For me:
Pro - you train right at the intensity that you want for that particular run... thus hopefully making you a faster runner
Con - you maybe lose the ability to listen quite as closely to your own body without using a HRM... thus possibly causing you to not perform at your best in a race situation without the HRM
Pro: The HRM will actually do the running for you...seriously!
Con: You get to wear a black strap around you chest.
Alan
In my limited experience with heart rate monitors, I've found that it's helped me identify paces and intensites more accurately- thus me understand my body better.
con - one assumes HR is a perfectly linear correlation to intensity. it is generally, but not always
giffypop17 wrote:
con - one assumes HR is a perfectly linear correlation to intensity. it is generally, but not always
Excellent point. But I think you figure that out after a little bit of experience with an hrm. It's relatively hard to get the hr up and steady in the first mile or two (or three). Among other things, the hrm for a while teaches you how long it takes to get really warmed up and settle into a pace.