Topic: Pro and Cons of the Polar F11
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Gary
AR
Member Since:
04/13/2006 Total Posts: 713
2.6 Years Ago
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At age 53 and 25 years removed from my last road race I am beginning again. At my present age I want to monitor my heart more efficiently than I have in the past for obvious reasons and one is being completely out of shape and overweight. I recently purchased a Polar F11 off Ebay and should be getting it today or tomorrow. I have gone to the Polar website and watched the tutorials. Those of you who have or had experience with the F11 I would appreciate your input on the pros and cons. One of the questions I have is how do you accurately find your Max heart rate? Thanks. |
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Re: Pro and Cons of the Polar F11
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TheSwordsman
IL
Member Since:
08/20/2005 Total Posts: 216
2.6 Years Ago
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Hi Gary. First a word of warning for others looking for Polar monitors on ebay -according to Polar, the warranties don't apply if you buy it from someone who isn't an authorized Polar dealer.
Anyway, I've had a Polar F11 since last May. Once you enter your height, weight, birthday, etc., it will use your age to apply the standard 220- formula to compute the upper and lower limits of your various ranges.
You can also enter your resting heart rate, and use the monitor to compute your VO2 Max.
It's a good monitor. Mine has "frozen up" on me maybe four times during workouts. If it happens, you push all of the buttons except the light button simultaneously, and it will take you to set-up mode.
I highly recommend the "lock buttons" feature for when you're not working out. A number of times mine has accidentally started recording "exercise" without the chest monitor on, so I end up with a twelve hour "workout" with no heart readings. Messes up the graphs.
Because of the "totally out of shape and overweight" thing, I'm going to avoid the maximimum heart rate question. The monitor will give you one based on the age formula, which isn't universally accurate but should be okay for someone starting out.
Good luck with everything! John
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Re: Pro and Cons of the Polar F11
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Gary
AR
Member Since:
04/13/2006 Total Posts: 713
2.6 Years Ago
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Thanks John, I did not know that about the warranty deal. I believe my ebay seller has a return policy and I might check up on that. Yes, it is sad that after running for about 4 years I just stopped for whatever reason and almost went dormat for all those years. I got the bug back and my goal is to train for a marathon eventually. Thanks for the F11 tips. |
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Re: Pro and Cons of the Polar F11
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TheSwordsman
IL
Member Since:
08/20/2005 Total Posts: 216
2.6 Years Ago
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Hey Gary. I've been working out for ten months, and you're still probably in better shape than I am:) Keep us posted on how things are going.
My favorite place to buy Polar stuff is heartratemonitorsusa.com. In the past, I've ordered online at five A.M. and had them ship the monitor the same day. Every time. They offer the lowest price that Polar allows, and then sweeten the deal with free overnight shipping. I love ordering something one morning, and having it delivered early the next day.
I'm taking a bit of time off due to an infection in my leg, but my new inspiration this week is that Lance Armstrong is going to run in the New York Marathon on November 5.
Cheers. John |
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Re: Pro and Cons of the Polar F11
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Gary
AR
Member Since:
04/13/2006 Total Posts: 713
2.6 Years Ago
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Hi John. Hope you don't mind me adding you to my friends list. I hope your leg heals and you get back to that work out soon. Lance must be an incredible athlete. I will definitely be watching the news about his running.
I am still waiting on my F11 to arrive. It has been almost a week since I won the bid. It appears it is on the way via US Postal Express. I still have a lot of weight to lose. My start date was April 11th and I weighed in at a miserable 244. I down to 239 now and completed my first mile without having to walk part of it. My VO2 Max is slowing increasing. I have a 5K as my first short term goal July 4th. My goal is to finish under 30 minutes. |
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Re: Pro and Cons of the Polar F11
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TheSwordsman
IL
Member Since:
08/20/2005 Total Posts: 216
2.6 Years Ago
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Hey Gary. Thanks for the good wishes. Everything's relative - if I got down to 239, I'd wear a cape and a t-shirt with a big "S" on the chest. I'm heading back to Golds today and see what I can do. Cheers. John |
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Re: Pro and Cons of the Polar F11
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Gary
AR
Member Since:
04/13/2006 Total Posts: 713
2.6 Years Ago
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Well my F11 arrived in the mail today just in time for me to take it out for a trial spin. It came with a 2 year internationally warranty card, so I guess I am ok on the warranty even though I bought it via ebay. It appears if my Max HR was calculated ok that even a slow jog for any length caused me to go beyond my 80%. I am more out of shape than I thought or my Max HR is set too low. I used the 220-age test and used the automatic settings on the F11. Hmmmmm, I guess I will have to play with it some more.
