I’m not one to wear a heartrate monitor hardly ever, but I have my new GPS toy the Garmin 305 and it has the heartrate strap. So I’m wearing it more often than not to see what my average heartrate is and how it compares to perceived effort. So far, if it feels easy, it is easy (< 130 bpm average). Genius.
Now I have no idea where exactly in terms of heartrate where one zone ends and the other begins and I’m not paying for the test to tell me. Partly because in order to find out, I would have to go really super hard to find the upper reaches of the zones and maxes and what-have-you’s and I’m all “not yet” on that crazy talk. The other part is because I’m not paying for it because that costs money.
So what did I do about those 10 minute “zone 3″ intervals on last Saturday’s ride? I went what felt like Zone 3, which is harder than I wanted to go and much longer too. To add insult to injury, I was dropped after about 3 minutes and then there was a ginormous hill we go up, so my Zone 3(ish) was more like 15 minutes, or so it seemed but I’m not sure because that was the day my Garmin decided not to work. Everyone waited at the top of the hill so we could start the second interval together, which was good for me because this time I attached myself to a tall guy’s rear wheel and didn’t let go. I found it way easier that way, just like they do at Clearwater 70.3, or so I hear.
But the damage had been done between the 3 1/2 hour ride with intervals and two 37 running mile weeks in a row. Now all my runs are Zone Easy averaging 123-124 bpm. Even today’s where I picked a hilly route with the stroller. Can you say recovery run two days in a row? Pace = SLOW. That’s OK, though, because I’m still running and not breaking down. If I keep running, then I’ll get fast again eventually. No rush. I have plenty of time.
I’m with you on the lack of HR monitoring and zoning and all that. I don’t even have a computer on my bike (and haven’t for 5 years). Maybe it would help, but I’ve tried that sort of training before and it just seems less fun to me. I’m sure sometimes I’m going too easy when I’m supposed to be going hard, or too hard when I’m supposed to be going easy, but I’m enjoying the heck out of my training, and getting faster too… and isn’t that what it’s all about?
I have a formula for your zones. When you are ready…run 3 miles all out on the track and take HR and mile splits.
Clearwater…I did the first one, before people were interested in it. I rode cleanly (it is possible even in Clearwater). I did have to clip out and stop three times to let packs go through 180 degree turns…but I was clean. Unfotunately, many folks subscribe to the “when in Rome” theory. Hopefully, I am the marshal they encounter. There is nothing more fun than busting a large group of drafters because I know I’m stopping the nonsense and giving clean racers a chance. Of course, there are other ways to get folks off your wheel…pee, “accidentally” shoot Gatorade over your shoulder, etc..