Better visualization for the workout

InvisiblePinkUnicorn · Post by **InvisiblePinkUnicorn** » March 8th, 2009, 2:30 pm

I just became a proud owner of Concept2 Model D, and i have a question:
I have the PM4 monitor for the purpose of keeping track of my heartrate, but i can't seem to figure out a way to visualize it. I am looking for a graph that would show how it's escalating, and where it's peaking.
I would love to see the same thing for split time, as well as the stroke rate.

Sorry if it's a silly question.

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » March 8th, 2009, 2:47 pm

I don't think that there is a way to do what you are looking for without additional equipment, but an alternative is to custom set the splits for any workout that you are doing. The directions should be both in the booklet that came with it, and on one of the PM4's instruction screens.

For example, this morning I did a half-marathon. The default splits would have been 4300m (it automatically sets about 1/5th of the distance or time that you have chosen). But I changed the splits to 1000m. I believe that the PM4 allows up to 30 splits.

So my workout shows up in the memory with 21 splits of 1000m each plus a 97m split, and the progress of the heart rate is seen along with it. Mine looked like this today:

01000m 1:59.4 26spm 116hr
02000m 1:59.3 27spm 122hr
03000m 1:59.2 27spm 124hr
04000m 1:59.0 27spm 128hr
05000m 1:59.0 27spm 129hr
06000m 1:58.8 28spm 132hr
07000m 1:58.8 27spm 134hr
08000m 1:58.7 28spm 132hr (UT2 hr top = 133hr)
09000m 1:58.6 28spm 138hr
10000m 1:58.4 28spm 139hr
11000m 1:58.4 28spm 140hr
12000m 1:58.3 29spm 141hr
13000m 1:58.2 29spm 141hr
14000m 1:58.1 29spm 143hr
15000m 1:58.0 29spm 145hr
16000m 1:57.9 29spm 145hr
17000m 1:57.8 29spm 145hr (UT1 top = 145hr)
18000m 1:57.7 29spm 147hr
19000m 1:58.3 28spm 148hr
20000m 1:58.1 28spm 149hr
21000m 1:56.7 29spm 149hr
20197m 1:53.4 33spm 149hr (AT top = 151hr)

I know that there are more accurate (and expensive) ways to do this, but it seems to give me as much information as I really need.

Rick

InvisiblePinkUnicorn · Post by **InvisiblePinkUnicorn** » March 8th, 2009, 2:59 pm

Thank you for a quick reply. I am actually using a garmin chest-strap, rather then the included one. I will try to see if i could have the strap connected to both the PM4 and the wristwatch. Garmin's website allows me to track the heart-rate the way i want to.

The data that you showed me is exactly what i need. I can stick it into a spredsheed and visualize it pretty simply. Thanks!

I am also installing RowPro right now to see what it has.

Right now my goal is to drop 40lbs of weight, so tracking my progress is very important to me.

ckaiserca · Post by **ckaiserca** » March 14th, 2009, 6:53 pm

I am fairly certain that RowPro will give you a running graphic of your heart rate.

n1lul · Post by **n1lul** » March 14th, 2009, 11:15 pm

I will confirm ckaiserca's suggestion.

I just got my Model D with PM-4 last Tuesday, and downloaded Row Pro.

A heart rate graph is one of the options for the bottom of the screen, very useful.

InvisiblePinkUnicorn · Post by **InvisiblePinkUnicorn** » March 16th, 2009, 1:45 pm

I am running Windows 7 on the laptop that i was planning to use, and RowPro doesn't want to run on it. I checked their site, and the application is not very happy with Vista, so i'll just wait till an update. I really don't want to mess around with installing everything they are suggesting.

I am very bummed about the rowing machine, a few days after i got it, i came down with a bad cold, from which i am yet to recover. I only got two 20 minute rows under my belt. Hopefully next week i can start rowing again.

ckaiserca · Post by **ckaiserca** » March 18th, 2009, 12:33 pm

Rowing when you are sick is the best way to recover. Just keep a box of tissues nearby!

RowPro should play nicely with Vista. I have no problems with it on my desktop machine. It also did fine on my laptop running XP SP2.

InvisiblePinkUnicorn · Post by **InvisiblePinkUnicorn** » March 18th, 2009, 12:59 pm

Maybe i'll get my ass on the erg tonight, depending on how bad my cough is.

I'll need to try RowPro again though, i am sure i could make it run on Win 7 if i do enough research.

Ralph Earle · Post by **Ralph Earle** » March 19th, 2009, 8:34 pm

ckaiserca wrote:Rowing when you are sick is the best way to recover. Just keep a box of tissues nearby!

Really? On Monday I came down with the flu; the same day the Y next door got a new Model D. I can't imagine surviving 10 strokes @3:00.

ckaiserca · Post by **ckaiserca** » March 21st, 2009, 1:35 pm

Ralph Earle wrote:Really? On Monday I came down with the flu; the same day the Y next door got a new Model D. I can't imagine surviving 10 strokes @3:00.

It's the first 10 strokes that are hard! But I try to row even if I am feeling awful. I find that rowing is good even if I have a bad migraine. Some activity is better than none, so when I'm sick I go light and long.