Low HR Training

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Erratic HR Reading from Garmin 305. (Read 636 times)

wbr


    It has cooled a bit here so yesterday I decided to do an after work run. It was still hotter than at 7:00 am, and although it felt good, I sweated a lot more. My plan was to run/walk between 110 and 120 (my maf) for 90 minutes. After 2-3 miles, my garmin was showing my hr spiking to 160, 170, 180, etc. I knew from experience that it was wrong. Then I would slow down to a walk and it would stay elevated (on the garmin) for 2-3 more minutes and then drop from 160 to 115 in about 5-10 seconds.

     

    My question is do I need to use a lube on my chest strap, and if so, what kind? Or maybe does my chest strap battery need replacing? My garmin is 6 months old and I would estimate that it has about 100-120 hours of use. I remember reading about others having similar problems in another thread but can't find it.

     

    Thanks for your help,

     

    Bob

    jimmyb


      I've tried many things over the years, and have concluded that what works best is nothing. I put the strap on 10-15 before my workout, dry, and I find the readings are more stable. Your sweat is enough. It's important to keep it clean as well.I think the instruction book says you don't need anything.

       

      Other things that can make your readings spike:

       

      --cel phone too close to your watch

      --other straps too close

      --dying battery

      --actual defib problems with your heart (that can be ruled out by stoppping and taking a brief pulse reading).

      --extreme naughty thoughts

      --leash-less pit bulls running at you.

       

      --Jimmy

        Jimmy covered it pretty well. I find when it gets colder, my 305 doesn't want to act properly until I get warmed up. I've tried gels but that's too much trouble. Keeping the leads clean and a quick pre-run lick on the leads works perfectly for me. And yes - runners are gross. I'm no exception.

        "He conquers who endures" - Persius
        "Every workout should have a purpose. Every purpose should link back to achieving a training objective." - Spaniel
        wbr


          I've tried many things over the years, and have concluded that what works best is nothing. I put the strap on 10-15 before my workout, dry, and I find the readings are more stable. Your sweat is enough. It's important to keep it clean as well.I think the instruction book says you don't need anything.

           

          Other things that can make your readings spike:

           

          --cel phone too close to your watch

          --other straps too close

          --dying battery

          --actual defib problems with your heart (that can be ruled out by stoppping and taking a brief pulse reading).

          --extreme naughty thoughts

          --leash-less pit bulls running at you.

           

          --Jimmy

           

          Thanks Jimmy.

           

          --I don't run with a cell phone.

          --No other transmitter in the area. If someone were running with me at my maf pace, their hr would be somewhere between 35 and 75.

          --I will replace the battery and let you know.

          --I do the quick pulse thing for 6 seconds and it's always 12 +/- 1.

          --Naughty thoughts . . . I'll have to get back to you on that one.

          -- No dogs.

           

          And thanks C-R (Formerly known at Lowgear). Yep, I always lick 'em. My wife won't let me eat salt, so licking my strap in one of my few pleasures in life.

           

          Bob

          jimmyb


             

            licking my strap in one of my few pleasures in life.

             

             

            If you do it long enough does your watch moan?

              FWIW -  I strongly recommend smearing a little liquid hand soap on the leads and make sure the chest strap isn't too loose.
              ScriptCal
              wbr


                Thanks for the tip, Norm. But I'll pass on the liquid detergent for now. That stuff tastes awful.

                 

                I replaced the battery and then it wouldn't register a heart beat. So I figured out that I had to reset the "scan for heart beat" thingy. Now it's working.

                 

                Thanks everyone.

                 

                Bob

                wbr


                   

                  If you do it long enough does your watch moan?

                   

                  jimmyb


                    Liquid hand soap gave me a rash. Also makes the HRM move a little, and on a long run that can cause some chaffing.

                     

                    --Jimmy

                      Liquid hand soap gave me a rash. Also makes the HRM move a little, and on a long run that can cause some chaffing.

                       

                      --Jimmy

                       I've never had these problems - but everyone is an experiment of one.

                      ScriptCal
                      wbr


                        It was the battery. Everything's working fine now.

                         

                        Bob

                          I know it's working for you now, but as an FYI to make sure we cover everything, one other problem can be the thin metal contact on the inside of the battery compartment.   After recently replacing my battery, my HR readings were all over the place and up to 240 bpm when my max is only 180.  What happened was the metal contact was smushed down and flattened against the back.  So I pried it up a little so it contacted the battery better and that did the trick.

                           

                          Jon

                          wbr


                            Thanks, Jon. When I changed the battery, I did notice that the metal contacts appeared to be a little fragile.

                             

                            Bob

                              Hi all,

                              well my chest strap seems fin ally to have failed - its been hit and miss for a while but after changing the battery last it doesnt really work at all - Ive tried all the usual tricks but to no avail, so going to get a replacement.

                              Anyone have any experience of this soft strap version - would like to be 100% sure it works with Forefunner 305.

                               

                              https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=15490#productTab


                                Anyone have any experience of this soft strap version - would like to be 100% sure it works with Forefunner 305.

                                https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=15490#productTab

                                 I bought the soft strap chest strap and so far it seems to be working fine - no weird readings, and a lot more comfortable than the old one. I think I had damaged the old one trying to put a battery in the wrong way once - it was never the same after that!

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