So tonight was my first opportunity to do heart rate training. It was an interesting experience. The workout tonight was my 'endurance run' and it called for a 5 minute warm-up and then 30 minutes in Zone 2.
I learned a LOT
I learned I never run in zone 2.
I learned that running doesn't have to = suffering
I learned that I don't have to want to quit after the first mile
I learned that I'm a pretty tough task master and I'm actually really good at pushing myself
I learned that running can actually be fun :)
I learned that have been approaching every training session as a race - pushing it all out usually in zone 3-4 and that's probably why it's sometimes hard to get myself out the door.
It was interesting, it was fun and I think I'm going to really really like my new training program.
There's always been a part of me that wondered if I've been pushing myself hard enough. There was always this voice in my head that said "You're being a wimp, stop complaining" I can't tell you how good it felt to know that I haven't been a wimp all this time and I've actually been pushing myself to the actual edge of my endurance. Now to see if stepping back a little will continue to allow me to improve. I wonder if I'll see the same results tomorrow on the bike.
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5 comments:
I hear you! I find myself riding in Zones 3 and 4 mostly and not taking the time to embrace the recovery rides in the lower zones. Thanks for the reminder that it's okay to have a workout where you can actually carry on a conversation with a riding buddy at the same time.
Good post, Shawn. Sounds like you are learning a lot about yourself by working out. Keep on keeping on. Art
Good to see you're using HR's to run in zone.
It can be (as your discovering) a pretty eye opening experiance for the first few months, but after that you'll find it'll really help you judge your level of effort - especially in races. It can also be kinda frustrating too when you have to run slower than you want to (or friends want to) when you're running at a set zone.
i went for a lactate threshold test earlier in the year to get my zones figured out, as i've always had a naturally high heart rate. when i got my zones... i realized that i was always training in my zone 4... no wonder i always felt bagged! good luck with it, i'm going to focus more on my heart rate training during the winter months again...
agree with Rainmaker about having to go slower, but as I understand it, your pace should get faster at the same heart rate range as you're conditioning.
vineman???? did you pull the trigger??
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