A GPS Watch and a Heart Rate Monitor

I have entered the 21st century! It took me a long time. So long that I view heart rate monitors and GPS watches as superfluous to my training instead of necessities like many others do. Training effectively is all about effort, and the only way to really feel effort is by spending a lot of time running different efforts. Eventually one can feel everything from the gut wrenching I-can't-eat-after and I-can't-believe-I-did-that to the I-just-got-passed-by-a-middle-aged-woman recovery pace.

My New Garmin 210

Waxing philosophical, I feel so rich. Look at me, yet another toy I didn't need. My wealth makes me sick to my stomach. Sure, I only spent $25 on this and the heart rate monitor, but people in Africa are dying because they don't have access to $25 worth of AIDS or Malaria or Tuberculous medication, not to mention just plain clean drinking water or 1500 calories a day.

I don't get it, why do the fruits of my labors make me feel guilty? That is a question I will not try to answer tonight. Tonight we celebrate the fact that now I will be able to measure the trails and my heartbeat. I will be able to do the 4x5k with 1k rest type workouts that are just not realistic on the track. Plus, this will give me proof of what I have done. I will Strava the hills of Dubuque and set foot and bicycle records left and right. I will get my heart rate over 200, or wear myself out once or twice trying. I will send it below 45 too. Tonight we celebrate the rewards of living in the 21st century instead of my relatives in the 18th and 19th centuries that could have never dreamed of the technology that we use daily. We are so fortunate.