I’m searching, but still haven’t found, if using a metronome is legal in races. I just started using mine and really love it, its helped me so much in the few weeks since I started. So I want to know if using it in IMC is legal or not???
any one??? I can think that people running around you could get distracted or annoyed by the beep sound, but I have not been able to find a rule about this:
just train with it until the ironman, theres no reason the beep doesnt become ingrained in your head.
i have no idea about the ruling.
If it’s not illegal it should be! Why should I hear your beeping for 42km if we happen to be on the same pace? It’s a bit rude to presume it would be fine.
Ken
Yes, it is legal. If you want to confirm, email Charlie Crawford who is the head official for USAT. I did and he was kind enough to reply and confirm that I could do it. I used it for a few races including Arizona and Florida.
Yes it does but the question popped on my mind this morning, After a very hard ride I did a small easy run without the metronome, and at the end I was not being able to hold the cadence, mainly because my concentration was off. and I was thinking about the IM marathon!!! once I’m on the last miles and all power is gone and the only thing left is will… at that time my cadence is going to go to hell!!! And if I had the little thing it could probably help me concentrate and grab on to that.
I’m really impressed how such a simple thing has helped my running so much.
I agree with you thats why I ask.
COOL! Thanks! Did it help or did you just wanted to kill the little thing after so many hours of bip, bip, bip …
Make sure you tuck it in your swim cap and have it with you on the bike as well. Wouldn’t want that cadence to drop!
Do you use it on the bike??? I haven’t been able to figure it out on the bike, I guess I’m too uncoordinated… but now that you mentioned I will put my mind to work.
Khai was kidding. I hope.
The last few miles of the IM marathon are likely to be a sufferfest and I can almost guarentee the beep beep beep will make you want to throw it across the road. Plus those around you will want to throw it across the road. Get the cadance ingrained into you and take it as it comes on race day.
I was using it for all of my running at that point, so listening to hit was almost like listening to a mantra. That being said, I now have my cadence where I want it and am not using it anymore, just for the occasional tune up for my stride.
If you use one, just set it to low volume and have one that clips near your ear (ex. Finis: http://sports-and-outdoors.become.com/finis-tempo-trainer?&qet ). Back in the mid-80s Casio had a watch that had a metronome option and it was really irritating to run near someone who was using one.
If they allow this, why not an ipod with an external speaker?
I don’t get it. I rarely check what my stride rate is (with a watch) but when I do my estimate beforehand is always within +/- 1. If you run enough miles to do a marathon (or even a 10K), don’t you get a feel for it? Or is it just the psychological encouragement of the beep?
May I suggest you ignore your running cadence entirely. Just run in training. As you develop, your running style will improve and develop a natural cadance that most likely speeds up. No need to try to program yourself to something. I think some triathletes overthink running, because they make swimming and cycling training so complex, they think running has to be too.
But what will you do if the pace your metronome tells you to go takes you out of your target heart rate zone? Which technology master will you obey?
But what will you do if the pace your metronome tells you to go takes you out of your target heart rate zone? Which technology master will you obey?
Thats a good question: The answer is not simple but it goes something like this… your cadence should always be around 90, or your ideal rate, for some could be more (kenyans) for some less (very tall people) and the speed is determined by the length of the stride x strides per minute. So the idea behind the technique that I’m using and that I really like is to stay at a constant cadence and change the length for more or less speed, I’ve been working on it with the metronome and its magic! I keep my cadence at 88 (I will increase it to 90 one bit at a time) if I take short steps I’m running at a pace of 5:45 min per km and a HR of about 70 to 75% of max. If I increase the length of the stride with the same cadence my speed changes to say 5:00 min per Km and my HR goes to about 78-82% of HRMax. And the “TECHNOLOGY MASTER” is to keep your feet off the ground more time than the one they spend on the ground.
I’m not very good with words but more or less that is the objective… and the metronome is of much help to me
I haven’t been running for a long time, and my back ground is swimming. But my coach is helping me develop a good run, and to my surprise I’m getting good (or less bad) at it, I’m enjoying the process and I like it a lot (thanks Mike!) one of the problems that I’ve been having is the inability to hold a constant pace, and I’m using the metronome to learn just that. I’m sure that in a few months or maybe even a year or two I will not need the metronome anymore, or as said before, just for a fine tune. So to answer your question NO until now I have not been able to get that feel, but the metronome is helping me get it.
Probably by the time the IM comes in August I will not need it anymore, but today I feel so dependent on it that it bothers the hell out of me to think what am I going to do with out it???
Probably by the time the IM comes in August I will not need it anymore, but today I feel so dependent on it that it bothers the hell out of me to think what am I going to do with out it???
Then it is time to get rid of it for sure! Do you ever run without it? If not, do it, you’ll love the freedom 
Ken…please get over yourself. If it helps someone of lower ability, then go for it. You “elite” types really need to be more accepting.