In reply to Bimblefast:
> (In reply to Dan_S) Hi Dan,
>
> HRMs are useful for two main things: sticking to a given level of intensity in-workout, and measuring progress over time.
>
Bimblefests post is bob-on.
Using it to maintain a low intensity (almost certainly lower than most people guess) is possibly the most important use.
The fact you say the zones seem so slow is a good indicator that a HRM will be useful to you. Over time you should find that, maintaining the same low HR, your pace will significantly improve, and in the long run this will be the biggest contribution to imroved overall performance you will achieve.
Okay, you don't need a HRM to run that slow, but for most people it's so slow a HRM is the only way you'll get that slow.
Oh yes, and as others have said- do a MHR test!
Mine works quite neatly around the various standard equations- around about 185 in my case. Most people are fairly close to it.
But it is possible to be quite wide of the standard equations (my missus is well over 200) so do a MHR stress test, and then maybe in a month try another one.
Post edited at 16:24