T
The1senator
Guest
Out of the lurker background comes a HRM question.
First, some fitness background: I have been running for the past 5 years, 3-4 times per week when
the Michigan weather was good for running outside, 15-18 miles weekly, usual pace somewhere between
7:30 and 8:15....depending on my motivation! A few years back I decided all this work needed a goal
so I discovered tri's and du's. Have completed a few in the past two years and love them for keeping
my training interesting! Best sprint times: S:18:00 for .5 mile, B: 43:00 for 14 miles, R: 21:50 for
3.1 miles....satisfactory times for me, but no comments about the swim time, I am planning to work
on that this year!
For Christmas I received a Polar HRM and have been using it indoors (stationary bike, skating-like
slide pad and rowing machine) until the ice and snow went away. I read up about the concept of zone
training and was all set to hit the road.
Now my question: In my first runs over the past week, I have been near 85-90% of max HR while my
pace is 8 or 8:15/mile. After my runs, within 2-3 minutes the HR is down to 65-70% I am wondering
why the HR is so high for such an off pace. Am I just out of shape or was I redlining myself when I
was running my races? I don't think I took it that easy during the snow season. I kept up the
exercise frequency but the intensity may have dropped. Since I never had the monitor, I don't know
what my pre-season startup profile looks like nor do I know what over-training looks or feels like.
I feel very good after my workouts and really look forward to them.
Is this normal as one begins to use the HRM and understands what their true HR zones are as related
to physical exertion? If so, I guess over the past several years that I was really overstressing
myself (HR-wise) but it never felt like it because I was physically feeling quite good during and
after exercise.
Maybe I need to only consult the monitor and stick mostly with my routine of running as I feel
and recover as I need instead of trying to have a machine tell me how to do it. Thoughts and
comments welcome!
-Phil- *Hindsight is 20-20 and everybody has it. Forsight is a true talent which few attain*
First, some fitness background: I have been running for the past 5 years, 3-4 times per week when
the Michigan weather was good for running outside, 15-18 miles weekly, usual pace somewhere between
7:30 and 8:15....depending on my motivation! A few years back I decided all this work needed a goal
so I discovered tri's and du's. Have completed a few in the past two years and love them for keeping
my training interesting! Best sprint times: S:18:00 for .5 mile, B: 43:00 for 14 miles, R: 21:50 for
3.1 miles....satisfactory times for me, but no comments about the swim time, I am planning to work
on that this year!
For Christmas I received a Polar HRM and have been using it indoors (stationary bike, skating-like
slide pad and rowing machine) until the ice and snow went away. I read up about the concept of zone
training and was all set to hit the road.
Now my question: In my first runs over the past week, I have been near 85-90% of max HR while my
pace is 8 or 8:15/mile. After my runs, within 2-3 minutes the HR is down to 65-70% I am wondering
why the HR is so high for such an off pace. Am I just out of shape or was I redlining myself when I
was running my races? I don't think I took it that easy during the snow season. I kept up the
exercise frequency but the intensity may have dropped. Since I never had the monitor, I don't know
what my pre-season startup profile looks like nor do I know what over-training looks or feels like.
I feel very good after my workouts and really look forward to them.
Is this normal as one begins to use the HRM and understands what their true HR zones are as related
to physical exertion? If so, I guess over the past several years that I was really overstressing
myself (HR-wise) but it never felt like it because I was physically feeling quite good during and
after exercise.
Maybe I need to only consult the monitor and stick mostly with my routine of running as I feel
and recover as I need instead of trying to have a machine tell me how to do it. Thoughts and
comments welcome!
-Phil- *Hindsight is 20-20 and everybody has it. Forsight is a true talent which few attain*