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FT4
Jaime
I was a swimmer in high school, and went to state twice in breaststroke. 20 years later, though, I'd moved away from my home swim team, had two kids, and lost access to a pool that was condusive to swimming laps. In the past year I hired a trainer to get back into shape, and the only equipment she required was a Polar heart rate monitor-- I got the F4 so that I could also count calories burned. The most important unexpected benefit to owning a Polar watch was in being able to pace myself effectively. Before, whenever I had the chance to get into a pool to swim laps, I would go "all out" (trying to match the pace I remembered 20+ years ago), and would wear myself out after only about five minutes in the water. But now, with the large percentage HR display which is easy to read underwater, I can pace myself, warming for 10 minutes up at 50%, swimming at 75-80% for 30 minutes, all out at 90% for 5 minutes, and warm down for 5 minutes. This gives me an amazing feeling of accomplishment. Even though I can only get out to my local pool 1x per week (I have two kids under 5 and work full time), I feel my strength and stamina returning and know that it is due to being able to pace myself effectively with the Polar F4.
FT4
Steven
5 years ago I partial knee replacements in both knees due to a degeneration of the cartilage. I was about 30 pounds over weight and out of shape from the inability to be active. After the rehab I embarked in a lifestyle change that was fitness oriented. I completed 5 sprint triathlons (racewalking the run phase). It became obvious to me that cycling was going to be my friend :) so I made the switch to cycling oriented.In 2007 I completed my first century 103.5 miles in 6:46:25. Two weekends ago I completed a century 116.25 in 6:31:42. I have also taken up racing. The photo I have included was from a crit earlier this year. At the age of almost 50 the young guys end up taken it to me by the end but I like to think I can make them pay early. :) I race about 4-5 races a year seeing a steady improvement each race. I use my HRM almost constantly to monitor my training. I am about to do some off season testing using it to set up my training program for this off season with the hopes of doing well at the MN Sr. Olympics in June. As I have learned "a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step."
FT7
Roland
Life as we have come to know it is guided by our goals and objectives. Some of them are derived intrinsicly, others from the myriad of incidences of life. I had just completed 40 years of a career in education, from teacher to principal, and finally as the CIO for the of the largest school districts in the nation. I enjoyed my work and career but in the process neglected my own good health. I learned, first hand, that diabetes can be caused by stress. Long periods of inactivity lead to being overweight and not completely healthy. A year before I retired, I bought a bike, it sat for a year, After my retirement, i took the time to walk and ride. I learned that I had to set an objective to execise properly (stay in the range). My wife bought me a Polar system for our 38th anniversary to assist with meeting the ultimate goal, lose the extra pounds.This system has helped me stay in the range to execise properly. I have lost 15 of the 30 pounds needed for me to get in an optimal weight range. I am biking more miles steadily each week, even with challenging hills. I cycle and monitor regularly.My control of my diabetes is better than it has been in years. Kick starting a good metabolic rate takes work and the right tools. And my QoL is better than it has been in years. There is truth in the words" knowledge is power", "change is guided properly with good information". The goals are to regain my health and vigor; along the way use the right tools to to meet the objectives.
rs300x
DJ
Breaking my leg in two places was the best thing that could have happened. It was a wake-up call to recover, rebuild, and return to being a runner. I got serious about training, increasing my running mileage and racing in local 5K's. My method? Run as hard as possible. The method backfired on me after a Thanksgiving Day 5K: almost immediately after the race I felt terrible with flu-like symptoms. What had I done wrong? Overtain? How? I wondered how I could train smarter and thought of heart monitors, but remembered a guy saying, "You don't need that. Just run harder." But I felt like I was missing something. So I bought a Polar RS300X. The difference in training was radical: using the device, I realized how much I'd been overtraining. It spurred me to find additional areas where I could improve my training: diet, form, etc.This year, I ran a half-marathon—first one in 25 years. And thanks to smarter training, I rocked it, finishing at 1:41. Thanks, Polar, and see you out there!
rs300x
Jordi
News photographer and runner. Wants to stay fit but rarely stays in one place long enough. "I turned to Polar for help and teamed up with the RS300X. It tells me how hard to run to get the most from every precious workout. Following speed and distance combined with heart rate helps me improve my running and get fitter."
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WHY TRAIN WITH HEART RATE
00:02:45
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A NEW OUTLOOK
00:04:47
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ONE RUNNER SUCCESS
00:02:12
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