RPE question

Are you referring to the Beginner 1/2 Ironman - 20 Weeks - RPE?  I will be starting that same plan at the end of the month. 

 I really like the plan, but am not a huge fan of RPE training. I have been going over it with a fine tooth comb and making notes as I study it.  I have no intentions of "walking" during any of my training, so what I am doing is looking at my HR zones and adapting them to the RPE levels.  For the RPE 2-3 I will most likely be working in High Z2-3, etc.  In the program summary there is a RPE chart they provide for you to match up your HR with the RPE zones.  It may take some tweaking, but should work well.

Actually, RPE 2 is strong walk or easy run, easy conversation.

RPE 3 is somewhat easy, but can still hold a conversation.

RPE 2 and especially 3, then, is exactly where the vast majority of long-distance tri training should take place.

Hmmmm. Most RPE charts i see look like the one I found on this site:

RPE Zone	HR Zone	Description
0	Z1	Complete Rest
1	Z1	Very easy; light walking
2	Z1	Very easy; light walking
3	Z1	Very easy; walking
4	Z1	Still easy, maybe starting to sweat
5	Z2	Starting to work just a little and you can feel your HR rise
6	Z2 Upper	Working but sustainable, able to talk in full sentences
7	Z3	Strong effort; breathing labored, but can still maintain pace for some minutes without slowing.
8	Z4	Olympic Distance Race Pace for MOP to FOP
9	Z5	10k effort – very hard
10	Z5+	Z5+ = 5k effort and Z5++ = cannot hold effort for more than a minute or two. (almost maximal effort)

Based on this, I would disagree and say that "the vast majority of long-distance tri training should take place" at an RPE of 5 or 6.

What you recommend is described as "Very easy; walking."

I was referring to the RPE chart for that specific plan, which I assume is the Bronze Beginner 20 Week HIM plan.

The categorizations for RPE and Zones are always slightly different depending on th source.

Unless I'm reading this wrong I will respectfully disagree.

Train your weaknesses, race your strengths.  So for example if someone is weak in running, they should be running more.

From the free 20 week RPE plan here on BT:

PE	Description	Bike HR	Run HR
0	Complete Rest	Resting HR=	Resting HR=
1	Very Weak: light walking
2	Weak: strong walk, very slow run, easy conversation pace
3	Moderate: easy run, begin to sweat, but can hold conversation throughout
4	Somewhat Strong: still easy, sweating a bit more
5
6
7	Very Strong: breathing very labored, but can still maintain pace for some minutes without slowing.
8
9	Cannot hold effort for more than a minute or two
10	Extremely Strong (almost maximal)

I was looking at the 1st chart  butthe 2nd one that is part of the Beginner plan makes more sense. Why do they have two? I think I'll stick to zones and assume RPE 2-3 is Zone 2. Thanks for the help!

don't walk