1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: a hardware counter counting to a predetermined value; in response to the hardware counter reaching the predetermined value, collecting data corresponding to a runtime event; determining whether the runtime event is of a particular event type, wherein said determining is dependent on the collected data; and in response to determining that the runtime event is of the particular event type, incrementing a synthesized counter configured to monitor events of the particular event type, wherein the synthesized counter is implemented as a storage location in machine addressable memory.