I haven't mentioned this on my blog much but my husband has his masters degree in exercise science. Although he has worked as a carpenter/woodworker the past few years, due to the economy, he has worked in corporate fitness for many years and currently is back into the exercise field. He now is an instructor at a school where the students are logging in hours to become trainers and he also is a trainer in a program at a local high school.
I am sure some of you are thinking wow what a great resource you have! Yes, I thought so too. When we tried to work out together though it just wasn't that fun. He would boss me around and I would be stubborn and say that he was wrong HA. So we have totally worked on that and depending how our weeks are scheduled we do work out together. We can do cardio together pretty well now. We hike 14er's together in the summer and occassionlly we will go to the gym and lift.
Story:
Now that he is back working in the exercise science field he is exposed to more training information. Recently he has really been harping (nagging) on me to wear a heart rate monitor to work on my fitness. Back when I ran in college I knew about the VO2 max information and where my heart rate needed to be but after college I just didn't get into that or care really.
My track workouts I should be at 171 minimum
My pace/tempo runs should be at 158-170 and I never get my heart rate that high.
My LSD run should be at 145-157 I am pretty sure I have been sandbagging those too.
I plan to start using the HR monitor now and pay close attention to where my heart rate is. He claims I will see improvement quickly. I know it will hurt more and I do fear the pain but if I stick to the numbers maybe that will help me mentally?! I will keep you posted!
Do any of you use a heart rate monitor?
Do you get chaffing from the heart rate monitor?
You need to be careful with these numbers. My coach determined mine in a lactate threshold test, based on my resting HR and max HR. Everyone is different and the general formulas that take age into account obviously do not work for everyone. My easy pace, for ex. is 145-165 bc my maax HR in the test was 185 (so 185-20). My recovery is 135-155. Good luck. HR training helps a ton!
ReplyDeleteI have started using my heart rate monitor again. I am trying to use it properly but it is not easy. My max hr is low and so I am practically walking for most of my workouts. That is no fun! I have a long way to go to get this right!
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
I'm relating to this post. I've been running the same paces and training for the same race time for over a year...I've watched others improve GREATLY while I am about the same and I really can't say that it's because I don't put in the time. Lightbulb! I hardly ever use my HR monitor but especially lately this has interested me. I don't know that I'm sandbagging necessarily just maybe getting complacent with how I run say "10K". Perhaps 2 years ago I ran 10K pace at 185 and now I run 10K pace at 165 and am content to use the same 10K but not adjust and therefore, not improve.... Who knows...babbling. I agree with AM as HR zones etc. need to be determined individually. Everyone is different.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with this and yes, keep us posted! I'm anxious to mess around with it after Boston.
I used a heartrate monitor for awhile but got irritated with my HR always being too high and I would get frustrated. So I gave up. I'm sure if I used it now that I'm in better shape it would be better. It does help but high maintence to always watch those numbers. Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteI've never paid attention to my heart rate or ever used a monitor. That's an interesting theory. Maybe I should try it out. It would be nice if I could get my pace below 10 minutes a mile!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad I found this post. I've been so behind with blogs but glad to spend some time on yours tonight. Jenn and I talked a bit today about this. I agree with what she writes above. I've never used a HR monitor but I think after Boston I might give it a try.
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