Suunto Spartan WHR software update to version 2.5.18

Suunto Spartan WHR software update to version 2.5.18

Check out this video. Looking to do more videos this year and keep up my updates on the software improvements on Suunto Spartan. 

I love to newest update they have done. Also the update is moving your smartphone away from using the MovesCount app to upload your watch. Download the Suunto app and synch your watch with it. 

Cool new features include creating custom fields and what information you are looking to view looking down at your watch. 

Please, "Like" and "Subscribe" to my YouTube channel. 

Week and weekend recap

Eight mile trail run to start off Labor Day! 

This past weekend, a three-day, Labor Day holiday weekend, I moved my long run to Monday. 

Saturday I joined a group bike ride, for 33 miles. I did the same route a week ago with the same group. This time the heat was back in the desert. I still had a great time and focused on my heart rate staying high in the long mountain climb.  I was surprised for not having the amount of food (fuel) I had before hand I felt really good. Kept up on the hydration. 

Took Sunday off to recover and slept in a little, which is rare. 

Monday, I set out on an early morning start trail run. I planned on at least six miles and was able to get a total of eight in before heading back to the vehicle. A little cloud cover and rain the night before had the air temperature down and felt good. 

My lungs and breathing have never felt better

Not as much training as I planned this week, but had some key workouts completed. Trying to keep my power up while running, using the Stryd, power pod on my foot to measure just that.  

Synched with my Suunto Spartan, I can set a target heart rate or power output during a workout. 

I had a slower recover run last Monday, but still felt good afterwards. 

Thursday night, I set up my watch to keep me in my Zone 4 during a two mile run. I wanted to see first off what my power output in that zone is, and also hoped that keeping my heart rate there for the two miles would not have me totally gasping for a breath. 

It worked. I started off taking a little bit to get my heart rate up and then into my Zone 4.  An early downhill jaunt was not the trick, but quickly I had to work harder climbing up out a the area I was just in. Locked into my Zone 4 and just kept plugging away. On the more level ground I had some good speed and was still able to stay in the zone. The course was a one mile loop, I was doing twice. Of course my heart rate was going to go down a little on the descend, but I pushed hard and ran downhill faster to keep it up. Hitting the uphill I had to look down at my watch a few times because it kept warning me to slow down. I had my heart rate into Zone 5.  Pulled back a little on the speed but never fell out of my Zone 4.  Finished one of my fastest back to back miles in 10 minutes each.  I typically average a 12 minute mile as of late with a lot focus on the long steady distance, so not to go all out and blow up fast. 

I am very excited about my accomplishment and my lungs and breathing have never felt better. 

Looking back, could have I pushed myself to be faster, maybe so, but I wanted to stick in the Zone 4 and see where that would put me. 

Looking forward to a good weekend of cycling and running, hoping to get some trail miles in on Sunday. 

Building up energy

I was out yesterday morning and got my early morning workout in. A quick 12 mile ride, consisting of two loops. Nothing fast, but I tried to keep my cadence and speed up. Took me over just 22 minutes a lap, which I have been able to do previously in just under 19 minutes. I need to work on getting that down faster as I build my fitness up. 

Later that day I needed to get in a run. I planned on a three mile run, just to get the heart-rate up and the legs moving. I felt fine the first two miles and then just hit a wall. Energy was totally zapped. I may have not eaten as much as I should have after the morning workout, but I kept moving. 

I had to talk a walk break for a minute, but then just took the pace down a little. My hydration must have been down a little too, as I woke up this morning with a headache. 

Looking to do a long run this weekend and a longer bike ride the next day to shake out the legs good.

More training focused and feeling good

Getting comfortable being uncomfortable, it's all good

If you monitor my social media at Twitter or Instagram (@timhakr), I guess it makes it official. I signed up for the 14 mile Xterra trail run at San Tan Regional park this November. 

I have been training for this over the past few months getting my lungs and legs in shape. Officially signing up for it makes me accountable for my training now. 

This past weekend I was able to get my longest (LSD- long steady distance) run in so far. It was a little cooler than normal due to the monsoon storm the night before. The storm also made it muggy.  I was able to get the 6.25 miles in.  

Standing water cutting off access to some trails, due to the monsoon storms 

This is normally a smoother incline, yet water has cut a big divot in it. 

I turned around the next day and did a cross training workout of mountain bike riding of 16.42 miles. The monsoon rains this year have really affected the trails out here. The mountain bike trail/hiking trails in Usery Regional park were either washed out or the rains and winds have changed them a lot. A few trails were not accessible due to standing water. 

This week started adding a little bit of strength training into the mix and other drills. 

I have a few mental goals I am aiming for and I will touch on those in future posts, so follow along. 

Suunto Software Update 2.0.40

Suunto Software Update 2.0.40 You can now access getting your heart rate without entering the exercise mode with the Instant HR display

Suunto Spartan 2.0.40 software brings new features 

Intensity zones for pace and power, so in addition to HR zones, you can now define zones for pace and power

Enriched training targets: Now from the exercise start screen, you can:

Set duration or distance targets and follow your progress through your exercise.

Set intensity targets: based on heart rate (all activities), pace (running) and power (running and cycling, when a power pod is paired)

They enhanced the Suunto Spartan user a with new, more efficient navigation that includes the following highlights including 

Notification history: from the watch face just press the middle button to see all your recent notifications from your mobile device.

Temperature has been added to the outdoor screen (Ultra and Baro models), found by navigating down with the lower right button or by swiping down.