Here's one for you...
Cyclists and triathletes tend to use the following zones (please forgive if I'm a little out):
1 - 60-65% - Recovery
2 - 65-70% - Endurance
3 - 70-80% - Aerobic
4 - 80-85% - Lactate Threshold
5 - 86+% - Max Aerobic, increasing VO2 Max
I have a rowing background and use the following:
U3 - Utilisation (Recovery) - 65-74%
U2 - Utilisation (Aerobic) - 75-82%
U1 - Utilisation (Higher Aerobic) - 83-88%
AT - Anaerobic Threshold - 89-92%
TR - Transport - 92+%
AN - Anaerobic - MAX
(Around 80% of training is done @ U2/U3)
They're quite similar in many respects but some noteable differences, particularly up either end of the spectrum. I would have thought there would be a univeral system. I can't rationalise a different set of zones for different sports - a heart is a heart, yes?
I have always used the 'rowing model' and find that for me, it correlates perfectly to the 'perceived exertion scale', i.e. how you feel, if you can speak, etc.
Can someone explain where numbers for the cyclist/triathlete zones came from? How can all the zones magically work out to round numbers? Surely the human body doesn't work in round figures for our benefit when calculating our training. For that reason I've always been sceptical but maybe I'm missing the punchline...
Discuss.
Cheers,
Stanners
Cyclists and triathletes tend to use the following zones (please forgive if I'm a little out):
1 - 60-65% - Recovery
2 - 65-70% - Endurance
3 - 70-80% - Aerobic
4 - 80-85% - Lactate Threshold
5 - 86+% - Max Aerobic, increasing VO2 Max
I have a rowing background and use the following:
U3 - Utilisation (Recovery) - 65-74%
U2 - Utilisation (Aerobic) - 75-82%
U1 - Utilisation (Higher Aerobic) - 83-88%
AT - Anaerobic Threshold - 89-92%
TR - Transport - 92+%
AN - Anaerobic - MAX
(Around 80% of training is done @ U2/U3)
They're quite similar in many respects but some noteable differences, particularly up either end of the spectrum. I would have thought there would be a univeral system. I can't rationalise a different set of zones for different sports - a heart is a heart, yes?
I have always used the 'rowing model' and find that for me, it correlates perfectly to the 'perceived exertion scale', i.e. how you feel, if you can speak, etc.
Can someone explain where numbers for the cyclist/triathlete zones came from? How can all the zones magically work out to round numbers? Surely the human body doesn't work in round figures for our benefit when calculating our training. For that reason I've always been sceptical but maybe I'm missing the punchline...
Discuss.
Cheers,
Stanners