Being bossed around by my HR watch -tempo run

[Cowladyrunning]

Thursday – my (Polar ignite) watch told me it was time for the fast tempo run – work had other ideas and I moved the run to Friday. This turned out to be a good plan as the weather was much calmer – just chilly instead of icy wind and sleet.

It was just getting dark as I set off and it set 25 minutes as a Phase 1 2 or 3 – of course I got excited that I was allowed in the green (3) for a warm up and set off too fast – hit the hill on our track and went into orange -phase 4 so had to walk to bring HR back down. Got it all under control so began a gentle jog. Just before the next hill I heard my daughter and husband returning home from milking and whoosh my HR went up to orange again as I waved enthusiastically so they would see it was me in the dark – not the neighbour who also wears a hi vis jacket…. I carried on walking up the hill. This continued in a pattern of HR dropping lower – ‘great I can run’ – to HR rises to orange – walk again! Still yoyo style but I’m sure I’m able to run more often than I originally was so I’m hopeful I’m seeing an improvement.

Then faint buzz means 5 minutes at phase 4 or 5 – orange to red – so off I run – of course I’m still on the gradual hill of the lane so it’s hard going and I’m still a bit chesty I think after covid as it makes me cough. Followed by 1 minute phase 2 / 3 so I slow…. Get HR down – what’s that rustle? Is someone else running? HR orange again – oh no it’s my hood – noisy coat. I do find I’m much ‘jumpier’ on a night run – just don’t expect to see anyone on an early run!

I had one more 5 minute slot for red / orange and as I had turned back for home it was downhill so easier. I had 5 minutes to cool down and remained walking past the neighbours house (yes I normally run whatever is required so I’m not ‘seen’ walking. 😊 ) The guided run stopped before I returned so I carried on walking.

I do wish I could have verbal guidance for the phases on my watch as I find looking at my wrist all the time to see what the buzz means is distracting to me rhythm. (Spoilt by Nike guided runs!) I also keep missing being able to add a race in as it will only do 14 week plans for HM or Marathon and I think about it at 12 weeks… or book at less. I am enjoying the HR training and slower pace and am interested to see how it affects my upcoming HM race – but am also mindful I am not yet at peak health after covid and have stupidly booked the race at the end of term which usually means end of termitus. Hopefully if I keep the pressure up for training and relax after the race the ‘itus’ can hit me then!

Phew if you made your way through that description be warned the watch does it’s loudest, angriest buzz to warn of inactivity. Bzzzzzzzz get moving!

[Oldfloss Administrator]

I struggled to keep up... that is a tricky post t to read and a run to run... phew!

Very well done you, getting through that!

I did giggle on the last sentence...when I turn my Garmin on in the mornings, it buzzes that, indignant buzz and flashes , angrily MOVE ! x

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Oldfloss]

Sorry 😂

[Vespina Half Marathon]

Wow, you have the patience of a saint. If my watch did that to me, it would be sailing over a hedge 🤣. I just run to feel. And then check my heart rate after I get home. I do sometimes look at heart rate on a walk but still don’t use targets.

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Vespina]

I just decided to try it out - I suppose partly inspired by Polar's advertising at the National running show and hearing Eilish McColgan talk about using it.... yes I have patience - it helps with my lines of work... children, animals and a carer..... !!!😬 (also why I run!)

[Vespina Half Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Definitely good to try new things. Do you think you’ll use that setting again?

I love the fact that you can monitor how your body reacts to your surroundings (like seeing loved ones and being snuck up on by your hood).

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Vespina]

Yes, I'm going to stick with it for now.... Ha ha yes reactive!! I find it shoots up when I run past a house - may be I'll chill out a bit in the end!!

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Vespina]

You and me both Vespina ! I don't even track all my runs these days as I got so sick of the stupid algorithms.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

I was with you every step there, I tried setting my watch to run/walk intervals once and got lost with the buzzes, I nipped across the beach for a photo of the sea and got out of sync, was running when it said walk, couldn't work out whether to walk extra or run extra to get back on track.Watches are demanding if us nowadays aren't they? Buzz buzz look sat me.

