A New Toy

1. Attention Houston runners/walkers: There is a 5K Fun Run next Saturday, October 23 for the Health Museum called Run for your Life. I will be running it, and hope you’ll join too! It’s in the Museum District, so you don’t have to drive far, and you can wear a costume! There’s also a 1K race, and all participants get free admission to the museum after the race.

I haven’t done a 5K race since starting the blog, so I am looking forward to setting an automatic personal record. And then I have a 10K race the following weekend. Eek! And 13.1 is creeping up too!

Click here to sign up for the Fun Run. And look for me near the back. Just kidding…a little.

My New Sport Toy:

Look what Hanukkah Harry brought to town early this year. The Garmin FR 60! (price listed on link does not include the add ons that come in the package) I have been researching watches in Garmin, Polar, and Timex, and I decided that this watch is best for me. It does not do satellite tracking but uses a small foot pod instead. This will be more reliable for me because the Garmin Forerunner 305 that I tested for a few weeks had poor reception in finding a satellite when traveling and even in my own neighborhood. With the foot pod, you never lose the connection.

This Garmin is so much smaller than the older versions like the Forerunner 305 and more attractive (I got pink). It still connects to Garmin online to view your workout stats, has up to 5 pages of 3 stats to view on the watch, and because there isn’t a satellite connection, you can use the footpod to also track indoor workouts. I haven’t experimented with that yet, but I plan to. It also has a battery like a normal watch and does not need to be charged.

I also like that it includes a heart rate monitor. I have never trained with one before but think it will be interesting to see how my body works on different exercises. On Tuesday morning at the gym I tried it out. I did the elliptical machine for 30 minutes and my heart rate was between 120-140. Then I did the Stairmaster for 7 minutes and my heart rate was above 160. And then I stretched and it went back to 90.

I Googled heart rate zones and read that an ideal max range is 220 minus your age. That would mean my max should be around 194. That means that my elliptical session was pretty low even though it was above resting and I was still sweating. And the Stairmaster workout was closer to the max.

In my 60 minute workout, it said I burned 409 calories. I also haven’t tracked calories before, but I think this is the most accurate you can get with personalized weight, height, and heart rate programmed in to the watch.

Do you use an HRM? Have any tips?

3. PB & J Scottish Oats:

I have been experimenting with Scottish Oats and wanted to try a thicker version than ones I have done before.

This combination was perfect.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 C Scottish Oats (Bob’s Red Mill brand)
• 1 C water
• 1/4 C milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• pinch salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 sliced banana
• 2 T raisins
• 1 tsp chia seeds

On top, spoonful of peanut butter and jelly.

Instructions:

Boil water on stovetop. add oats and whisk in. Cook for 5 minutes then reduce to simmer. Add other ingredients, cook another 5 minutes until thick.

Move to bowl and add toppings.