Monitoring Cadence

jldeleon

Barefooters
Apr 9, 2011
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Oregon
OK, so I was going to buy a Garmin, and I am trying to figure out if any of them also measure cadence? As far as I can tell they do not. And if they do not, what does track cadence -while running? All I have found are cadence tracker for cycling.
 
Oh, and I don't have anything

Oh, and I don't have anything tricky like an iPhone, which I see has a cadence tracker.
 
The watch-like devices that

The watch-like devices that measure cadense usually use a foot "pod" that ties to your shoes or around your ankle.

But you can just count your steps for 15 seconds and multilply by four if you wear a watch. That would get you close enough.

The other thing you can do is bring an mp3 player. Just check out a few songs against a metronome that have the beat to whatever cadense you want to run.
 
Hey Jen, you texted while I

Hey Jen, you texted while I was running, but mine may actually have a cadence part on it, IF you buy the footpod seperately. Didn't think about it till I was on my way back. I was concentrating on the icy leaves when you texted.
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Mine is the Garmin Forerunner 305. I have the cycling pod too which measures the cadence on my bike, but I didn't want to spend extra for a footpod when I could download free app on my iphone.
 
Ahhhhh got it, so the Footpod

Ahhhhh got it, so the Footpod is the key...thanks!
 
Jen, unless you´re a real

Jen, unless you´re a real techie or have too much money, consider to wait some more time before you buy any tracking-devices. Maybe you´ll find out later that you don´t need them.

As you joined BRS only a couple of months back I figure you´re rather new into bf-running?

My experience - and I´ve read similar things from others - is this: At first I cared a lot about getting certain details right. I wanted to control them as much as possible. Later on after getting used to the new habit of bf-running I just let it happen, with less controlling.

This might also apply to cadence. It´s charming to track it because it´s fairly easy to measure. But there´s no absolute fit-for-all-cadence anyway. It´s higher on rough terrain, for example. Or down-hill. It might vary with different speeds.

If you want to get a feel for a certain cadence, check this video first (shameless plug, because I made it myself). It´s for free, doesn´t hurt and could be precise enough.

http://youtu.be/GGHmgzNNLFo
 
Thanks for the info.  I do

Thanks for the info. I do boring pavement running only and have been barefoot running since...I think like July, minimalist since April.

The sudden interest in cadence is because I have observed that keeping a 180 cadence "causes" me to hold my form more accurately, and keeps my pace more even, etc. Most of the other form differences in barefoot running come automatically, but I suddenly noticed my cadence has slipped through the cracks -like WAY through the cracks (though I agree it's somewhat different per person, terrain, etc.).

Someone mentioned keeping beat to music, however, I don't ever listen to music when I run cause I don't like not being able to hear what is around/behind me, etc. And the few times I have done trail running I wanted to make sure I heard the mountain lion and/or ax murderer that was sneaking up on me. Lol.
 
Jen, you can use a wristwatch

Jen, you can use a wristwatch without "pods" to measure cadance. You need a watch that displays speed without GPS.

Find out how to set the running stride length in your watch. With stride set at 36 inches, and the watch reading speed in miles per hour (mph), you get the following cadences at displayed speed:

{cadence,displayed speed} = {{150, 5.11}, {160, 5.45}, {170, 5.80}, {180, 6.14}, {190,

6.48}, {200, 6.82}, {210, 7.16}, {220, 7.50}, {230, 7.84}, {240,

8.18}, {250, 8.52}}



These watches estimate speed from your arm swing to get the number of strides per minute (cadence). It works as long as your arms swing at the same rate as your legs. You must enter your stride length as input data so the watch can figure out speed. Its not so good at getting speed right because stride changes, but its very good at getting cadence right.



I try to keep the speed between 6.10 and 6.30 mph (179 - 185 strides per minute), but within that range its whatever I feel like running. Its surprising how just running, checking the watch only occasionally, I find the speed rock-solid at 6.14 mph = 180 steps per minute. 180 is a natural cadance, at least for me.
 
That's a good idea, I will

That's a good idea, I will have to see how much my arms swing next time I'm running. My arms swing less and less widely the longer I run, so I will have to see if it can pick it up. Thanks!