I finally did it... I finally bought a heart rate monitor and it is in my possession. (There should be a grammar rule against using three two-letter words in a row, or maybe that falls in the style category (but it should be in the grammar category).) I have used a heart rate monitor before-- I think I had one briefly when I was 15 or 16 and I've borrowed one sporadically for workouts. But now I have my very own Polar F6 which I got mostly because I got fed up with being asked what my heart rate is and Not Having An Answer. I abhor Not Having An Answer.

During today's workout (skating: 3min sprint prelim, 15min recovery, 2x(3x90sec) easy sprint pace, 2hr total ski time) I'll be checking my heart rate after every interval and I earnestly hope that one of the coaches says something like, "hey Laura, what was your HR on that last interval?" so that for once I can have an immediate and accurate answer and not have to pause for 6sec to take my pulse or give my best guess.

I also wanted to point out that, despite what the marketers would have you believe, it's totally possible to train, race, and improve WITHOUT A HEART RATE MONITOR (or a power meter, for that matter).

I know, I totally shook the foundations of your most sacred theology.