Just been given a Timex Ironman HRM (ladies version - ie small watch). Previously had a Ciclosport HRM, which I gave up on because it kept giving me random HR readings.
The Timex one is better, but still not great. Am I wearing it wrong or is it faulty?
Yesterday on my half marathon, it seemed to be showing the correct heart rate about 75% of the time. The rest of the time it was either way too low, or way too high (eg 70 or 280!)
I wasn't running close enough to anyone else for it to pick up their HR reading, if they were wearing a monitor.
So, is it me?
Is the product likely to be faulty?
I wet the sensors before putting it on, but, ladies, where exactly do you wear the strap? Do you jam it right up under your boobs (sorry, lads!) or do you wear it a bit lower?
Any advice before I send it back?
Cheers!
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And jam it right under your boobs.....
I suppose I should turn on the alarm so that it beeps when it's out of zone and that would tell me when it's wrong.
But it seems a bit much to me...
I also believe certain other electrical equipment can interfer with the signal.
It should only be the second you need to worry about as you seem to have it positioned about right. make sure the strap is faily tight and is wet with saliva before you put it on. You may need to tighten the strap slightly more than you currently have it, as if it moves around at all this can really change the pickup of the electrical impulses from the body.
I've been using hrms long enough to have an idea of how to help them work properly, as explained by David above.
I have another one on order, one that's been recommended as good by many. I'll see how it performs, but in the meantime I have questions about the reliability of the technology.
I actually called Timex up and they were really helpful. Basically told me to make sure that I didn't switch it on near anyone else wearing a transmitter (I was right next to my husband, who was wearing his Polar HRM when I switched mine on on Sunday, so it could have been that). And that I wasn't near any other transmitting source (eg PC etc).
Also said to make sure it was on tight - which it was. There's a fine line between tight enough to pick up the reading and so tight it removes the skin on the underside of your boobs, though
They then said there are some people (about 1 in 10,000) who just don't seem to be able to get a correct reading and need to put their chest strap on their backs or on their sides?!
Alternatively, it could just be bu55gered (loose connection to sensors in strap), but I'll try it again tonight switching it on while no other HRM in the vicinity and see what happens.
I have a lot of trouble getting the strap tight enough. I have it on the smallest setting and then I also need safety pins to hold it in place. I've tried wedging under my bra (sports jock) but this makes it difficult to breathe. Any other ideas for keeping the monitor in place? Maybe manufacturers should be making a smaller chest strap for ladies, which would be more likely to stay where it should?
I've also had problems when I've switched my HRM on away from other HRM users so not sure about that explanation. But I'm going to try putting the monitor on my back or side (if it'll stay up!) to see if this helps.
That doesn't sound very encouraging.
The guy from Timex told me that, apparently, only a quarter of one percent of all their products are actually faulty...
I do think maybe my problem is that I can get it to sit right, although it doesn't feel loose. I also wear a sports jock bra, and I do shove the strap as far under my boobs as possible, so it's actually above the band on the bra. Not sure whether that's right, though. I'll try my super compressing bra tonight. There'll be NO movement from that one!
If I'm still getting dodgy readings, it's going back and I'll see about that Polar one that Nessie mentions.
Maybe you aren't conductive enough.....
I've got Polar M32 (i think) and having similar problems. Keeps insisting my HR is in double figures (rather than triple) when im running. Eg. first long run yesterday after lay off. For a mile was OK-telling my HR was higher than would be normally, as I expected coz unfit. Then readings dropped to 131 and dropped further to 91 etc.Can take me a while to get a reading on it too. Had it less than a year and it worked fine for quite a while. Any ideas? Cheers.
I wear Sports Jock bras and (for me) the HRM goes directly under the band....any higher and it would be trying to measure boob-density not HR! Guess it depends on exact size and shape....!
You might also want to place the HRM slightly off centre (I have to put the centre of the transmitter slightly to the left) - no idea why but this gives me a more stable reading.
Nessie - the run I did yesterday was in the HEAVING rain, so I think there was plenty of conductivity due to sodden kit and sodden me. However, I will probably try that gel stuff, although the Timex guy didn't seem to think it would make much difference.
At least with all this worrying about HRM reading, it gives me something else to think about when I'm running. Ran a PB in my half marathon yesterday even though technically I should have been dead on a number of occasions due to HR in excess of 280!
Just don't get embarrassed asking for it ;o)
I've now been for two runs with my HRM positioned slightly to the left, sensors liberally covered in KY Jelly (Boots own brand version- they don't sell the conductive gel at my nearest branch- I don't embarrass easily) and with the strap under the band of my sportsjock bra - and its worked! The HRM seems to be giving the sort of readings I'd expect- no sudden 39 or 240.
Thanks to everyone for all the advice!!!
Beanington- how are you getting on?
I'll try some gel as well - when I can get to a Boots sometime.
I've just gone and injured my ankle now which means marathon training schedule out the window ((