Once a tool for serious athletes, heart rate monitoring has increased in popularity over the years and is now entering the mainstream—thanks in part to companies like Apple, Microsoft and even Victoria Secret (yes it’s true!), coming out with accessible heart rate monitoring products.

However the question still remains, now that your heart rate is easier than ever to continuously monitor during exercise…should you?

We certainly think so! Here are 4 reasons why:

hello-my-name-is-printable 1. It’s a personalized way to train. Whether training for a race or simply hitting the roads for fun, most people default to running by either perceived effort or by an un-personalized pace dictated from an overly generalized training plan. Everyone is unique and running based on heart rate makes your workouts customized to your body.

 

Screen Shot 2014-12-05 at 9.55.04 AM 2. It helps you adjust based on environmental factors. Summertime might bring you hot humid days, while the fall delivers cool crisp weather all through the day. With variations in weather and other environmental factors, it’s important to remember that not all 10-minute paced miles are created equal. Running by heart rate, as opposed to pace, helps ensure you adjust the pace as necessary when your surroundings evolve throughout the year.

 

Screen Shot 2014-12-05 at 10.10.04 AM 3. It prevents you from overtraining. Healthy exercise requires a mixture of hard and easy workout days, yet many runners tend to go too hard too often without giving their body a rest. If you find your heart rate is higher than expected (either during or after exercise), it could be a sign you’re overtraining—which eventually can lead to injury or overall physical and mental burnout. Monitoring heart rate just might prevent you from being stuck on the sidelines for weeks (or even months!) due to injury.

 

Screen Shot 2014-12-05 at 12.44.17 PM 4. It keeps you engaged and switches up your routine. If your fitness routine is becoming stale or you find running becoming tedious, trying something new can help keep you entertained during workouts and reinvigorate your mindset. If you’ve never ran according to heart rate, it might just be the oomph you need to get through your winter workouts.

Have you ever trained by heart rate? Does it intrigue you? Will you be getting a heart rate device in the future?

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