I have been training for 12 years with a HRM and I am very familiar with my HR, my body, and performance during training and racing - so I don't plan to change much BUT I sometimes get a nagging feeling that I train just a little too hard. I want to do a lot of base training this winter so I want to start planning for it.
I know to get true zones, I should get an AT test or VO2 max test
(so you don't need to tell me that
). BUT, based on the following - what should my zones be?
My data:
In general, I can maintain a HR around 173
(took a lot of research and experience to come to this "magic" number for me
) for an extended amount of time
(around 1 hr
) - This is what I usually try to keep it at for a 10k race and what I use for my AT. Any more than 173 and I start to feel that I need to pull back some and the lactic acid build up.
I can go up to 185 for up to 10 to 15 minutes
(as if I'm trying to sprint at the end of a 10k or climb a big hill on the bike or 5k race
) Anything over 188, I know I can't maintain for much more than a couple minutes
(red zone
).
Around 135 and I can go forever, breath easy, hold a conversation - easy workout and what I use for a recovery workout.
Around 145 and I can still go forever but I start to get a little winded and it starts a sweat.
(my aerobic base training does not exceed this number
)
A lot of my long bikes and runs I like to keep in the 140's but end up creeping into the 150's by the end.
Into the 160's and I start to feel like I'm pushing it - use for some fartlek/speed training.
MHR - as tested was 201
RHR - about 45
Age 38
Something I have noticed about myself compared to research and other athletes - I seem to be able to run/bike at a slightly higher HR than most people and feel pretty comfortable.