New Running Toys!

In the last week I got two new gadgets to run with. Let me introduce you.

This is my Garmin Forerunner 305 with heart rate monitor.

This is a GPS watch that tracks your distance, pace, heart rate, and duration of your run. It stores all of your runs and you can even compete against yourself using your previous workouts! The heart rate monitor is much more comfortable than I was expecting- it sits snugly right on your breast bone...so for me, being a woman, that means it goes right under my boobs. I ran 8 miles with it last weekend and I forgot that it was there but it was awesome to look at my watch and see that my heart rate was staying around 150 beats per minute. The watch itself is kind of big and clunky but so far I love it!


This is my dorky fuel belt. It helps me stay hydrated on long runs :)

Yes yes I know it is dorky. I probably look like a real goof running on the trail with my GPS watch and this sucker strapped around my hips. Staying hydrated during long runs is important though and I cannot rely on finding a water fountain and I don't want to carry a bottle in my hand. Hydration is especially important for me because I get an awful upset stomach at the end of my run if I did not take in enough liquid...and I am not fun to be around when I am curled in a ball on the living room floor for hours with an upset tummy. So I would rather look like a dork while running then be out of commission for a whole afternoon after a run. The only complaint I have about this contraption is the bruise it has left on my lower back! Whitney warned me that it would give me a "slut bruise" (right where a tramp stamp tattoo would be) the first few times I wore it, but holy cow! The bruise is not visible but it hurts!