Can you tell me why you choose to use a heart rate monitor?

[boxlikeamarchhare]

If you do that is. Of course I know what they do 😁 but I don’t do exercise gadgets.

I am training for an endurance event and absolutely everyone else I know who has ever given it a thought uses a heart rate monitor and is surprised I haven’t got one!

I am not sold thus far.

to get a feeling of my 'normal'
to get to know my resting/max heart rate
to monitor how quickly heart rate goes down after exercise (indicator of fitness)

To exercise in a healthy “zone” for my age, fitness etc. Eg I found that some classes I’d been doing didn’t get my heart rate very high.

Also, sometimes for whatever reason, eg tired or hungover, my heart rate goes high when exercising, so can ease off a bit.

You can tell yourself, after a while.

If a long endurance event some people like to monitor heart rate at a low-ish level and reduce effort if it creeps above that as better to conserve energy....both because you burn more fat at lower intensity, and just don't get as tired. Seen people use them a lot for ironman or ultramarathons.

I don't bother either ....just go on feel.

To help pace myself.

Thank you, these responses are just confirming that I don’t need/want one, I am just not interested in that type of stat.

If I feel tired I just have a less demanding training day.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/how-using-heart-rate-training-can-help-you-target-your-exercise-and-improve-your-fitness/2018/10/16/4ee88c1a-c74d-11e8-b2b5-79270f9cce17story.html?noredirect=on&utmm_term=.55df31f97083

You don't 'have' to use it for training, but it can be a useful tool to show you're either giving it sufficient effort when trying to push yourself, or help you hold it back to a more sensible pace/effort level when doing those long runs.

I am still in Blue’s camp , listening to my body is more like it for me.