Alameda Runners – Get After It!

With all of the training we have been doing at new venues lately, it is getting hard to keep track of the distance run without a GPS heart rate monitor (HRM).  I am now in the market for another GPS HRM.  Here are my thoughts and decision making process on which HRM to purchase for myself.

I have a love/hate relationship with the Garmin 405.  The controls are so frustrating, I am sure that it would be on the bottom of the San Francisco b=Bay if it did not cost so much.
Polar Accurex II for every day use.  It is nice and simple with 3 buttons.
Polar F55 snazzy heart rate monitor that I use for long days because of the calorie counter feature.
Timex Ironman Race Trainer –  I don’t know where it is located.  I wonder why?
Full HRM reviews can be found here.

I bought the Polar Accurex II long before Alameda Runners came into existence.  The other three I received as review items for Alameda Runners.  I need to find the Timex before I decide who going to get my hard earned money.

I will probably make my purchase from either REI or Performance Bike.  They are both good stores and they are a block away from each other in Berkeley where I can go make the deal during lunch.  The reason I go to either of these stores with confidence is, I know that I am going to pay list price for the latest and greatest GPS HRM.

The players in my selection come from Polar, Timex and Garmin.  This should come as no surprise because they are all tops in their field invading the territory of the others.  It would be nice if they would combine their efforts for an excellent product that I probably would not be able to afford.

My front runner is the Garmin 410.  I hate the Garmin 405 as much as I love it but when I get it to do what I want, it works well until I touch the bezel.  Hopefully the have the bezel issues fixed for this version.  I hear the software works well but I use Linux and have one computer with MSWindows XP 64.  My operating systems are not covered by the software.

Next is the Timex Ironman GPS.  Timex knows watches.  Their screen setup is always good.  I already know I would need a new computer for the software.  I am not sure about being a beta tester for a $300 watch.  This is their first pass at GPS technology, so imagine finding bugs in the middle of a run.

Last on my list is the Polar RS800CX.  This one looks like the best of the bunch but it has too many drawbacks.  It comes in at $500.  It has separate parts for the GPS, HRM strap and watch band.  It looks complicated and comes with a disk.  Disks are bad for people who use open software.  It is probably the best unit overall with an remote GPS that can be strapped on the leg (good and bad) for use while swimming.  I don’t like the idea of the leg strap with batteries.  Batteries add weight and die fast.

Time will tell which product I select.  Knowing the emotional anguish that I go through when my GPS or HRM do not work after a 3 hour event.  I will research this selection thoroughly before I choose.