Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner by Dean Karnazes
SUMMARY: I loved this book! I had a hard time putting it down.
Dean Karnazes ran cross county events in school and was failrly successful. He tried Trand & Field, but after a disagreement with the coach, he gave up running. Years later after his sister died in a car accident, Dean found himself running for 30 miles in blistered feet. He began to run again as a release. Then he learn about the Western States 100 Endurance race (100 miles through mountains). He raced a 50 mile race, and qualified for the Western States 100 race. He managed to drag himself across the finish line. He then tried the Badwater Ultramarathon, and 135 mile endurance race from the lowest point in Death Valley, to the Mt Whitney with temperatures reach 130 degrees. He didn’t complete it the firts year, but made it the next year. He goes on the run to a 199 mile 12 person relay race as a team of one (Team Dean).
Dean Karnazes is currently preparing to run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days (Endurance50).
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HR102 Heart Rate Monitor by Oregon Scientific
SUMMARY: The heart rate monitor works great. It is a great no-frills unit for the price. The manual is a little weak.
I have been using this heart rate monitor for a few weeks now, and for the most part I am happy with it. I chose it for price (less than $30 from Amazon.com) and because I own another piece of electrnics from Oregon Scientific that I am pleased with. When I first got it, I strapped it on, and start working out, and it worked great. The next time I went to using it, it didn’t register my heart rate right away but then soon did. The third time I tried I couldn’t get it to register my heart rate. I began to think I got a bum model. But after I worked up a sweat, I tried it again, and it worked. I began thinking the batteries were low, and it would only register my HR after it really got pumping. Then I read the manual. Lo and behold, I wanted to strap it UNDER my pecks, though one of the drawings looks like it goes over the pecks. Also, I wanted to dampen it, so it would make good contact. So once I started strapping it below my pecks, and dampening it first, it has worked great.
I tried to set it up to beep if my heart rate rose above 151, but I didn’t hear it beep. Maybe it was drowned out by the TV.
One thing I am concerned about is whether it uses a coded signal. I would like to use it when I run a marathon, and would hate to have it rendered useless from cross feed. To be able to store data, and download it into my computer would be cool, but I don’t know if I would get much use from it.
I may look at buying Polar with a few more features. But for now the Oregon Scientific HR102 Heart Rate Monitor works great!
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To learn how to train most efficiently on my treadmill, I bought various books. My favorite is Heart Monitor Training For The Compleat Idiot by John L Parker Jr. Using the book I have identified my max heart rate (192), my resting heart rate (~55), and calulated my Recovery Ceiling (151), and Threshold Floor (171). So I have been trying to work out on the treadmill, and keep my HR below 151. I have do a fast walk of around 4.2-4.5 MPH on the treadmill (incline = 4%), and keep my heart rate between 140-151. But as soon as I start to jog, my heart rate goes up. I found that if I slow the treadmill to 3.5 MPH, I can jog, and keep my heart rate below 151. I think this is caused by the extra motions in jogging suchs as arms moving more, body bouncing up and down more. So I am trying to figure out whether it is better to jog at 3.5mph, or walk at 4.3 mph. Which will improve my speed for a marathon?
Maybe I can walk on the slow days, and jog/run on the fast days. I am still learning.
My name is Rob, and I like to exercise. I practice/teach karate, and also study aikido. I am pretty physically fit, but am always trying new stuff. I plan to climb Mt Rainier next year, and also climb the 46 high peaks in the Adirondacks. I also have some other sites, including a travel site. I have been posting some stuff there, but decided to set up a separate site for fitness related stuff. This is it.
In my training to prepare for the Rainier climb, I have been working out on a treadmill. One day as I was doing a fast walk of over 6 1/2 miles at over 4mph, it popped into my head to try a marathon. The Boston Marathon is the big one, so I thought about doing that one. I saw it was in April, so I had time to train. I figured that at 4mph, I could do it in about 6.5 hours. But between now and then I could probably improve my speed. Then I saw I would actually have to QUALIFY for the Boston Marathon! I would have to run another marathon in at least 3 hours and 20 minutes for my age. Ouch!
I don’t think I am going to do that anytime soon, but I figure I can do a Marathon at least close to 4 hours within the next year.
I bought a Precor 718e climber machine for $50 on ebay. I picked it yesterday, and got it set up. I used it for a little bit last night, and definately felt it in my lower quads. This machine, I will use at most every other day to give the muscles a chance to rebuild.
I ran some on the treadmill. I wasn’t able to go as long or as hard last night. Maybe because I had already done an hour long Aikido class, and then worked out on the stepper. Or maybe because I cranked the incline to 10. Don’t know.
I also ordered a heart rate monitor. On RMI’s website, under conditioning they say to “keep your training range at 65 to 85% of your maximum heart rate.” But on the treamill, I basically have to step off of the belt, and hold the bar to get a reading. I am not sure how accurate it is. So I ordered a heart rate monitor with a chest strap. This way I can maybe get a more accurate reading while I am actually running. According to the formula for max heart rate, my max heart rate is 177 (220 minus my age of 43). When I was running, the treadmill had my heart rate in the 170s, maybe even has high as 177 or 178. Another formula has my MHR at 180.45 (217 - (0.85 x 43)). So I can’t wait to get the heart rate monitor with the chest strap to see what is happening in there. I find it hard to believe that I was at or near max heart rate as I was able to talk and sing along with my mp3 player was I running on the treadmill. Maybe my max heart rate is higher than what the formula says. I am already in pretty good shape what martial arts classes five days a week. The monitor is supposed to come tomorrow.
I am also looking forward to getting my DVD of Train To Climb Mt Rainier!
I will have to taper off my training a bit until next week, as I am competing in a karate tournament this weekend. I don’t want to be too tired or sore.