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Pondering

It's that time again when I've once more looked at my bookshelf and spotted my HRM book .... which has made me think.

Brass Monkey is January 2007 ... should I try a HR program again??

Have looked at the schedule that Rick gave me 2yrs ago and looked at the book. Rick's zones are lower HR than the Book ("Heart Rate Monitor Training for the Complete Idiot). The main reason I hated Rick's schedule was that I was crawling and walking so much. This means that 70% would be 159 instead of the 144 I was trying to stay below before which I think is much more achievable.

Now I have started a RW thread to ask some questions and advice ... I know Bear uses a HRM too.

  • Do I Heart Rate Train?
  • Don't I Heart Rate Train?
  • Run 4 times a week with or without HRM?
  • Just do my normal stuff?
  • Run daily in a Heart Rate Training manner?

Brass Monkey is my goal for the next 6 months and if FLM does happen then this could be a good base. I want to lose weight and get fitter and faster! Will HR training actually help or do I just run anyway. Will HR training make me plod more? I'd really appreciate your opinions guys! I don't want to get bored then give up or not run at all. I want to improve and get the TW success feeling again! Lots of comments and advice please!!

Comments

XFR Bear said…
I do use a HRM, as much as anything so I can see the figures improve when i compare runs.

Can't say I got on with "base training" - I got so frustrated having to walk that it put me off.

From memory the book you mention says do some runs below 70% and others at 85% or above - seems like not a bad starting point to me. It'll give you variety for starters.

Give it a try and see how it goes. You will definitely be training, and after all, that's the main thing

I do still think I need to get rid of the cardiac drift thing; maybe I'll come back to base training in a while
6:46 PM, July 30, 2006
fraggle said…
Pass

gave up on the hrm myself as I ended up walking too much. I guess if you use it to help you run at lower HR (though not at walking pace!!) then the theory says you're less prone to injury and can run more.
Get back in the pool too - I've been cycling this week, and I can feel the positive effects on my legs already :o)
8:02 PM, July 30, 2006
womble said…
I think base training is about the hr you can do your long runs at. Don't worry about percentages. I mean, do you really know what your max hr is? Is the resting hr you think you've measured, really right? Are you using Karvonen, straight % of max or, some other method???

So, do some runs where you go at a comfortable pace and don't look at hr until you get back home. Keep doing those runs, let them get longer. Over a few weeks you'll see your hr drop for the same pace, or same hr but faster pace.

Training is about what's right for you, not what a formula says.

Once you've got a good feel for your hr and pace, then you can start to build on that and do different sessions - speed work, hills etc. But you need to know you first. From experience. Not a book.

fwiw, imho etc
11:04 PM, July 30, 2006
beanz said…
I always wear ny HRM, but not always to good effect

however I do know what HR I can run steadily at (when it is not too hot! and when I have warmed up) and what HR a harder session will be at (ie a club run)

but the main use is when I am slacking on a hill, if my HR says I can do this then I will try to keep running, but if my HR is through the roof I will allow myself to walk a little until it drops back to something more sensible
12:01 AM, July 31, 2006
shortnginger said…
not sure about the hrm thing i tried it breifly but found it real hard to maintain any constants so spent more time faffing than running i gave up on it but thats just a short ones humble opinion

good luck with the flm entry
and the interview
2:50 PM, July 31, 2006
Leon said…
Difficult one

I train to a HR
and mostly I can tell, within a range of beats, where I am with my HR from the way that it feels

But it's taken a while to get to that point.

Base Training is not all about running slowly, and it's not what I do strictly speaking, but by targeting the majority of my training for FLM this year at x% of my (measured) Max HR worked really well for me.

And it sorted out my drift

The points made by everyone else are really good ones too Pix.

Run comfortably for you
lots on miles and time on your feet - and your aerobic capacity will improve

Using a HRM is either going to help that, or give you something to fret about
I find it helpful.... not everyone does.

(and reading back this doesn't look like I've added much of substance)
9:47 PM, July 31, 2006
Evil Pixie said…
So what you mean to say v-rap is that I was fine it was the buzzing thing behind me!!
Makes sense!
Well kit is packed for tomorrow and I will use it at lunchtime!
3:48 PM, August 01, 2006
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