Does heart rate monitor = lightning rod?
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ChunkyB posted 27 weeks ago.
No, it does not. Being in the open increases your chances of getting struck, but the fact that you're wearing a heart rate monitor will not affect it at all. Lightning is just caused by a buildup of electrons in the cloud, or a separation of electrons and neutrons, and it has to discharge somehow. Usually it will find something high, but it also likes to find something sharp, because the likelihood of a strike depends on the distance, but also on the charge per surface area. It also likes to find something that's conductive, because that allows a buildup of electrons on the object. So, avoid wearing pointy, metal hats. But don't worry about wearing your HRM.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
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TryScott posted 27 weeks ago.
I see no reason why it would increase the chances. Maybe you can enlighten me as to how you made the connection between a HRM and lightning.
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callco posted 27 weeks ago.
I'd be worried about this, too. If my heart rate monitor looked like this.
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run2race posted 27 weeks ago.
My thinking was that the electrodes would act like the pointy hat.
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ChunkyB posted 27 weeks ago.
Yeah, the main reason it isn't going to make any kind of difference is because it's your head that matters. The lightning will strike the highest point, so unless you are adding metal to your head, you shouldn't worry about it. BTW, I like running in the rain (as much as I can like running), but I hate running in lightning.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
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beads1985 posted 27 weeks ago.
ChunkyB wrote:
Or this one. I think some German-made heart rate monitors are similar construction to this.
Achtung Baby!!
Nothing to it, but to do it
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run2race posted 27 weeks ago.
Thanks for the replies. Thinking about it more . . . with the german issue above and the chest transmitter, I may take on the fembots next storm.
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FlashRedGLS1.8T posted 27 weeks ago.
This thread is funny! And I needed a chuckle this morning.
I was out on a run a few weeks ago and what started as a drizzle turned into a tremendous thunderstorm. I got pretty anxious and felt pretty vulnerable wearing my HRM. Does anyone know if wearing a HRM increases your risk of being struck by lightning?