Personally I'm not big on HR monitors, I just go by the "if you can hold a conversation while doing it youre ok method" lol. Also I use Google Pedometer to see the distance I have run. So far the most tech stuff I have gotten is a Zune but have been thinking about possibly getting a Garmin sometime in the pretty near future.

I bought a Polar F11 shortly after finishing C25K. Frankly, I only wear it ocassionally to track my HR. I think I expected that it would set my running HR zone and that I would be able to stick to it I think that we have plenty of time to learn what exactly is the experienced runners are talking about. There is an RA group for people who train at low HR. There are a few interesting links in there, including what HRs you should be running at for maximum benefit, according to the experts in that field. I measure my distances after I finish, using Google maps. I used to have a Nike + foot pod (my first gear), however, everytime I calibrated it, it went bonkers, so it was a bit pointless to use it. Although I'd like to know my pace as I am running, i don't think I'm ready for anyhing larger or more complex than the F11, which I still haven't utilised to its full potential

I started out with a Heart Monitor and a chronometer (Ironman Timex 50-lap Watch) I kept HR under 60% for the first several weeks. Then I bought a Gymboss for walk/run double timers (more Galloway than C25K) and walk/jog'd according to timers But now I use a Garmin 305 and I walk/jog again acccording to HR and the Gymboss. I walk the walk timer, then jog the jog timer until my HR alarm goes off, then I walk the remainder of the Jog portion and then walk the walk-timer segment, and so on and so forth. So it's more Galloway Walk/Jog, but it's reduced according to my HR alarm screaming at me.

After completing the C25K I treated myself to a Garmin 301. For a while I did not bother with the HR monitor but when I did I found that I was training way too high out of the 'comfort' zone. However, despite really trying hard to go slow own I have not managed to bring the rate down by much so I tend to abandon it and use the GPS which is a fantastic way of measuring the distance and pace. So, the conclusion is that they can be useful but with the bother of the chest strap, making sure it is damp before it is put on and actually having the ting clamped to my chest I feel better off without it! Just my 2 cents..