Good luck with your workout at Gold's John. |
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Re: Pro and Cons of the Polar F11
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TheSwordsman
IL
Member Since:
08/20/2005 Total Posts: 216
2.6 Years Ago
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Hi Gary. I hope you're right about the warranty - did you try registering it online? Lots of the ebay items are "New in box" but that doesn't mean Polar will accept it. I hope yours will be okay.
Remember that your body wants to get better, but you have to work with it, not try to force it to do anything. Right now the big thing is just getting out there consistently and doing something, and not letting yourself get injured or frustrated.
It's doesn't matter how far away you are from where you used to be. It matters that you can be better a week from now, and six weeks from now, and six months from now. Get out, make it a habit, be sensible, and good things will come.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Lao Tzu
"All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small".
"An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox".
"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading".
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Re: Pro and Cons of the Polar F11
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Gary
AR
Member Since:
04/13/2006 Total Posts: 713
2.6 Years Ago
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No, I have not tried registering online yet. I do have the plastic card. Live and learn. Maybe everything will be fine with the F11. My OwnIndex is a 37, which at my age, is barely in the good. I have set up a Normal1 OwnZone for my readings and according to that I may not be actually running until my OwnZone improves because it will put me beyond my HRzone. I guess I should trust the F11 and let time take its course and not try to do to much too soon. Thanks for the motivation.
Glad to see you visted your friendly gym yesterday. Good for you. How is the leg doing? |
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Re: Re: Pro and Cons of the Polar F11
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Terry
LA
Member Since:
11/22/2004 Total Posts: 168
2.6 Years Ago
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Gary,
You are right about letting it take its time. I have found that when I don't watch my HR and go according to what my body tells me it can do I end up working too hard so that recovery takes longer. I did a brick yesterday and my HR during the bike ride was in the 140's, right where I wanted it to be, but on the run even though it was slow my HR shot up into the 150's. After 35 miles on the bike, my legs said we can go faster, but my heart said keep it slow. So I kept it slow and I feel good today. That is what it is about for me. Be patient, give it time. One HR training book I had said give it 3 months of low HR training, or working at about 60% to train your heart. So you walk in your run, or more like - maybe you get to run a little in your walk. Good job and keep it up!
Terry |
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Re: Pro and Cons of the Polar F11
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Gary
AR
Member Since:
04/13/2006 Total Posts: 713
2.6 Years Ago
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Hi Terry,
I guess I am wanting to be where I was 25 years ago running 40 minute 10K's. Ain't going to happen...at least not now. My first 14 days ends Tuesday and I have lost 5 pounds and my OwnIndex has improved from 35 to 37. The first 10 days without the Polar HRM I tried to run to quickly. I did manage to knock a full minute off my mile in that time, but I was taxing myself to the max before I had to walk. Now, with the Polar the settings are such that even a little jog for a minute puts my heartbeat beyond 132. My calculated HRmax is 167 for my age and my zone is 116-132. I know I can run a mile without stopping but it would push well past the 132. I won't even have my first full month's base work completed until May 11th so I guess after gaining 50 pounds and not running for the past 25 years I am in too much of a hurry to get myself back in shape. I do however, like the idea of using the HRM though it will take some getting used to.
It sounds like you are in pretty good shape. I am envious. |
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Re: Pro and Cons of the Polar F11
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Gary
AR
Member Since:
04/13/2006 Total Posts: 713
2.5 Years Ago
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Hi Kathleen. Well, the primary issue is finding your real or as close to real HRmax. If you use what Polar uses it will be the 220-age. I have found out that my heartrate max at age 53 is not 167 per this formula. Mine is closer to 178-180. Once I have established that then Polar calculates the percentages for you in either acutal heartbeats or percentage. I really love my F11 so far. I have used the program to develop a 6 per week workout based upon my fitness level. It will give you a light, moderate, and hard workout schedule and those levels are based upon your HR Zones. I have also used the manual setting and set my HR for the 60-80% range because most of my workouts fall in this category. I am not fit enough right now to spend much time in the 80-90% range, but fit enough to workout more than the 50-60% range. Since 4/11 I have lost 9 pounds using a the Polar F11 as my coach. A great book IMHO is by Sally Edwards called the Heart Rate Monitoring Guidelines. You can find it on Amazon.com. It explains a lot.
I have found that by training with this method I can avoid training based upon how I feel and have a better chance of recovery and avoiding injuries. My goal is to run a marathon by age 55. I am starting from scratch so it will take that long for me to train for it.
Good luck and if you have any questions message me. |
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