WHY RUN WITH A HEART RATE WATCH?
Heart rate is measured in BPM (beats per minute). The more intensively you exercise, the faster your heart beats, and the more your BPM increases.
Using your resting heart rate as a reference, the HR 500 heart rate watch is capable of telling you what kind of exercise you are doing: Warm-up, Comfort, Endurance, Resistance, Max. Each level of intensity has a different effect on your body: comfortable exercise, weight loss, better endurance etc.
HEART RATE MONITORING AT THE WRIST
The heart rate measurement on the wrist is a huge technological advance making heart rate watches simpler and more comfortable. For the last 4 years, our Research & Development teams have been testing different options for measuring the heart rate at the wrist.
We chose the optical heart rate sensor option for superior comfort while guaranteeing a good reliability of the signal.
RUNNING WITH YOUR HEART RATE TO SET THE PACE
Are you often out of breath at the end of a run? The HR 500 gives you real-time information so that you can adjust your speed and avoid getting too close to your limits. In the comfort zone, you should be able to speak while running. In the endurance zone, the exercise will be more intense, but you shouldn't get out of breath. In the resistance zone, you will get out of breath after a few minutes.
RUNNING WITH YOUR HEART RATE TO BURN FAT
Do you run to stay in shape? The "comfort" zone is particularly useful because it allows you to burn more fat and avoid getting out of breath. In fact, in this zone, your body is not under stress. It has time to burn fat properly to turn it into energy for your muscles.
FINDING TRAINING PROGRAMMES
The heart rate of your training sessions can be sent directly to your Decathlon Coach session.
Decathlon Coach is a free mobile app that guides you during your training sessions.
HOW ARE EXERCISE ZONES CALCULATED?
Your effort zones are automatically calculated according to your reserve heart rate (HRres = maximum heart rate - heart rate at rest).
Your maximum heart rate is estimated according to your age and gender. By default, the heart rate at rest is 70 bpm.
Warm-up: < 60% of your HRres.
Comfort 60 to 70% of your HRres.
Endurance: 70 to 80% of your HRres.
Resistance: 80 to 90% of your HRres.
Hard resistance: 90 to 100% of your HRres.
HEART RATE MONITORING AT THE WRIST: How does it work?
When you do exercise, such as running, your heart beats more quickly. The flow of blood through your vessels increases. The green light under the wristband enables the HR 500 watch to measure the blood flowing under your skin, which is used to obtain your heart rate. This optical sensor technology is completely integrated into the watch: Leave your heart-rate monitor belt at home!
Is an optical heart rate monitor less precise than a heart rate belt?
During our tests, we found that the optical sensor had an accuracy of more or less 2 bpm on average. The measurement is also a bit less reactive during interval training. We consider, like a lot of runners, that the advantages of having your heart rate on your wrist (comfort, simplicity, low weight etc.) largely outweigh the disadvantages.
HOW TO WEAR THE HR 500
To guarantee an optimal heart rate measurement, the HR 500 heart rate watch must be worn on the wrist after the prominent wrist bone.
The sensor must be in contact with the skin, which means that the wristband must be properly tightened. Your optical heart-rate monitor will not perform as effectively if the watch is too loose. For more information, please watch our explanatory video at the bottom of this page.
Does the optical heart rate monitor on the HR 500 work on all types of skin?
The heart rate sensor technology on the HR 500 is designed for all skin colours and any amount of arm hair. On dark or tattooed skins, less light is reflected by the skin. In this case, the sensor adjusts by increasing the brightness of the emitted light or by adjusting the sensitivity of the light sensor. If however you encounter any problems, contact our team on our support website.
Is the optical heart rate monitor on the HR 500 suitable for all sports?
The heart rate sensor technology on the HR 500 is ideal for sports involving repetitive movements such as running, walking or cross-training.
For sports involving unsynchronised movements like fitness sports, weight training, racket sports and team sports, you may observe errors in the readings.
MANUAL HEART RATE ZONES
If you want to train in a very specific heart rate zone, you can enter a manual heart rate zone into the watch (in BPM or %MHR). A graphic indicator on the screen, along with a sound signal, will inform you when you leave the zone. You can also enter your resting heart rate and maximum heart rate yourself if you already know them.
COMPARE YOUR RUNS
The HR 500 watch gives you summaries of your previous runs. For each session, you'll find your run duration, your average heart rate and the number of calories burnt.
BATTERY LIFE & CHARGING
The HR 500 jogging watch has a battery life of 2.5 days in heart rate mode and 30.5 days in watch mode. It can be recharged using the USB cable provided.
Dimensions
Useful screen diameter: 25 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight: 34.4 g
WARRANTY & AFTER-SALES SERVICE
DECATHLON products include a 2-year warranty. If you have any questions, go to our support website.
You will find tips to make effective use of your device: instructions, frequently asked questions from our users, and video tutorials. In order to provide you with maximum support, the assistance support team is available 24/7 and will respond to you personally.
USER RESTRICTIONS
This watch is designed for sport and leisure. It's not a medical device. The information provided by the watch is for information purposes only and must not be used to track a pathology.
Do not use the heart rate measurement function in water.