Heart rate training!!

[Ajs07]

I’ve noticed that my legs are getting stronger as my running pace is getting quicker, whilst this wouldn’t normally be a problem, I’m training for a half marathon and need distance over speed. I’m finding it very hard to reign back my pace so decided to use my new Garmin watch to run using heart rate zone 2 to slow my pace. OMG, I’ve never had such a frustrating run!! My heart rate was too low at walking and too high when jogging very slowly. I lost count of how many times I slowed to a walk to get heart rate down, just when I thought I had it sorted, breathing slowly in and out through nose, my wrist buzzed telling me too high again! I gave up in the end and just ran but it was horrible. I might do the next run using heart rate but aim to keep below top of zone 3 and work down to zone 2 .

[TedG Half Marathon]

Hi AJ, I’m not an expert but I went to the doctors re my HR whilst running as it was above the 220 minus my age, in my case 69. He told me it was nothing to worry about providing there’s no chest pain and my rate comes back down to normal relatively quickly.

My pace picked up after a lay off a while back and that’s now my normal easy pace. If your breathing is still easy at your new pace and you’re not gasping, I’d suggest you’re OK. As I said, I’m no expert, just speaking from experience 😊

[Ajs07 in reply to TedG]

Thank ted, my heart rate is fine but I was trying out running within specific heart rate zones ,with great difficulty. I’m going to try an easier zone next time x

[JaySeeSkinny Half Marathon]

I’ve been running with a HRM for a year and managed my first complete run in zone 2 last week. I’m sure if you’re training and want to be a professional these things are good, but my HRM has made me slower and I don’t feel stronger. I wouldn’t take it too seriously. If you really want to know your ranges you need to be properly checked out or push yourself to your limit.

Bazza1234 is the expert on this kind of thing.

[Ajs07 in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

Thanks, I found it very difficult and frustrating, I’m going to zone 3 next time x

[Lordi Marathon]

Zone 2 would be a gentle slow jog / warm-up jog pace? I run my comfortable longer runs in zone 3 (controlled conversational breathing and not too hot and bothered). For me, zone 3 is my run any distance cruise zone. My zone 4 is only when I have a rush of blood to the head and try to run fast to beat my PB time etc. I plan to run my HM all in zone 3 and maybe give it some zone 4 towards the end if I feel good.

Zone 2 jogging would seem to be too conservative IMHO and 3 is usually reasonably maintainable over distance with increased fitness.

[Ajs07 in reply to Lordi]

Thank you,that seems to make sense to me, zone 2 is just way too slow for me, my heart rate rose just with the frustration of it all, am going to try zone 3 next.

[benwill Marathon]

To do this correctly you have to work out your max hr so you can then work out the correct zones under that. Do not go with max hr formula this will be wrong. Have a search online there ways to work this out with a strong paced run.