Technology Dreams

As much as the writer in me enjoys the written page as I mentioned in "Paper Versus Digital", there is a "techie nerd" in me that also loves the intricacies of technology. Like I said before, I did have a favorite diet/exercise program that I used up until I switched to Blackberry. My recent running adventures and aspirations for triathaloning next year have reawakened the desire to use technology to my advantage.

My recent switch from Palm OS to Blackberry has been a dismal disappointment. Blackberry is great for some people but for me and my favorite applications, it was like leaving Windows and returning to DOS programming. You know the black screen with the original computer font and little, if any, clip art? Even the favorite programs that did offer a cross-over to the Blackberry format lost their appeal. I've been living with this I have dared to dream of something better.

You see, as a runner I want the capability to record my heart rate, speed and distance. I have an old Timex heart rate monitor & watch set that has been used much and has decided to die after many battery changes. It only recorded heart rate anyways so I'm not too sad to let it go. I have set my sights a little higher and would like to invest in a watch & chest strap that will not only give me the desired feedback but will allow me to upload that feedback to my favoured diet/exercise application.

As a cyclist, I want that same gadget to record my cycling cadence, speed, distance, and heart-rate. Usually this requires an additional mounting device that attaches to your bike.

As a swimmer, I want this gadget to record my heart rate...not sure if it is able to calculate anything else like speed or distance but that would be nice!

My dilemma is that newer technology like the IPhone or Android phones are very expensive and to utilize the GPS and applications that would help make my aspirations possible, I would need to get into a data plan. This is foreboding, not because I wouldn't want to go this route but because of our financial goals, my husband & I have chosen not to designate our money in this way. We prefer to pay off our mortgage instead of throw our money into the atmosphere!

After careful research into my wants & needs I have decided to go backwards in technology instead. If I return to a Palm OS Smartphone I can regain my favorite program and acquire a Polar heart rate monitor system that communicates with it via infrared. It's not cutting edge but I can access it and utilize it without committing to a three year contract and spending a hefty amount monthly for a data plan.

It's not free, however. I can purchase a "new" Treo 680 (in RED) for around $140 and sell my Blackberry Curve online to help offset the cost. Although the models of Polar heart rate monitors that I can select from (the ones that work with Palm OS) are now discontinued, they're still available from a few retailers and run in the range of $350 not including some of the accessories I would need to add to get the full usage that I dream about. Things like a foot pod, bike attachment, cadence monitor, etc. Add it all up and it's a rather large investment for aging equipment.

I was ready to go for this. I had my plan laid out and found some worthy candidates online. Even a deal on a used Polar monitor with all the accessories. I even had Shawn's blessing to spend my future Christmas gift and spending money ahead of time and pay it back later (all courtesy of our household savings). This is where another important discipline in my life kicked in. I have a history of getting my sights on something I want to achieve and then purchasing whatever I think I need to get there...before I really have the money in my possession.

I could do this--it's not morally wrong, but it goes against something more important that I believe God is working out in me. First, I need to learn patience when it comes to purchasing. Sometimes the wait seems painfully long but if the desire is lasting, a person will make the sacrifices and save for something they truly want. It's important to remember that stuff is stuff and it will be there when we are ready to purchase. If it isn't, something else will be.

Secondly, as exciting as the capability to accurately measure my progress is to me, it will never replace the actual activities that I am performing. It's more important that I have the $ to go for a swim and actually DO the swim than it is to have the fancy stuff needed to measure my swimming performance. Same with the running and the cycling.  I can tend to get so caught up in the technology & measurement aspects  (they do have their value) but it's important to remember that it's not absolutely necessary for success.

So, I have decided to do the old-fashioned thing which is to save, wait and purchase as I have the resources. I can train for my triathlon and even complete the event without any gadgets at all. Maybe this kind of training is just important, if not more so, than the physical kind that I will be doing in the upcoming months!