Point, counter point.  Interesting article in the Times today about the Fitbit craze, measuring steps, sleep patterns, heart rate, etc.   There’s a fair point to be made that because of these tracking gizmos we’ve lost track of our bodies, and don’t know how to listen to them, to feel when we need to cut back, or to sense when there’s still some gas in the tank.  It’s not that different from our GPS obsessed world that has caused a sense of direction to go the way of the dinosaurs.  GPS is imperfect, and people drive off cliffs in Iceland (recent true story), and Fitbits, Garmins and other heart rate monitors will no doubt lead weekend warriors to put themselves at risk of cardiac arrest,

But the article asked a simpler question.  Do these gizmos really tell us anything useful?   Yes, no, and maybe, I say.   I’m definitely learning a lot of about my heart rate, and the impact of various forms of exercise.   But does that really tell me something I didn’t already know (more or less)?   Not sure about that.   But I’m withholding judgment for now.  Let’s see how my data-driven training plays out over the next several months.  I’m willing to play along for now, knowing that I’m aiming high and want to use all available tools.