#mio global

[lifefuels]

25 thoughts while running with a heart rate monitor

About a month ago, LifeFuels Chemist, Justin, accepted the #FuelFamTested Challenge and set out to revolutionize his workouts by using a Mio Global heart rate tracking band. 

Since then, he’s improved his weightlifting routine and runs three times a week. He uses the Mio FUSE band to calibrate with PEAR, a companion app that talks you through workouts to help you reach maximum performance by tracking your heart rate. 

Mio Global segments a users heart rate into five different “zones,” which Justin had previously used while running. According to the different zones, PEAR told Justin when to speed up, slow down and for how long. In the words of the LifeFuels Chemist himself, “Instead of the treadmill automatically speeding up when it’s time, I’m in control of my speed. Sounds like a win-win-win to me!”

These are his thoughts: 

1. Ok… warm up time. Let’s do this.

2. Is it ‘karaoke, lunges, kicks’ or ‘kicks, lunges, karaoke’?

3. Just gotta start the workout on my band…

4. GO 

5. Turning on the PEAR app.

6. I’m so connected.

7. Zone 1? I can do this all day. I’m practically walking! I wonder if I could run a marathon at this pace? Nope.

8. How about a half marathon? Still never going to happen.

9. Zone 2 already... No problem.

10. No longer walking, but I’m still feeling natural.

11. Apparently my breathing should still be deep and controlled… hmm. It’s only been 5 minutes?!

12. Zone 3 is just above comfortable apparently?

13. Dipped back into Zone 2. Oops. Push it!

14. Today is so nice… I’ll just focus on that.

15. I mean come on! The sun is shining and it’s 75 degrees!

16. Yeah, thinking about something else makes running easier...until you realize your breathing isn’t as deep and controlled as it should be. Focus!

17. Zone 4. Now I’m pushing myself. I can’t sustain this for long at all. This is how I know I’m out of shape.

18. If this is Zone 4, I don’t want to know what Zone 5 feels like.

19. All things considered, this pacing system will keep me out running longer, because I won’t ever push to a 4 or 5 right away. That’s good!

20. Zone 5 in one minute. I’ve got this. I’m sure it’ll only keep me there for a minute or so. I can sprint all out for a minute.

21. Zone 5 now. I’ll just pretend a cheetah is chasing me!

22. I bet I look so ridiculous to people driving by… I could probably go without the nervous looks behind me to check on the imaginary cheetah chasing me.

23. Phew! Right back to Zone 3! I deserve this.

24. Back to Zone 2 for two minutes, and the run is done. 

25. That wasn’t too bad at all!

What is FuelFam Tested? Want to learn more about heart rate tracking? 

[lifefuels]

FuelFam Tested: Mio FUSE

It can always be a little daunting to spend $100+ on a piece of technology that claims to make you faster, better, and stronger. Luckily, LifeFuels employees are a bunch of health & fitness nuts, and use just about every fitness tracker under the sun. So we’re bringing this experience to our followers with the FuelFam Tested Challenge.

Each month we’ll have two members of the LifeFuels team try out a hot new piece of technology and they’ll give you their true feedback while using it for a month. You’ll be able to follow them through the challenge, too, on social media and with various blog updates. 

Our first challenge comes courtesy of Mio Global, a wearables company that has created incredibly accurate heart rate monitors that sit on your wrist instead of on your chest. 

Our FuelFam testers are trying out the FUSE, a heart rate, sleep and activity tracker. They’ll be tracking their workouts and attempting to maximize their health with the assistance of PAI: Personal Activity Intelligence. 

This month, our testers are Dave (left) and Justin (right). 

Dave is a senior iOS engineer for LifeFuels, who spends his free time racing BMX at the local and regional level. He’s also training and preparing for his return to flat track motorcycle racing. A few years ago, he had a FitBit Flex that he used for about a year. He’s since become more interested in using a product dedicated to heart rate monitoring. 

His workout routine is pretty strenuous. He rides his rollers for 90 minutes, three days a week. On non-ride days, he runs 2 miles in the mornings and completes his weight-related workouts in the evenings. His resolution with Mio FUSE is to improve his workouts by tracking his heart rate and hitting his target zones as well as improving his sleep pattern. Justin is the LifeFuels Chemist. His workout routine is self-described as casual. Before Mio, he was a long-time Jawbone UP2 user. He tries to run once or twice a week, skateboards in the summer and plays ice hockey in an adult league once a week in the evenings. 

Last month, he decided to up his routine and started lifting weights three days a week. 

His resolution with Mio FUSE is to improve his weight lifting and brave the cold for some winter runs.

Just reading this? Check out what happened here.