Trying to take it easy

[Yesletsgo]

A busy day ahead today so my run was only 3 km.

After my last (interval) run it seemed like a good idea to have an easy recovery run. Instead of monitoring my pace I decided I'd closely watch my heartbeat instead. My husband ran off ahead while I plodded along.

I can't say I enjoyed running like this. It felt like harder work than running faster. My stride and pace just didn't feel natural at all. Of course, this could just be because I'm ingrained in bad habits but on the basis of today's run I'm not sure I'll repeat the exercise.

In terms of success, yes, I kept my heart rate below 140 bpm. Well, I did for most of the run but in the final few hundred metres I'd had enough. I decided to run as fast as I could and I felt like I'd been let off a leash. Heart rate rocketed to over 150 bpm but only for a minute or two. The average for the run (including warm up/cool down) was 129 bpm.

There was an upside though - that nice Mr Garmin knocked another year off my age. Silver linings

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Very nice! I agree that slow running feels quite unnatural, it takes a long time to get used to it but it's worth it 👍 well done for keeping your HR in check, you deserved that treat at the end. I can actually feel your joy during that final few hundred metres when you just went for it! 😃👍🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate]

We run as we run, and making even , called-for, small changes can feel totally wrong. Just staying ib the range you wish to be in, is good. I don't think you have bad habits, you run for you and I feel there may be more issues caused, if you consistently hold back?

Youa re montioring hwat is happening and enjoying the runs while you do... so all good?

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

I found this hard too, especially after running pretty much every couch to 5k run like a tempo run! Mindset really helps-if I want to run really slowly, I put on a talking podcast and focus on that instead of the run. I agree with Oldfloss -I don’t think this is bad habits, just a very different way of running. You could just go for your slow and steady conversational pace effort instead of looking at your heart rate? How much higher is your heart rate if you do that?

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

So many factors involved here aren't there? Age, fitness level, heat or cold, humidity and even stress levels! This is why I do not use my heart monitor on my Garmin... I go with my body, breathing and recovery time...I feel I would stress more if I saw numbers!

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

I know what you mean about 'r running pretty much every couch to 5k run like a tempo run' MissUnderstanding !

I usually run on perceived effort. My HR soon rises above the threshold zones and spends. This isn't at all uncomfortable, no breathlessness, can hold a conversation etc. It's an effort but in a good way. HR between 139-149 is my normal for mid run.

If it rises above 150 I get an uncomfortable feeling in my chest which gets slightly painful if it goes above 160 so I slow down and breath deeply until it falls. Normally I don't check my HR very much unless it feels 'off' which is how I've learned these 'limits'.

On the plus side, my HR falls quite quickly once I slow down.

Yesterday I felt I was in 3rd gear when I'd rather be in 5th.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

That’s such a good description! Oh that feeling of frustration when someone else is driving and they haven’t changed up!!!

I think it’s good to try things out of our comfort zones and maybe adapt them a little to how we like to run. Perhaps next time try slightly slower than usual but not as slow as your last run and see how that feels? I’ve got killer DOMS from a PT session yesterday so I’ll either be walking or running super slowly. That’s actually how I discovered I was able to run at a slower pace after all my couch to 5k sprinting!!!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Absolutely!! I don’t trust the heart rate monitor on my watch very much. Yesterday, my heart was apparently thumping away at over 200bpm on a lovely, chilled flat section of country lane. I had a quick feel of my pulse and it was nowhere near that.

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

That's a relief! I read that if you don't do your watch strap tight enough it can confuse heart rate with cadence.

My Garmin has a quirk that every so often it tells me my heart rate is 0. I have checked this, it's been wrong so far!!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

You’d be a medical marvel indeed running with a pulse of zero!!

[Oldfloss Administrator 60minGraduate in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Exactly... ! When I started running , I used to go with, " I'm breathing normally, my heart is not pounding, I don't feel faint, nauseous or dizzy.. All good " .🤣

[Yesletsgo Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Or IannodaTruffe's mantra 'I can talk to the end of this sentence comfortably on one breath'.

Miss his words of wisdom.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Yesletsgo]

Spoken for us all ❤️