Unreliable HR Monitors

There was an air quality alert on my phone when I woke up today. The air is a hazy gray with a distinct burnt odor, like burning paper but miles away. It's the Canadian wildfires. But temps are moderate so the summer camp is open today, although my pups are the only dogs at the park today. Yesterday there was a literal pup party with over a half dozen friends frolicking until one of the snippier dogs arrived that doesn't get along with my boys. We'd already been at the park for nearly two hours so it was time to go and my dogs didn't complain. They seemed quite happy to spend the rest of the day on the sofa. 

My forearms and hands were still sore yesterday from aggressively clipping back hedges, wild roses, thorny thistle-like greater burdocks (arctium lappa), fruiting wine berries and wild raspberries. There's still a few items to toss atop the dumpster before I call the container company to see if they'll come back in a timely manner. The primary sunflower is losing it's petals but there are three more buds, each smaller than the last. The second flower is in full bloom but only half the size of the first flower. There are a lot of dragon flies but not much of anything else. My friend squashed a dreaded Spotted Lantern Fly in her yard the other day. Hopefully, it was just that one. 

I got to the gym unusually early today. But of course, there was someone on elliptical #1. I select #4 because it's actually a smoother glide motion. No clunking when transitioning from a high elevation. The only defect is the bad sensor for the HR monitor on the dashboard. Of course, none of the gym equipment is reliable when it comes to HR readings. When I check my FitBit later, the HR range recorded is from 43-133. That sounds reasonable. Which means that the HR monitor on the Matrix Stair machine is also now wonky. It didn't used to be so suspect, but it's been a few months since I used that machine. 

I had time today so I managed to do two of three cardio machines, and two sets of pitiful pull-ups. Pull-ups were ugly and hard. The step machine is the same as I remember and I set the timer for 8 minutes. It gives me a 2-minute cool down automatically. The number of steps, floors and calories are comparable to the last time I used this machine. But the HR reads an astronomical 171. What? Normally it reads 125, give or take a few points. But 171? Maybe the high humidity or the bad air quality is messing with the sensors? I had to upgrade the FitBit app on my phone and for a few days it too also seemed unreliable. 

I slip into the Aerobics Room. It's not as cold as I would have liked. I do most of the core routine but again, skip the Walking Lunges and Wall Sits. I plan to come back to the gym tomorrow, especially since my kid has off and will be sleeping in. The rest of the week we'll be up early with dogs in tow. A friend wants me to relieve her of some of overly abundant cherry tomatoes: the chipmunks haven't been raiding her plants like last year. (Maybe the hawks got them?) I'd suggest she make tomato jam or something, but that's not her style. 

I've got a persistent headache that might be a reaction to the air quality. Sitting at the dog park this morning, my eyes started to water and burn and I'd only been there an hour. I'm glad I'm not a kid at outdoor summer camp this year. Or this could be my sleep deficit nagging at me again.  

5 Aug 2025 11:10-12:42

Tuesday — Gray Wildfire Skies

Air Quality Alert 75°F

Precor elliptical #4

Program 1

Time: 30 + 5 (5428)

Distance: 2.78

Cal: 306

Avg Hr: n/a

New FB: 42-133

HGPU 19

Matrix StairMaster (R) 

Manual timer 8+2 cool down

Minimum 5 minutes

Speed 5 (48-45) / 2 (30) / 1 (28)

Steps 426

Floors 26

Cal 64

Hr 171?

HGPU 17

20 Hip Bridges 

20 Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

10 Hip Bridges/Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 25 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 30

Arm rotations 20

Air Squats 25

Stretch / eye yoga