Cross train~

I didn't do another 4.5 today. I cross trained instead. If that's what it's even called. I just ran two miles, then I did the stepper machine for 30 minutes. Good workout. I know I need to do more weight training, but again, that fear I have...sucks. Monday I'm starting the Beginner's Running 1/2 marathon training schedule-
It looks like this:

Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
1	Rest	2 mi	Rest	2.5 mi	Rest	3 mi	2 mi EZ
2	Rest	2 miles	Rest	3 mi	CT or Rest	4 mi	2.5 mi EZ
3	Rest	2.5 mi	CT	3 mi	Rest	5 mi	2 mi EZ
4	Rest	3 mi	CT	4 mi	Rest	6 mi	3 mi EZ
5	Rest	3 mi	CT	3 mi	Rest	7 mi	3 mi EZ
6	Rest	4 mi	CT	4 mi	Rest	8 mi	3 mi EZ
7	Rest	4 mi	Rest	4 mi	CT	9 mi	3 mi EZ
8	Rest	4 mi	CT	3 mi	Rest	10 mi	3 mi EZ
9	Rest	5 mi	CT	4 mi	Rest	11 mi	Rest
10	3 mi EZ	4 mi	Rest	3 mi	CT	12 mi	3 mi EZ
11	Rest	CT	Rest	3 mi	CT	5 mi	2.5 mi EZ
12	Rest	2 mi	20 minutes	Rest	20 minutes	Race Day!	Rest Day!

I'm hoping to get my long runs in Saturdays-before work. That may just mean I'll have to get up waaaaay early to get them in! It's starting to get warmer- so those early runs may just be what I need~  The 1/2 isn't until August so hopefully, this will allow me enough time to double weeks when I have to.

I told myself that I'm going for a trail run tomorrow. We have a trail by the house that's 2.65 miles around. I trained a bit last year and walked for most of it. I'm hoping that this year I'll run it all the way around- I think I can do it!! I have a hard time with my speed when I'm not on the treadmill. I love the treadmill because it tells me where I'm at. On the road, I usually end up starting too fast and burn out only after a few minutes.
Is that why runners wear those heart rate monitors? I'm always seeing them check their watches while running. Does this help them slow down or speed up? What monitor is the cheapest, yet best option??