Toots and Sally Ride Again

Bought one a couple of weeks ago…a Polar FS3 - just now setting it up. Been using the one’s that come with the exercise machines…the one’s you have to “hold on” to the machine handles and wait for a “read out”. I know, not the most convenient…anyway, I’m finding it very difficult staying within my target heart rate (the one that was recently calculated for me during a recent fitness assessment). I have not run with my personal HRM, but I imagine my personal one would be more accurate in calculating my actual heart rate during my run. Do either of you use a heart rate monitor when you run? If so, what exactly about your heart rate are you tracking? Are you trying to stay within a certain range and if so for what purpose? Anyway, I’m always way above where I should be and so I just wonder if I should be slowing it down a bit??? I don’t feel like I’m going to pass out or anything like that. I was about 20-25 beats above my target heart rate for most of my 4 miler today, but I actually felt good and did not feel “winded”(is that a real word?). I was sweating buckets but, then again I always do…no matter how fast or slow I run. Lumpy, do you have any words of wisdom for me? Sally, help.