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06-10-2008, 7:52 PM Brooke Joined on 06-11-2008 Posts 2 Introducing Myself - and a technology question Hi everyone! I had it in my head that I would be starting C25K tonight, but was stymied by a lack of appropriate technology.  What do you all use to keep track of time?  Since I will be running outside, I need something I can wear and would prefer something I can preset with each day's program with an alarm to let me know when to change from running to walking and vice versa. Apologies if this has been addressed.  I didn't know where to look. Thanks in advance.    Report

06-10-2008, 9:26 PM Penguinfan Joined on 04-05-2008 Brisbane, Australia Posts 165 Re: Introducing Myself - and a technology question Hi Brooke, If you have an MP3 the simplest way is to use it as a timer. Some people have made up podcasts (long downloadable tracks) specifically for the program that tell you when to change pace. You can just stick them in your player and listen to the music while you run. There's a podcasts section on the front page of this site. Although I don't have one I believe the Nike Sports Pack (and probably GPSes and advanced sports watches) will allow you to program in times when it'll tell you to change pace as well. If you're less gizmoey and don't want to keep looking at a watch or counting time on fingers (which was what I did on W1D1) you can run for distance instead of time. On the program it'll say things like "Run for X seconds or Y yards" and you can choose to do either. If you have a nearby oval of a known run length you can just use the marks on it or work out how whatever your distances are in laps. If you know where you're running around your area you can use gmap-pedometer to work out a distance. I ended up cycling around the path at my local park ten times and averaging a lap length from the bicycle trip computer.    Report

06-11-2008, 5:46 AM Oscar D Joined on 03-30-2008 Tampa, Florida Posts 37 Re: Introducing Myself - and a technology question I bought a stopwatch for $8 US. I run in gym shorts so I carry it in my pocket, but it also has a cord so you could hang it from your neck. Also, I use http://www.mapmyrun.com/ it not only allows you to map distance, but can track your progress and also can give you stats (like MPH, pace, calories burned, etc) and generate reports.    Report

06-11-2008, 8:13 AM Brooke Joined on 06-11-2008 Posts 2 Re: Introducing Myself - and a technology question Thank you for the input.  I had noticed the podcasts, so I will look into those, as well as the Nike Sports Pack option. Oscar, were you able to program your stop watch, or did you just watch it for the time.  Since my starting out intervals will be 60 second and 90 seconds, I would like to be able to set it to beep automatically. Appreciate the help.    Report

06-12-2008, 2:48 PM Oscar D Joined on 03-30-2008 Tampa, Florida Posts 37 Re: Introducing Myself - and a technology question My stop watch probably beeps, but I don't know for sure. You can definetly get one though that'll do that.    Report

06-15-2008, 7:06 PM Scheezo Joined on 04-06-2008 Posts 168 Re: Introducing Myself - and a technology question When I first started I just used a pocket watch and kept an eye on the second hand. hehe.  Since then I've started downloading the podcasts to my phone.       Report

06-16-2008, 1:27 PM shrx-gal Joined on 06-16-2008 Pleasanton, CA Posts 11 Re: Introducing Myself - and a technology question There are running watches you can program which will beep at intervals which you program.  I used one for a while in the past, but it was a bit of work to program & reprogram as needed.  Now I use a Polar heart rate monitor when I run.  It keeps track of time run (and from that I figure out when to run, when to walk), calories burned, heart rate, duration of workout, avg HR, max HR, and time in your training zone.  I love my HR monitor.    Report

08-20-2008, 4:44 AM Tortoise Joined on 08-18-2008 Posts 5 Re: Introducing Myself - and a technology question I love my HR monitor too.  Although I use my iPod/music for timing the intervals because I wouldn't like having to look at my wrist all the time during my run.  The HR monitor is fantastic for tracking my progress and looking at my stats after my runs.  It helps me stay motivated.  During W1 my HR would be over 200bpm at the end of a 90 second run, now its only about 170 or 180bpm after 5 whole minutes - a good sign that my fitness is improving... although the fact that I can actually run for 5min is also a good sign I suppose! I have one of the simpler models (F11) but I love it so much I'm thinking of upgrading to one of the fancy running models which have a shoe sensor and allow you to track things like distance, speed etc.  Does anyone else own one of these?  Are they worth it?  I’m keen to hear opinions before I spend the $$$    Report

08-20-2008, 6:25 AM maliye2876 Joined on 08-13-2008 Richwood Posts 54 Re: Introducing Myself - and a technology question I just purchased a watch from Wal-mart this past weekend. The Timex Flix 100 Lap Memory. It has 9 timer intervals so you can program interval 1 for 60 seconds and interval 2 for 90 seconds, then set the reps to 8. After your warm up walk, just start it and go. It beeps at the end of the 60 seconds three times and ten times after the 90 seconds. Then it repeats the cycle for at total of 8 times. This way you don't have to keep looking at your watch. If you do need to look at your watch, you just 'flick' your wrist and the indigo light comes on without you having to press anything. I bought mine for $32 on sale, but it's normally $43. Just another option. If you do decide to get it, let me know and I'll give you step by step instructions on how to set it up so you don't have to deal with the hard to understand instructions that comes with it.    Report

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