Sounds like your training is on track 🙂

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yes they're a bit addictive but I have had it a couple of years now and thought I'd better let it show me what it can do. My plan after trying this is to go low tech in the hills - more trail.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Sounds like a great plan, my plan is still in the planning stage but times passing and I'm having fun planning, with the odd day off run thrown into the mix

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Tis exciting to plan..... and definitely when you're in your situation! Very exciting!

[Cmoi Marathon]

What's the betting your watch, like mine, doesn't take into account the effect of hills Cowladyrunning ? I'd never use a program like that as my watch would be in a permanent tizzy fit!

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

yes very true - probably set to a racetrack.... I hadn't thought of that - maybe I'm just meant to puff my way around as I please? I do like how it's taught me to slow down but, also I do know I ran my last half very comfortably with a great positive mindset and spent pretty much the whole race in red zone.... I should just run to feel...... hmmmm I don't know 🤷‍♀️😂 I'll stick with it up to my race - then might go awol from the watch......

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

My Garmin's default heart rate zones were way out Cowladyrunning , so I personalised them. Even so I've never managed to stay in the two lowest zones during a run.

I'm all for walking when it saves energy or I can't physically run the terrain, but doing so just to please an algorithm, no way! So it's definitely running by perceived effort for me.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

If nothing else, it will make you think, make you more aware. And that has to be a good thing right? You will add your own layer of intelligence as time goes by 😊

[Oldgirlruns 10 Miles]

Phew, that all sounds very complicated CLR! Or maybe I’m just not doing it right - all I seem to do is get down to the seafront, decide whether to turn L or R (have to do one or the other or else it would be swimming😂) and then start plodding in my direction of choice! But I guess whichever way we do it, at least we’re doing it!

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Oldgirlruns]

true! 😀

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

😍😍😍

Your watch has you whipped!!!

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to linda9389]

It does.... I'm so bad though I still miss the strength training reminders......

[Cowladyrunning Marathon]

I did a long run and ignored HR setting today and ran to feel. Nice run - I ran up some hills but walked most and ran where I could. 😊

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Cowladyrunning]

Fwiw  Cowladyrunning my average heart rate during today's run (11.56km, 307m+) was 148 bpm. With my Garmin settings that's zone 3 - aerobic.

Today's run was almost equally split between zones 2, 3 and 4 at respectively 22%, 53% and 21% of the time (plus 1% in zone 1 and 0% in zone 5, and no, the percentages don't add up!)

As usual I was running by feel, just bimbling along having fun (8:25 /km average.) As usual Mr Garmin disapproved of my frivolity, twerp that he is, and docked me a VO2 Max point.

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Thank you - yes I did today and Sunday by feel and am back to being told I'm over reaching. I reminded myself I ran Cardiff half last year well and without after pain so I don't need to be told what to do!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Hi CLR! I’m with you on annoying buzzing, and not getting what each one means. I too have been spoilt by Coach B and friends.

I don’t work with HR training as my HR is a joke (low), but I do have a run/walk setting on my Garmin FR 255 for when I’m feeling like a Jeff. The buzzes are fairly clear to hear (unlike on my old Vivoactive), but I do wish the walk buzzes could be slightly different to the run ones. The km alerts are slightly squeakier though which is a help.

Good for you sticking with that run, and good luck with getting back to peak fitness for your race. My fitness has nosedived yet again, so I’ll be starting from scratch, aiming for the HUHM in May! 😳😅 Fat chance, so maybe I’ll be taking Jeff with me. 🙏🏻

[Cowladyrunning Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you Cheeky, I went back to Nike for a run this morning but the coach (not Bennett) abandoned me and so I made up my own! Tech eh? It's not worth it 🤣 I too have a jeffing setting but I miss it and mess that up too 🙊