I did a long run on Saturday with my new HRM, a Polar A5. I ran a steady easy pace throughtout the run. My HRM was going crazy, jumping from 120 to 170, back to 90 then to 155. Anyway after I finished my run my average was 123. Is that accurate? Does anyone else have these problems with HRM’s. I dont have these problems when im on my trainer. Is it cross signals, a loose strap or something? Maybe my HRM is no good?
Most likely it’s just your strap not making good contact. Did you notice it sliding around at all? Were you sweating sufficiently? Was the strap positioned in the same spot as when you’re on the trainer?
123 is likely not an accurate average, depending on how often the monitor was jumping around like that.
Make sure you have a good conection between your strap and your body. Put some saliva on the sensors on the strap before you get a good sweat going and you wont have the problem you expierenced
There might be many things going on. First, the chest strap might not be put on correctly so it sometimes gets out of contact with your skin, and misses a few beats, this happens to be sometimes while cycling, but it could happen too if youre running, especially if youre breathing hard. The other is interference from another monitor. The other, and least likely is cardiac arhythmia. Check the chest strap first, thats usually the prob w/ the ones ive used
Accuracy? You don’t need accuracy from a heart rate watch, what you want is unreliability, paranoia and intrigue.
I use a heart rate monitor by Sports Instruments. Here’s how by BPM works during a 60% MHR recovery run. My max is 182. Start running: 153…162… Stay at 162 for first 2 miles. Eventually, my beats per minute will get down to 140, 142, 143 and stay there a bit when I get settled down.
Then, out from nowhwere, my beats per minute will invariably become stuck on a number: 79…79…79…for about 10 minutes…or 76…76…76…“what the hell?” Then, 15 minutes later, 133…133…142…staying at 142 most all the way. Back to normal. It does the 79 BPM every running session for about 10 minutes. I’ve looked around and seen no other joggers or bikers in the vicinity; there is a power line up there, but it didn’t mess with it on the start up or before and I had been running under it with a 142.
So, I’m all ready to blame this on “other electronic interference,” right or the watch? but when I was reading a book by a HRM running expert he says, sometimes, when you get a bizarre rate number, THAT MIGHT JUST BE YOUR HEARTBEAT RATE. He explains your heart does wierd things from time to time and don’t freak out when you see these bizarre numbers on the watch. What did I do? Freak out.
Add that to the fact that this started happening at or about the time of the Chicago Marathon death, last year, which led to a bloody rash of death articles by the press about marathon deaths by otherwise fit runners. You just never know about that heart. You just never know about that heart.
So, I went out and bought a blood pressure device and got my cholesterol checked and so on. Went to my GP. Everything normal. But it still does it, so I don’t know. But I’m not throwing down 120-200 on a new heart monitor, if I do, it will be one of those Timex GPS things.
Well, if you get some really bizarre numbers on the HRM, and you think it might actually be your freaky heart, wouldn’t it be pretty simple to check? The old-fashioned way, I mean, by taking your pulse?
I’m not saying it can’t happen, cause I don’t really have any special knowledge here, but I would be suprised if your heartrate actually did drop from 143 to 76 instantly while on a run. I would be extraordinarily surprised, in fact.
Did you try the old finger to the neck thing?
<<Well, if you get some really bizarre numbers on the HRM, and you think it might actually be your freaky heart, wouldn’t it be pretty simple to check? The old-fashioned way, I mean, by taking your pulse?
SNIP
Did you try the old finger to the neck thing? >>
What the??? Vitus, this is a triathlon forum. Don’t you know that if it doesn’t involve exotic materials, batteries or take lots of dickin’ with, we’re not interested? Finger on neck? I don’t want to look like some low-tech single sporter. Next you’ll be telling us that we don’t need cadence sensors on our bikes. Just count your revolutions per six seconds and multiply by ten. Geeeezz Louise.
I have an aero carbon fiber seatpost clamp that saves me five-tenths of a second on a 40k TT.
Finger on neck…
Brett
(This post was not intended for the humor impaired)
cmon, t-wolf, I already admitted I was a poser once today, OK? Next thing you know Cerveloguy will be telling me how worthless I am or something. . .
my nike hrm reads half of what it should be reading right before I need to change the battery. It will do this for a week or more until it quits transmitting all together and I replace the battery.
Although this doesn’t directly answer your question, this is a wonderful article for anyone interested in using a HRM for maximum benefit: http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0006.htm
.
Were there any power lines nearby? Overhead or perhaps buried? One area where I ride has high-voltage lines nearby - they often interfere.
Well, if you get some really bizarre numbers on the HRM, and you think it might actually be your freaky heart, wouldn’t it be pretty simple to check? The old-fashioned way, I mean, by taking your pulse?
I’m not saying it can’t happen, cause I don’t really have any special knowledge here, but I would be suprised if your heartrate actually did drop from 143 to 76 instantly while on a run. I would be extraordinarily surprised, in fact.
Did you try the old finger to the neck thing?
No. I wasnt worried about the ticker, I felt good, im fairly young and healthy. And I have never done the finger on neck thing and dont know how to. I usually dont use the HRM on runs, its uncomfortable, and if I keep getting readings like that I’ll stop and go back to PE. For me the HRM is more valuable on the bike. I think the odd readings are from the strap slipping and a low end HRM.
ejs in chicago,
I use a Polar hear rate monitor. This same condition has happened to me. Over a short time the condition became more frequent and the readings became more erratic. I called Creative Health Products (an authorized Polar Service center.) They also just happen to be located a few miles from where I live. They indicated that this condition was common as the battery in the wrist watch or the transmitter became weak and suggested that I send my HRM in to have it checked and the battery replaced if necessary. I followed their suggestion and a new battery cured the problem. I also discovered Creative Health Products delivered outstanding customer service. HRM in one day and out the next!
I also purchased a “new” Polar HRM a few years ago, an upgraded model with additional features. I was having problems with it and suspected that perhaps there was a battery issue with it too. I contacted CHP about this monitor and was assured that the battery would not be “bad” after such a short time after manufacture. I continued to try and use this monitor but with no improvement in performance. Finally I took it in and lo and behold, the wrist watch needed a new battery! Guess what happened next. It began to work properly!
You can decide for yourself what you should do next. Sometimes you have to rule things out in order to identify what the real problem is. I just wanted you to know of my own experience with Polar HRMs and my experience with Creative Health Products.
You can reach them at 1-800-742-4478 or at:
If you do send in your HRM for testing/repair, be sure to send in both the wrist watch (receiver) and the transmitter. Either one may be the source of the problem.