General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Please share your HR training success stories Rss Feed  
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2006-08-18 12:16 PM

Subject: Please share your HR training success stories
I'm finally going to start training by HR. Zone 2 runs and all that good stuff (I've probably been mostly z3 for ALL of my training except speedwork). But I still can't get my mind around the idea that running 10:00 miles will actually make me faster in the long run. I get the principle, but just don't see it happening. Any one have success stories?


2006-08-18 12:43 PM
in reply to: #515771

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Expert
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Subject: RE: Please share your HR training success stories

I was about 3 months into training with an HRM last year when I posted a similar message. I was not yet seeing results and was getting really sick of running slower than normal. Several people posted with their success stories. Many had seen results in a couple of months. I was really discouraged, but kept at it. It took me 4-5 months before I really started to notice results.

Everyone is different, but here is my story.

October 2005

  • My LT was 165
  • I had to run at a 11:00 - 12:00 minute pace to keep in zone 2. This included walking anything resembling a hill.

August 2006

  • My LT is 182
  • I can run 10+ miles at a 9:30-10:00 pace and never leave zone 1.

The procedure for determining my LT last year was different than the one I use now, so I am not sure that it is an even comparison. I think that it is pretty close. I now use Mike Ricci's time trial method.

I started speedwork in late spring and am now running faster than I ever have. I think that the base I built while running in zone 1/2 for all of those months helped with that.

If nothing else, I learned more about how my body works during exercise than I ever thought that I would understand.

Good luck with your training.

Bill

2006-08-18 1:20 PM
in reply to: #515771

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Runner
Subject: RE: Please share your HR training success stories
I will start by saying that I have never used a HRM, but from everything I've ever seen, don't rely on just the HRM data to structure your workouts. Use it as a tool along with RPE and all the other tools available to you.
2006-08-18 1:26 PM
in reply to: #515771

Subject: RE: Please share your HR training success stories
Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for. I'm hoping to not need to walk any hills, but you never know how it will go with the heat.
2006-08-18 1:27 PM
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Subject: RE: Please share your HR training success stories

Danielle - shoot me an email at [email protected] or PM with your test data and LT heart rate and I’ll help you out set up your zones/paces. (Probably on Monday after Timberman) And YES you will become faster! Look at my logs and search how many runs I’ve done at Z3-Z4 on the past 8 months…

2006-08-18 2:47 PM
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Subject: RE: Please share your HR training success stories

Timely thread. This is also a training issue for me right now.

Here is the thread rollinsw referred to (Nov 2005). Will read that before posting more.



2006-08-18 3:05 PM
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The Original
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Subject: RE: Please share your HR training success stories
Perfect timing for me as well.  I started training by HR a few weeks ago.  I did a Z2 run last night at a 10:40 pace.  I was feeling the urge to run faster but I'm determined to give this HR thing a chance so stuck to the appropriate zone.  But it is frustrating to run WAY slower than what you used to. 
2006-08-18 3:13 PM
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Subject: RE: Please share your HR training success stories

I've been working with a coach and doing HR training since April 2005.

I pulled some of my stats to show how it has helped me. Albeit that I'm a lot slower than all of you guys to start with...still improved a bunch.

A standard run route for me, last year a long run, this year medium but doing it in my aerobic zone
7/16/05, 61:03, pace 14:22 m/m
7/11/06, 46:48, pace 11:01 m/m

How did that translate into improvement in tri running...different races but both sprints
7/2005, 11:51 m/m
8/2006, 9:58 m/m

My 5K stand alone pace is 9:17 m/m but need to redo that as I think I'm faster since I last tested.

It works, keep at it. I can't wait to see what next year brings for me. Last year I was always one of the very bottom folks in run placement...this year I've moved up. Improving a minute/mile more will bring me up more towards middle of my AG.

2006-08-18 3:44 PM
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Subject: RE: Please share your HR training success stories
If you goto www.coolrunning.com and look under the basic training tab they have about 38 pages on Maffetone's method of HR training. Look for the Maffetone thread. There are some great success stories there.
2006-08-18 3:44 PM
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Subject: RE: Please share your HR training success stories

Here is from my training blog last week:

 

5K PR

Looks like the training is paying off. 5K @ 08:37 pace with avg HR 166, Max HR 179 (primarily Z2 and Z3). One month ago 5K pace = 9:07 with avg HR 182, Max 188 (primarily Z4 and Z5).

Using the HRM is really working for me, but I was pretty slow to begin with. 

2006-08-18 4:08 PM
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Subject: RE: Please share your HR training success stories

Rowdy - 2006-08-18 2:44 PM If you goto www.coolrunning.com and look under the basic training tab they have about 38 pages on Maffetone's method of HR training. Look for the Maffetone thread. There are some great success stories there.

Thanks Rowdy - Can't seem to find the right page within cool running (dooh!). Do you mind going to the page copying the link from your address bar and reposting here. Thanks.

Googled 'cool running and Maffetone' and think I found it

Holy @$%# that and the Low HR Training FAQ will keep me reading for a bit.



Edited by yojimbo 2006-08-18 4:20 PM


2006-08-18 4:48 PM
in reply to: #515771

Subject: RE: Please share your HR training success stories
Thanks everyone! I will have to read through this later as I am late for dinner, but I just did my first z2 run at an 11:53 pace for 7.2 miles. This is definitely frustrating since I raced 10 miles at an 8:52 pace a few weeks ago (it was 10 degrees cooler however). Anyway, I'll keep at it.
I also passed a truck with a vanity plate that said "4FITZ2", and figured that was a good sign.
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