I've been wearing my heart rate monitor during my runs and learning how to use it to improve my performance. To be honest, I've had this HR monitor for years, but never really understood how to use it to my advantage. And, well, math is NOT my forte.

Recently, though, a running friend has been helping me make sense of all the numbers and, well, it's starting to make sense.

I had a 6-miler to do on the treadmill this A.M. and I was running along at my usual pace of 7.8 to 8.0 mph and saw that my HR was at the usual 130s.

I glaced a the HR cheat sheet I posted on the wall -- showing that tempo HR should be in the 150s -- and thought...hmmm...all this time I thought 8.0 was the top I could run and sustain on the treadmill, but my 130 HR says otherwise.

So, I cranked it up a couple of notches to 8.3 mph and got the heart rate up to the 150s and realized that I could sustain a faster pace. All this time my HEAD was telling me I couldn't run that hard, when my HEART was saying...oh yes you can.

Using a HR monitor means I know just how far I can push -- and when I'm wimping out and cheating myself.

I'm looking forward to this summer's racing season!

Ah...but first, gotta get this marathon out of the way -- because there's not much room for speed training in a marathon training program!