Comments on: Heart Rate Training: The Final Verdict

By: I Run For Fun

I Run For Fun — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:56:06 +0000

This is fascinating stuff. When I train, I usually do recovery runs as well as intense runs, but you have me thinking that even on my recovery runs, I may be running faster than I should. Heart rate training seems to be a good way to learn to be patient…and it seems like the results are worth it! Thanks for posting, Beth! This is eye-opening.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:20:50 +0000

Thanks for the great info!

By: Nitmos

Nitmos — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:24:27 +0000

I’ll trust you on this. Sounds very science-y. While I should probably take this to heart, I’ll probably just do what I always do and – wing it.

By: NY Wolve

NY Wolve — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:21:35 +0000

That is very interesting. I train with a HRM, but have never tried to stay in zone 2 (or what the books, etc. tell me is zone 2). I basically try to keep most workouts in zone 3 with some creep up to 4. Tempo runs, etc, zone 4. And if I get to 90-95% of max…dial it back or I better be on the last half mile of a race. It isn’t going to last long at 95% of max. Also, if I am really winded, I always look at HRM to tell me how hard I am really working. If I am at like 80% of max, I mentally tell myself “Come on, tough it out…you aren’t even working hard!”

That being said, when I first got it, I couldn’t run at all in zone 2 or 3. I now realize it was because I was woefully out of shape. But even now, I don’t try to train in zone 2. I just don’t enjoy it, and that is 90% of the reason for my training. I wish I had the confidence to do what you did though — trust that 3 months of low intensity training would change it all. But I don’t know — I’d probably deal with running fast and taking slower improvements. But that is me.

By: BrianFlash

BrianFlash — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:07:29 +0000

One of these days…VO2 max test!

By: Black Knight

Black Knight — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:08:54 +0000

Interesting post about the HRT, I am sure it will be successful.
I don’t check anymore my HR because when I did it I spent all my time to watch the monitor.
Good luck with your training.
Hi from …. snowy … (no more sunny) Italy!

By: Linda

Linda — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:19:46 +0000

Thank you – thank you – thank you!

I just sent off an email to a sports center in Madison to have a fitness assessment done.

So glad you posted this – as I mentioned before I have started to run with my heart rate monitor – but without the test – I have no way of truely knowing where I should be running.

Glad you had such success and good luck with your IM training