Comments on: Marathon Training for Nerds

By: TFG

TFG — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:50:44 +0000

I use a nano with nike and love it. I just velcro it to my shoe.

By: bk_runner

bk_runner — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:25:40 +0000

race tip: i have a reasonable pair of headphones i got for free, and i cut off one of the headphones so i only have one of the earbuds. that ensures i have music and can hear what i need to hear (not so much “on your left” but more like my niece cheering me on)

By: Zone99

Zone99 — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:06:18 +0000

I’m on my second timing device. I started with the Fitsense FS-1 which had to be the best watch I’ve ever used. It was angled so you could clearly see the display without turning your wrist, tied into an HRM and had a footpod to track speed and distance. You could also upload your workouts to a web site and it would track mileage on your shoes. Unfortunately, the HRM stopped working and I haven’t been able to find a replacement. It’s also very accurate.

I switched to a Suunto T4 and I’m close to getting rid of the thing. It’s not accurate at all and will often report 3 different distances for the same route. I also find the display somewhat dim.

At the recent Boston Marathon Expo I showed it to the Suunto reps and they appeared to be confused stating that theirs are extremely accurate yet myself and a friend with a T3 cannot get it to report correctly.

The last thing you want is your watch telling you that you ran 15.3 miles when you really ran 17.5.

I thought about the Polar S625x but can’t bring myself to spend $370 on a system where I can’t replace the batteries (the HRM is not a user replaceable battery….how stupid is that?).

I can attest to Bodyglide being one of the best solutions for friction problems, though. It works great!!

My running MP3 player of choice is a Creative 512MB Muvo TX FM and I’m working my way through Stephen Kings ‘Dark Tower’ series.

The Nike+ is a great idea but if you don’t wear Nikes…..

By: Charlie

Charlie — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:20:42 +0000

For those who want a PR or to qualify for Boston, I strongly recommend getting a Polar 625X and strongly recommend people running by heart rate and not by pace. My times improved dramatically, my splits were basically even.

For people who want to know when running shoes go on sale, check out

http://www.shopittome.com/running

Very useful.

By: Jeff Welch

Jeff Welch — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:03:52 +0000

Or for a cool semi-lo-tech solution (still have to have an ipod) try the Runner's Playlist Generator which takes your playlist and adjusts the end times in order to help with interval training.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:52:32 +0000

I’ve gone through 3 timing devices for marathon training and am currently using the Nike+/iPod nano combo. I briefly used a Garmin 301 and 305 but found them a little bulky and the signal kept dropping, even in wide open areas. Very annoying to hear it beeping to let you know it lost / regained signal.

I prefer Nike+ since it works really well, integrates music and tracks your runs online. You can also use it to challenge people to virtual races, compare times, etc. It’s also quite accurate after you calibrate it; I’ve run 1/2 and full marathons and it’s within 1.5% accurate, which is good enough for me.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:53:55 +0000

Hey, Has anyone tried Sony’s phone’s with pedometers. I am really interested in these but haven’t actually found a review of the phones from a runner. It would be nice to have pedometer, music player, and phone all in one device if it would actually work out.

By: John Biggs

John Biggs — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:38:05 +0000

@Ray – Century 21, baby. Only way to fly.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:31:24 +0000

Try the Garmin 205 – same GPS, but no heart rate monitor. I have been using the older 201 for years and love being able to create my own running path on the fly. Also try using just plain medical tape instead of band-aids for nipple chafing – much cheaper and just as effective (bloody nipples sure can ruin a good shirt)

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:58:15 +0000

Ray Bans? “discount store in Brooklyn for about $40″? Funny.

By: Jay

Jay — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:25:17 +0000

The Nipple Thing

Fabric Medical tape works best for me. It doesn’t pull hair (if you take it off gently), it does a fantastic job protecting, and no amount of sweat makes it come off. (I’m not talking about that department store tape for ankles, wrists, an such. Just the thought of putting that on makes me shudder). You can check your pharmacy for the good stuff. I got mine from my father after his open heart surgery.

By: John Biggs

John Biggs — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:23:38 +0000

Re: BRR – Marathoners – watch out for a naked, angry little man running a marathon near you. At least he won’t be a tool, though. He runs for da FLAVOR!

By: Mo

Mo — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:36:29 +0000

The San Diego Rock and Roll marathon was my first marathon too. I did it back in 1998. Good Luck!
I also run with the Nike+IPod and I love it. I wear Asic shoes and bought a little holder for the attachment that clips onto my shoelaces. It works well and I too love the encouraging words of Lance.
As for wearing earphones during the race (my race of choice these days is a half marathon), I do it all the time, I just don’t crank the volume so high that I miss out on what’s happening around me.

By: Lance

Lance — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:27:52 +0000

On the apple/nike nano…I’ve tried a few cases…this one’s the best! And…it comes with a little pouch for the sensor.

http://www.marware.com/s.nl/it.A/id.298/.f

PS – The Nike case is worthless…it covers the screen.

By: Rickdanger

Rickdanger — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 04:55:04 +0000

I started with the Nike Triax and bumped up to the Suunto T4 over Christmas. Both have served me very well, though the Suunto has a lot more features.

By: John

John — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:05:04 +0000

A couple things:

One good reason to not wear headphones in a race is so when you and your friends are running 3 abreast, you can hear the runner behind you saying “On your left!” as he tries to get around you. Admittedly much more of a problem in a trail race with narrow trails than on a road race though.

A drawback of bandaids is that they require shaving the chest hair around your nipples. If you have any (chest hair that is, not nipples)

Bodyglide works for me, but I’m told that nipguards work well (although expensive)

By: bbr

bbr — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 22:07:10 +0000

you are a tool. the beauty of running is that all you need is your shoes. you have missed the point and masked the flavor.

By: phe

phe — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:45:38 +0000

Just as an alternative, try band-aids for the nipple thing.

By: David

David — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:37:44 +0000

I’m on third different watch… tried the Nike Triax Pro, the Garmin 305 and now the Polar RS800sd.

Do any of you run in Central Park with a Garmin? I can’t get a good signal lock. Does it work well for you? Wondering if it’s the trees or the watch.

Anyway, good luck in San Diego!

By: mark

mark — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:23:35 +0000

I have run 5 marathons and I also use an ipod. I bought an arm band from the nike store for around $20 and I put the headphones under my shirt out the sleeve. It works pretty well.
I love to run with maui jim glasses. (they are very light and almost like you’re not wearing glasses at all. . .) Good luck!