Really Old Pulse Monitor

1881 direct sphymograph
Apparently invented by E.J.Marey



No, I’m not running with that on my arm!
In fact this weekend – I will be running my race [Eugene Half-marathon] sans the Garmin. But I will be wearing a watch!

Advantages

• I can set my own pace. (Occasionally sneaking a peak at the mile markers.)
• Frees up my left hand. (It’s too big to wear on my wrist.) So I can give by-standers the High five.
• Won’t be distracted by scrolling through screens.
• Don’t have to worry about negative splits. (Well might do some math along the way.) “Most athletes perform better if they run the second half of a race slightly faster than the first half.”
• Less chance of getting mugged and robbed. Though I will still have valuables on me, such as a cell phone and mp3 player. And my lucky dollar.

Disadvantages

• Have no idea how fast I'm starting. (Must start slow…)
• Have no idea how far I’ve gone – if I miss a mile marker.
• Won’t be able to map my memorable run in Google Earth.
• No handy compass. Never know - might get lost along the way.
• No one will ask me, “Just how fast are we going?”

Trivia

• We owe the second hand on watches to physician Sir John Floyer (1649-1734), who used it to time his patients' pulse.

Above image - Wellcome Images - 2000 Years of Human Culture

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Tech4o Watch Review

Thanks Tech4o for sending me a running watch to review. Unfortunately, this review might be a tad biased as I already have an ongoing addiction with a Garmin Forerunner 305.

Product:
Tech 4 O Acelerator Pulse Womens Watch
with heart rate monitor chest strap.

Test:
Took it out on a 2 mile walk after I calibrated my walking and running strides. [This took a considerable amount of concentration - as I kept losing count of my steps and had to start over!]

Pro:

• It looks nice!
• Has a big number display.
• Comes with a 34 page manual.
• Has a power saving mode - you can actual put the watch to sleep when not using it.
• Chronograph mode saves up to 50 laps.
• Has a calories burned display.
• They have an online manual.

Cons:

• Difficultly setting it up. (And I’m very savvy with these kinds of things ; )
• Never did figure out Exercise History mode.
• It has 11 menus to scroll through.
• Heart rate monitor did not pick up until I returned home.
• The normal sensitivity did not work for me. I guess I don’t swing my arms enough. So took about a half mile to re-calibrate this setting.

Summing up:
I guess I'm totally spoiled with my Garmin Forerunner. I can glance down and see distance and speed at one glance. And best of all; I can come home - upload the data and goggle over my run in Google Earth.
*
Now if NIKE needs a shoe tested, send me an email. I just noticed I have 386 miles on my current shoes.
PS. I have a HM race coming up in 3 months!

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