Heart Rate Monitor vs. Stryd Footpod

I've been using a chest heart rate monitor for a while now, and I've been using the Stryd footpod for even longer. And while each type of device tries to tell you how hard you're working, regardless of pace, they do so in different ways. And as a result, they end up with different strengths.

For the footpod, I like to use it for pacing myself for races and for higher intensity workouts. And for the rare instances where I do have some hill climbing to do, I especially like having a footpod because I otherwise have no real idea how to pace myself.

For the heart rate monitor, I like to have it for my recovery days and my easier days. For days where I'm working to build aerobic strength and increase that respiratory efficiency, monitoring heart rate is a good way to ensure that I'm not over-exerting myself as I build mileage base.

But regardless of what type of activity I'm doing, I do prefer to have both devices on me at the same time. And that's because I want to have a full library of data to pull from to chart progression. And while I personally don't know how to extrapolate a training plan from my power data (I rely on the stryd power center to do that for me), being able to see how certain power values or heart rates correlate over time to pace has been a way that I've been tracking progress.

Thanks for watching! Leave a comment to let me know you stopped by!
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The charity runner of the week is Bobby Buchanan, who is raising money for Project Purple by running the Chicago Marathon
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[glassmw]

Kofuzi it’s crazy to watch this video 1.5 years later and see how much you’ve improved, grown, and shared with us over the last year and a half. MAF/low HR, 80/20 running and running with power are very interesting and seem to support your initial assumptions and impressions. Awesome stuff, love watching your channel and content. Keep it up!

[TheFODRunner]

Definitely agree that focusing on HR completely takes my mind off pace, which is totally a good thing!! Good man, keep it up!

[omarhave]

Both Garmin and Polar-watches have the option to add/use power datafields. Never used a Suunto before, but I’m guessing it’s you could add a datafield on it and pair your Stryd to your watch. Huge fan of the vlog btw, keep it up!

[christophertobias]

7 Black is back! Enjoy the look of your old running vlogs...Great video of HR vs Power training. Not an elite runner but I now have a better understanding of it after watching this. Thanks and keep up the great work!

[mechadriver]

Run Power data field for a Garmin will let you set the power zones, which results in different colors for each zone. Not quite as pretty as the dial for heart rate, but serves the same purpose (no need for math). Also, I use a polar arm strap for HR. I find it easier to use than a chest strap. I can view both HR and Power on the same screen with Run Power, zone colors and all.

[DeckardWill]

So, you are finally getting more into your running metrics, kofuzi :)
I also use the Stryd along with a chest strap, for the same reasons. Though Stryd, I don't bother so much with the Power metrics but rather use it for accurate distance. Heart rate vs. pace I pay a lot of attention to.

[MonteComeau]

I have been using the Garmin run pod attached to my shorts connected to a Garmin 645 and find it very accurate. I am a geek for this stuff so I find this fascinating to be able to look at my metrics. Like you I use it mainly to keep myself in Zone 2 on easy days and use the watch to monitor that easily. Another good video, Thanks for doing these!

[bikeinmotion]

When you combine the two data-values you can also get some additional info. Your metabolic efficiency, meaning power vs heartrate.

[jimduyck]

Having used my new Garmin Forerunner 245M for about 10 days, I am *really* loving keeping tabs on HR for easy runs. I really wish I had a baseline from before summer.

You can definitely add power meters to Garmin and show those data fields on various watch faces. I’m currently using Single Field and it shows color-coded HR and cadence data.

[ChemEng]

You can setup Power Zones on Suunto 9. Maybe Suunto 5 is similar? (Settings -> Training -> Intensity Zones -> Advanced Zones -> Running -> Power Zones).

Then when you start activity, just select Power Zones like you would HR Zones. You can also choose target Power Zone to run in, if you want.

[runnershq]

Garmin watch is pretty OP when it comes to watches, but i like the idea of the Stryd Footpod as an addition to a watch! Thanks for the tutorial

[alexabrante]

I use a Fenix 5X and with Garmin Power it uses the power dial with the 5 colors indicating different zones. Similar to how it does with HR. I ordered the latest Stryd (which should be shipping by end of this month) and i'll see how it displays when I put Stryd power as a single display data screen on the Fenix. Great video!

[brijnich]

my mate Jim ran for Salford Harriers years ago. When we asked him how he got on in the London marathon, he said, yeah not bad came 50th. We were like WTF!! His mindset was to run the 1st mile at the same pace as all the others. So in the beginning, everyone was flying past him, so he had to hold his nerve and let them go. By mile 16-18 he was still doing the same mile pace and was pulling them in one by one.


I'm not a marathon runner but his commitment was unreal.

[Vidushaka]

I use a stryd foot pod with ticker x hr strap on Garmin and the data is great as you can monitor the decoupling of pwr & hr in training peaks as hr will differ wildly depending on cold or hot conditions I find when running in my zones so use power mainly with no lag but monitor hr.

[ivanlucacorda]

I use both a lot and would recommend using the two devices at the same time, but for different purposes. The HR tells you how your vascular system is performing in all sorts of conditions (and even takes you general heath status into account) while the Power Meter looks at muscle fatigue (with unvalidated data however). There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but I don't think using just one tells "the whole story". As you get more experienced and stronger as a runner, I believe you would defenitely rely more on HR. Mostly because you develop a stronger physical foundation as the years go by and know better how much the body can handle before it start to break down. The vascular system is more tricky, also because most runners always push this system to the limits (especially during races), no matter the distance. Of course, neither system must be overlooked, but from experience it's just so much harder to master the anaerobic system and therefore need to be monitored more closely. Btw, when using Garmin you can use take advantage of power zones instead of the power number...

[RunningOtaku]

I did a video comparing heart rate training vs. power-based training with a test of the lag times and a discussion of the pros/cons of each method; it should be useful to you. One last thing after seeing your PowerCenter triangle- do some strides, hill (stairs? onramps?) repeats, etc. to build more power.

[bd]

Can you do a video of progression to a sub 3? Maybe show your mileage year on year and how you're race times improved

[WhiskyMystery]

Stryd foot pod measures longer miles than Garmin GPS and I think Stryd is more accurate. This morning I took two Garmin 920XT's for a run. The one connected to Stryd measured 10.01 miles. The GPS Garmin was 10.14. I have found that all marathons I have raced have shown more than 26.5 miles on the Garmin. I have the stryd power showing on my garmin data field. I also like heart rate straps but don't like to look at heart rate on race day as it often shows 110 bpm while standing still at the start line :-)

[gaetanolombardo]

Thanks for posting. For power measure, what unit would prefer over Watts? The options are limited.

[bettstp]

I have both a Garmin wrist based heart rate monitor and a heart rate strap and after a number of runs and having near identical results I gave up on the heart strap due to the comfort factor.
The only real issue on the wrist based is the delay when altering pace quickly, the strap recognises changes almost instantly when doing intervals and the watch always lags in this scenario.
BTW the heart rate shooting up immediately on starting a run was/is a known issue on Garmin watches where the heart rate gets locked into the cadence, happened a few times to me but not recently. Maybe something similar for you.

Interested in this Stryd possibly. I have a garmin footpod just to get accurate pace but the rest of the metrics sound interesting