I have so much technology measuring me when I 'run' that I am pretty sure I won't even have to show up for my triathalon leg - I will just send the machines. Of course, that means that I have to get them figured out in the next few weeks.

Today I discovered I could do this:

Of course, it was the same day that I kept banging on every button on my Polar watch because it wasn't showing my heart rate. When that didn't work, I decided that the sensors on my heart monitor weren't getting a good contact. I reached up the front of my shirt and realized I left it at home. There goes that measurement for the day.

The fact that I still have a heart monitor, even though I left it at home today, is a miracle in itself. The other day, I found the actual monitor lying on the floor with no sign of the band that attaches it around my chest. I knew immediately what had happened - the dog ate it. OK, so the dog has never eaten my homework, but he has eaten my mouth guard, my toothbrush, lots of underwear and lots of other things to show how much he loves me...and yes, he's a lab.

I called the store where I bought the watch - $49.95 - what, I just need the strap. Finally, I found a place online and ordered one for $5.95 plus some horrid shipping fee only to find the missing strap minutes later where I had hidden it to make sure the dog didn't eat it. Which, by the way, is the reason I didn't have it on today - hidden so the dog wouldn't eat it!

The graph above comes from the sensor in my Nike sneakers that sends data to my iPod Nano. It's actually really a cool device - you can hear at any time the total time you have run, the current pace and the distance. I wish it would give you the overall pace because frankly when I am running, it's hard to do the math, But at the end, you get that data as well as number of calories consummed. 325 calories, it announces and I think - wow an extra glass of wine tonight. The data can then be transmitted to your personal account on the Nikeplus website. While running, you can also play whatever music, podcast, etc., you like and simply have the Nike info speak, by pushing a button, over your running music.

I am definitely still trying to figure out the Polar watch. I got the least complicated one - thank goodness, and it is still defying my brain capacity. My running coach, lovingly donated by a friend who doesn't want me to die(!), wants me to do lots of measurements of my heart rate and I spend so much time trying to make my watch cooperate than my heart rate never gets high enough to measure - well, maybe from frustration. I certainly have thought about taking it off and flinging on the ground many times in the last few weeks. But instead I have asked my neighbor, an avid biker, to give me Polar watch training!

So onward and upward - 2 months to the tri - and i am trying!

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

PS: Excuses - please note the workout above includes a 5 minute warmup walk!

I am still trying