comfortable as the Garmin strap is?Chris Coleman wrote:I tried it a few days ago and it works perfectly. I didn't need to spend all that on a Polar RCX5, when all I needed was the HR strap.
Stephanie- Poster
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Re: HR monitor wacky during race
Better, if anything. But in most other respects I still prefer the Garmin. Anyone want a Polar RCX5 without HR strap? Buyer collects from the United Arab Emirates. Didn't think so. Oh, well!Stephanie wrote:That's wonderful - glad it's working so well! Is it as comfortable as the Garmin strap is?Chris Coleman wrote:I tried it a few days ago and it works perfectly. I didn't need to spend all that on a Polar RCX5, when all I needed was the HR strap.
Chris Coleman- Poster
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Re: HR monitor wacky during race
Thanks. I have both straps already and will swap now as the FR 610 is my new everything watch.
Ben Z- Regular
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